I'm Beta Testing Worksport's New Solar Bed Cover on My F-150 Lightning, It Generates Power But Can't Charge My Truck Yet, So I Use a Portable Battery Instead

In the ongoing war between watt-hours and anxiety, there exists a curious, recurring phenomenon: everyone wants to beat the battery. And by that, I mean outthink it. Outsmart it. From tow-behind solar trailers to 12V fridges that double as power banks, the aftermarket is a carnival of range-extending ideas, some clever, some cracked, and some caught in that shimmering gray area where engineering ambition meets the harsh math of thermodynamics. The latest contender is a solar-powered tonneau cover strapped to the bed of an F-150 Lightning, courtesy of a Facebook group that doubles as the truck’s unofficial skunkworks division.

“Beta testing the new Worksport Solis solar tonneau cover!   I'm super excited to share everything I've learned about it, yes it works, no, it doesn't charge the truck directly, but I've been charging it using a battery and a mobile charger when I'm parked.  I should have some time tomorrow to go into more detail, home with the kiddos now, so I need to get off the computer.”

The Worksport Solis system doesn’t connect directly to the Lightning’s high-voltage battery, at least, not yet. Instead, it charges a separate battery pack, which then trickles energy back into the truck via a mobile charger. It's more workaround than revolution, but it's also a glimpse at a real-world solution for those who park more than they drive and want every inch of their truck doing some form of work, even when it's just soaking up in the Costco lot.

Worksport Solis Solar Tonneau Cover: 650 W Power Generation & Up to 10 Miles Daily Range

• The solar-panel tonneau cover currently being adapted for the Lightning can generate around 650 watts, enough to provide meaningful supplemental power 
• Worksport claims it could add as much as 10 miles per day under ideal sunny conditions, helping offset daily commute energy use 
• At present, it doesn’t feed directly into the truck’s battery, power is routed to a separate COR storage unit; direct integration with the vehicle’s charging system is still under development 
• Users report it’s more effective powering onboard accessories (fridge, electronics) than substantial EV range extension, the charging rate is closer to a basic 120 V outlet

Among the commenters, the concept quickly evolved from “neat idea” to a mini roundtable of engineering enthusiasts. Dwight Hibner imagined a system capable of feeding a full 2,000 watts directly into the truck’s drive battery. “Could make boondocking much easier,” he noted, painting a future where camping off-grid isn’t an exercise in compromise but one of sustainable autonomy. 

Boosting F-150 Lightning Efficiency & Off-Grid Capability

His logic checks out: skipping the inverter losses and going direct-to-pack would increase efficiency, and potentially make the Lightning the first EV capable of truly solar-sustained life on the trail.

Still, skepticism found its way in. 

“If it only adds 3-4 miles to the Prius range, it will probably add 1000 ft of range to the F-150 Lightning,” 

Joked Adam Y. Griffith, referring to the famously inefficient solar roof of the Prius Prime. But context matters. As Daniel Carrazana reminded him, “Much smaller panels on the Prius, however.” Indeed. A Prius roof might collect rays like a beach umbrella, but a full-size pickup bed, especially one stretching out to 8 feet, is a much more capable solar surface. It's not a stretch to say the scale alone gives the idea legs.

Solar Tonneau ROI Explained: kWh Yields & Daily Range Gains with Worksport Solis

So what’s the actual return? That depends on who’s doing the math. Thaddius J. Wenderoth, an electrical engineer with 28kW in rooftop solar and three EVs in the garage, estimates 3 kWh per day from the Worksport setup under ideal conditions. 

That’s enough to drive, on a good day, between 1.5 and 2 miles. “Not knocking anything,” he wrote. “But for the cost, this would have a horrible ROI.” Hard to argue with an engineer who also happens to be a realist. But then Brian Bennett chimed in, noting that with 4 kWh per day, you could see 9 miles, 280 miles a month, give or take. Suddenly, the numbers start to sound less theoretical and more practical, at least for the determined.

Dave Dennis added further nuance, explaining that EV efficiency isn’t uniform. “Most EVs go 2.5 to 3 miles per kWh,” he said. If that’s true, and it often is, depending on how and where you drive, then the solar bed cover could net you around 9 miles per day, under perfect sun. That’s not range-anxiety insurance, but it is the equivalent of a daily school run, a quick store trip, or just the satisfaction of knowing your truck charged itself while you sat in a meeting or camped beside a lake.

EV Range Extenders: Benefits, Drawbacks & Innovation Trends

• These vehicles alleviated range anxiety by blending electric drive with small ICE generators, providing backup power, but complexity and added cost, like the i3’s limited fuel tank to meet regulations, hindered wider adoption 
• Extenders add weight, mechanical complexity, space demands, and potential repair points, making them less appealing as battery technology improves. Most automakers have abandoned series-extender concepts (e.g., Mercedes halted their EQ trials), opting instead for pure BEVs or more integrated PHEVs 
• Chinese brands (like Li Auto) continue with extender-backed EVs for range confidence, while novel forms (turbines, fuel cells) are being explored for heavy-duty/marine use.

Thaddius returned to the conversation to clarify his numbers, admitting he’d initially underestimated but standing firm on the economic viability. “We have to start somewhere,” he acknowledged. “I like the advancements.” That line hits like gospel in the electric age. Not every prototype is a paradigm shift, and not every good idea makes good money, but the value of pushing the envelope, especially in an industry still learning how to crawl before it can drive, can’t be dismissed outright.

Because really, the Worksport Solis isn’t here to replace Superchargers or make you solar self-sufficient. But it does offer something else: independence, optionality, and maybe, just maybe, a little hope that one day our trucks might do more than just wait for us to return. 

Image Sources: Ford Media Center

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.