[ncc74656m]

Hi all!!!

Long time, no see.

I'm a terrible (horrible, awful, evil, nasty) ecomodder. I can't keep my foot off the gas (living in NYC now, this is a difficult proposition), and while I've mellowed considerably, I've just found it utterly impossible to gain any fuel economy. I have an '06 Corolla LE with a 5 spd transmission, largely stock, 76k miles, and pretty much stock.

I'm wondering if, in an attempt to improve fuel economy, I could rig up a fully removable solar charger for at work to try to trickle charge the battery and possibly reduce alternator usage. It seems that these things can be quite the gas hog according to things I've read here and there.

Basically, I need a solar cell that isn't going to be too big (so much the better if it can sit on the dash board when I'm at home in Harlem to minimize vandalism), that can supply what, 12-14.4v? I'm also looking to find a good (CHEAP!) controller that can do the basics for me, namely, charging and regulating so I don't overcharge.

If it can plug in to the cigarette lighter, so much the better, and since it's only a trickle charger, it should be able to, yes?

So, thoughts?