In the van-life world, where photovoltaic electronics frequently supply house power on a conventional ICE vehicle, you will occasionally see either static-deployable panels (i.e., stored aboard the vehicle in transit, but staged on the ground when camped), or fold-out panels (which remain fixed to the vehicle but deploy outward, often providing additional shading).
There's also an advantage in warm climates / seasons to a stand-off roof --- air-gap between panels and the actual surface of the vehicle) which provide effective shading and reduce cooling load --- either to permit passive cooling via fans or as an assist to an air-conditioning unit (fairly rare on vans).
There's also a pretty frequent use of fuel-based house services: space heat (e.g., Webasto heaters, by Cummins: <https://www.cummins.com/na/sales-and-service/webasto-heating...>), stovetops (often propane), and hot water, though you'll also see electric (induction cooktop, microwave or electric oven, electric hot-water, resistance strip heating in floors). Latter require a pretty beafy electrical system, generator, and/or "shore power" (connection to grid mains).
(I've looked into the van-life thing for a while. Ultimately it's expensive for the nicer rigs and/or involves a lot of sacrifices, and combines risks of a residence and vehicle. Not to say it can't work, but there are major considerations, and the postcard view often provided is not the whole story.)
There's also an advantage in warm climates / seasons to a stand-off roof --- air-gap between panels and the actual surface of the vehicle) which provide effective shading and reduce cooling load --- either to permit passive cooling via fans or as an assist to an air-conditioning unit (fairly rare on vans).
There's also a pretty frequent use of fuel-based house services: space heat (e.g., Webasto heaters, by Cummins: <https://www.cummins.com/na/sales-and-service/webasto-heating...>), stovetops (often propane), and hot water, though you'll also see electric (induction cooktop, microwave or electric oven, electric hot-water, resistance strip heating in floors). Latter require a pretty beafy electrical system, generator, and/or "shore power" (connection to grid mains).
(I've looked into the van-life thing for a while. Ultimately it's expensive for the nicer rigs and/or involves a lot of sacrifices, and combines risks of a residence and vehicle. Not to say it can't work, but there are major considerations, and the postcard view often provided is not the whole story.)