Solar powered vehicle topper unit

A method for providing solar power to a vehicle topper unit (“VTU”), said method comprising:

• securing a solar panel in an elevated position directly above a housing comprising a first and second electronic display;
• mounting said housing to a roof rack secured to a roof of a vehicle;
• electrically connecting said solar panel to said electronic display;
• operating said vehicle on public roadways;
• and
• passing direct current from said solar panel to said electronic display;
• wherein said solar panel has a first footprint which is larger than, and overlies, a second footprint of said housing such that shade is at least periodically cast on said first and second electronic displays during daytime hours.

A system for providing solar power to a vehicle topper unit (“VTU”), said system comprising:

• a first crossbar mounted to a roof of a vehicle at a first location;
• a second crossbar mounted to the roof of the vehicle at a second location spaced apart from the first location;
• a housing having an upper surface, wherein a proximal portion of said housing is secured to said first crossbar and a distal portion of said housing is secured to said second crossbar;
• a first electronic display located within said housing;
• a second electronic display located within said housing in a back-to-back arrangement with said first electronic display;
• a cooling system located at least partially within said housing and configured to cool the first electronic display and the second electronic display when operated;
• a solar energy harvesting device comprising a substrate and a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged on said substrate, wherein said solar energy harvesting device is electrically connected to said first electronic display, said second electronic display, and said cooling system, and wherein said solar energy harvesting device is configured to generate direct current (“DC”) power when exposed to sunny conditions;
• a plurality of supports extending between said housing and said solar energy harvesting device such that said substrate is elevated directly above, and spaced apart from, the upper surface of said housing;
• a battery for said vehicle electrically connected to said first electronic display, said second electronic display, and said cooling system, where said battery is configured to supply and receive DC power;
• and
• a controller electrically interposed between said battery, said solar energy harvesting device, said first electronic display, said second electronic display, and said cooling system, wherein said controller comprises executable software instructions stored at one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed, configures one or more processors to:
• determine an amount of power required to operate at least the first electronic display, the second electronic display, and the cooling system;
• draw DC power from the battery where the DC power generated by the solar energy harvesting device is below the amount;
• and
• charge the battery with at least some of the DC power generated by the solar energy harvesting device where the DC power generated by the solar energy harvesting device exceeds the amount;
• wherein said solar energy harvesting device has maximum width which is larger than a maximum width of said housing;
• wherein said solar energy harvesting device has maximum length which is larger than a maximum length of said housing.