Factorio Forums

Power generating items like vehicle solar panels... I had kind of expected them to replace fuel consumption... is that incorrect? Do they only provide power to the grid they're installed in?

They only power the grid.

I have made a request to add the ability to make it possible, but no real response to it.

The grid power is purely to power other modules in the grid.

Hmm... so it has to be something the devs add into the base game?

I wonder if you could 'cheat' your way around it. Create a vehicle grid item called an electric vehicle engine conversion that goes into the grid... and that takes extra energy (up to the value in engine strength) and creates a fuel item it then sticks in the fuel slot... maybe called electric horsepower?

If you use the electric vehicles mod you get the voltage transformer which goes into the grid and make the vehicles drive. Then you can power that with solar, batteries, fusion or even regenerative breaking...

To do it "Properly" you need dev support. It might be possible by scripting (And probably is if you look at the previous reply, because it looks like someone did it already)

Personally, if it requires scripting to add new behaviour, I generally won't do it.

Inserters was an exception, they added hooks into the game to make it easier, my GUI just sends numbers to the inserters to set a new pickup and drop location, it doesn't add any new functionality other than allowing configuration.