Related Sections: Green Tech Vehicles
New Prius comes with rooftop solar panels
Toyota just unveiled its new Toyota Prius, and it takes its eco-friendliness to the next level. Yes, it's still a hybrid that gets excellent gas mileage, but now it also comes with a giant solar panel on the roof to soak up the sun's rays and convert them into energy to power your stereo and air conditioner.
The great thing about these panels is that they work even when you aren't driving. That means that when you come out to your car after working all day, it's got a bunch of energy saved up from just sitting there in the sun. Pretty awesome stuff! The new Prius will be on sale in Japan soon for between $21,000 and $26,000.
Nikkei, Via CrunchGear
By Dave T at 3:11 PM ON 03/25/09
Duh, and why did it take this long for someone to figure out that the roof of a car is an ideal place for some solar panels? Even if it only generates 100W of power, that's 100W that the gas engine doesn't have to produce.
By DELLO at 6:37 PM ON 03/25/09
It's the cost-benefit ratio. Solar panels aren't cheap, and the power they provide is minimal compared to the drive train requirements. Also, it might make more sense to park in the shade than to try to have solar panel (only 15% efficient at most) power generate enough electricity to overcome the much more effective solar greenhouse effect of sitting in the sun. Try sitting in your car in Southern California summer sun with the windows rolled up.
By monk at 8:32 PM ON 03/25/09
So what Dell, like Dave said, it's energy that gas doesn't have to convert.
But besides that fact I believe the solar panel energy for more of a "around the town" kind of deal, not for like highways and freeways.
By muss34 at 9:00 PM ON 03/25/09
I have install solar panels on houses . And even if they use the best ones on market , Toyota would
be luck if they could power the AC fan at half speed .
To charge the main battery it would need sit in the sun for two months !!
By Paul at 9:04 PM ON 03/27/09
They did this because the Chevy Volt is supposed to have them and they wanted to beat them to the market.
They have made some new solar panels in germany that have about 40% efficiency, shoulda waited for those to come out first.
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They did this because the Chevy Volt is supposed to have them and they wanted to beat them to the market. They hav...More »