VOLTZ is one of the largest manufacturers for Power Cells throughout the galaxy and has been a great way for keeping it powered for decades! though here we teach you the tips and tricks of how to conserve that energy so they last longer and keep you and your star-hauler in top shape.

To start things off, there are currently 3 variations of power cells with different capacities and price values, some of these have color accents resembling what was from Earth over a millennium ago. Shown below are the following:

Power Cell (Low-End)
Type: Energy (🔌)
Weight: 6.6 lbs
Energy Capacity: 100
Base Price: $400



Power Cell + (Medium)
Type: Energy (🔌)
Weight: 6.6 lbs
Energy Capacity: 250
Base Price: $1,000



Power Cell ++ (High-End)
Type: Energy (🔌)
Weight: 6.6 lbs
Energy Capacity: 500
Base Price: $2,000



NOTE: As Power Cells are categorized as Energy Sources, Their value will change depending on the local prices of the sector you are in. The Hit-Points are all the same at 250.

Nearly every trade station in the Galaxy has Power Cells in stock as well as Auto-Essentials (Upgrade Shops). Remember that they are categorized under Energy so watch those local prices to see how much it'll affect the price of those Cells before buying. All 3 types of power cells are commonly found in these Amenitites.

If you want to spend less cash on Power Cells, Cosmo's Cash n' Carry is always a cheaper alternative for if you are saving money to buy something or don't want to spend too much.



If you don't want to spend any money or if you can't afford to buy, You can always find Salvage Beacons which are scattered across the galaxy though won't often be found unless you are either in close proximity or have obtained the Scanner Upgrade. Only Power Cells (+ and ++) are found through these salvages at the moment.

Abandoned dolly-trailer, found under Sour-Candy's workshop in Tank Town.
March 3, 3023.


At the moment, it's believed that Bermuda Gap (Enigma Territories) and Junk Fields (Core Systems) has the most in terms of finding salvage beacons, however do exercise caution as there is a high volume of space debris in such areas.

Depending on how many things you have on and the type of Power Cell you use, the rate of how much energy is consumed will vary. So be sure to check your Cell Status often (Second channel on the right monitor around your dashboard)

Sectors with higher temperatures can increase the rate of power consumption, especially during a Solar Storm. To combat this, your Star-Hauler has a set of shutters to insulate the cab from such extreme temperatures.




Whenever you are hitched into a Shop or Job Post, your truck's power is redirected to the station instead of your Cells, halting its Drain. This makes replacing power cells easy and less messy, especially when replacing Universal Control Circuits.

Recommended:

• Turning off all interior lighting when in motion (or on a job). Only turn on the front cab lights if you feel It’s too dark to see the console.
  
• Repurposing any power cells under 20% to charge your Suit if you still have any spares left in the back.

Fair game in limited scenarios:

• Using the solar shutters will reduce the core power usage though will require a skilled eye and mind to navigate using the monitors.
  
• Turning off the exterior Truck Lights in bright sectors (or during solar storms) as its already bright enough as is. (you're just drawing more energy in those hot areas!)
  
• Disabling the Climate Regulator, This is usually helpful if the sector you are in is at a fair temperature between 0C (32F) to 46C (112F) outside the Truck Cab.

NOT Recommended (A terrible risk for either you or other drivers):

• Disabling the Gravity Compensator also reduces power consumption with the consequences of having all your baggage be floating everywhere in the cab.
  
• Turning off the Oxygen Generator. We have a feeling that there were a unlucky few that did this without either turning it back on eventually or putting on their suit. We ask that you NOT attempt this at any way shape or form.

• In this regard, Solar Storms will make your Climate Regulator work harder, increasing the power draw However upgrading your Thermal Insulation will reduce the power needed for your Climate Regulator. The more you upgrade, the less power needed. this can be done in any Upgrade Shop.
  
• While yes you can put all your belongings inside the airlock while the Gravity Compensator is off, this is rendered Inefficient as you need to take everything back inside the main cab before having to seal any hull breaches or go salvaging for resources. You are also risking damaging your cargo, lowering their value or even completely breaking them.
  
• If you still don’t like how much your power cells drain, you can always play on Custom when starting a new save.

What doesn't affect your power usage, even after disabling the breakers to them:

• Maglock Controls
  
  
• Shock Shielding
  
  
• Suit Charger

Depending on your budget and your preference, It’s always a good idea to stockpile on spares in the event one of your cells dies in the middle of a long haul. Preferably one hard case of cheap cells. It may have a lower capacity but it will still last you until you finish your load or reach the next service station. It is completely optional to sell any excess cells that are over a case amount unless you are trading for ones that are better quality.




The best place to Self-Service your Truck is to dock into a station. As mentioned, this will redirect your Truck's power to the station's grid instead of your Cells, making servicing easy and less messy for both Power Cells and Universal Control Circuits (UCCs). However Being docked to a station will NOT stop Air Filters or UCCs from losing durability as they are in constant use. Reminder to also turn off the breaker before replacing the UCC unless it has been completely used up.

ALWAYS replace anything under 20% - 30% between jobs, That way there are no hiccups or delays.

Charging
While it is a good idea on paper, not all power cells (or “Batteries”) can be charged, especially at something in this size as you risk rupturing it or catching fire.

Even if we were to make a rechargeable power cell, you would still need to use the Star-Hauler's core power in order to charge which will all eventually run out. This is deemed inefficient as it increases the consumption. You would be better off selling the spent cells and buying new ones.

That’s also a good idea but these would be expensive to most people as It’s very costly to manufacture as well as these are very fragile to handle.

If the idea were to come to life, there would have to be a failsafe (either by a switch or is controlled by one of the UCCs) where the Star-Hauler would have to be completely stationary for up to 20-30 seconds and not docked into a station before being able to open up those Solar Panels. This will redirect the source of power and halt the drain of power cells. However moving will cause the panels to eventually close and redirect the power usage to your cells.

This failsafe is to prevent careless drivers from hauling while it is open and to reduce the risk of space debris damaging the Solar Panels.

Although this is very useful for those who want to salvage for goods but are worried one of their Power Cells would fail by the time they get back.

This just about covers most of what people have asked including whether or not there would be a chance of having rechargeable Power Cells or Solar Panels.

If you've read through and made it down here, It's much appreciated that you took the time to read through all this. Just want there to be as much useful information as possible to help new players.