Go Power!, an innovator of solar-based mobile power solutions for RV, marine, work truck and over-the-road fleet vehicles, will display new uses for its Solar Flex solar panels in two booths in the Green Zone at the NAFA 2015 Institute & Expo in Orlando, FL. New applications for the panels include integration into fiberglass service bodies and designs that mount directly to boom and bucket arms.An integrated service body application of the Solar Flex system can be seen at the SpaceKap booth 1417. SpaceKap, which designs and manufactures fiberglass pickup truck caps and slip-in transferable service bodies, now offers the Solar Flex system as an option on its Diablo model.“We were the first to introduce the slip-in service body, and as a company built on innovation, we are always looking for transformative new technologies,” said Sean Brideau, key account manager for SpaceKap. “Go Power!’s Solar Flex panels have allowed us to create a standalone cap that takes only 10 minutes to install, generates its own electricity and eliminates the wire harness connection to the host vehicle’s alternator that were previously necessary.”Before the Solar Flex solution, a truck body needing electrical service required additional labor and cabling, as well as battery isolator to preserve the vehicle’s starter battery, the company said. Vehicle-mounted workspaces often contain electronic devices that create a parasitic drain on starter and auxiliary batteries that can reduce their lifespan by as much as 50 % each time the battery is depleted to 10 volts or below, according to the company.“The Go Power! solar power generating system keeps up to four auxiliary batteries optimally charged and equipment ready to deploy, even when a vehicle has been inactive for long periods,” the company said.Work trucks with boom and bucket equipment can also benefit from Solar Flex charging technology. The company’s new 25-watt Solar Flex panel is small enough to mount on the lower section of a boom arm and can trickle charge dedicated batteries. According to the company, the solar arrays can be configured to generate a battery-charging capacity of between 1.5 amps per hour to 100-plus amps per hour.“The Go Power! Solar Flex system significantly reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and soot accumulation, thus extending the life of a vehicle’s diesel particulate filter,” Sean O’Connor, sales channel manager, said. “In addition to making no-idle mobile power a reality for work truck fleets, our system virtually eliminates the cost to jump batteries, replace batteries and the manpower and downtime associated with both.”
