Does the extra 3-6 miles factor in the need to now run the AC much more aggressively because the car will be hot from sitting in the sun all day?
If this quoted number comes from the manufacturer itself, then I think the answer is "no".
If this quoted number comes from the manufacturer itself, then I think the answer is "no".
In the old days, they used duty cycle to adapt to the changing load. Modern ones do things like varying compressor displacement or compressor speed to adapt to the load. Variable frequency inverters are used to efficiently drive electric compressors.
The variable displacement trick is used in ones mechanically linked to internal combustion engines. It can vary the compression stroke to account for different load as well as different engine speed.
At the low end maybe achievable with a full rooftop covered in solar panels, but probably not adequate at 1kW+.
Most cars are already sitting in the sun all day.
If you’re suggesting it wouldn’t work in a garage, that’s obviously true (and another factor in whether car solar makes sense) but many (most?) people park their cars outside during the day anyway. I for one can’t remember the last time I parked under cover