Toyota Prius to Get Solar Power
Toyota’s next generation Prius, due out as early as next spring, will be outfitted with solar panels to help run the on-board electronics, according to a report from the Nikkei newspaper.
Smaller start-up car companies, such as Th!nk, have plans for solar power augmented cars on the books too, but the incorporation of solar panels on the Prius would mark the first time a major car manufacturer has done such a thing with one of its models.
- » See also: Prius Sales Could Soon Outpace Camry, Says President of Toyota U.S.A.
- » Get Gas 2.0 by RSS or sign up by email.
Currently in its second generation, the third generation Prius has been widely anticipated for some time now. Due for a complete overhaul, the addition of solar panels to the Prius would corroborate the expectation of major changes in both style and function in the next generation model.
According to Marketwatch, the Nikkei reported that the solar panels would provide a portion of the two to five kilowatts needed to power the air conditioning unit. The solar panels would be supplied by Kyocera.
Toyota plans to pump up production of the Prius next year to 450,000 units. This would represent a 60% increase in production over 2007 numbers, Marketwatch also reported.
Although that sounds promising, Toyota has kind of dropped the ball this year by failing to meet demand for the popular hybrid and causing a worldwide Prius shortage. Blaming a lack of battery production capacity, Toyota has promised to open another battery facility soon.
Let’s hope they can actually meet demand for the Prius next year, especially if they plan on including such excellent and logical features as solar powered on-board electronics.
Posts Related to Hybrid Electric Vehicles:
- Low Impact Living: Think Hybrid Cars are Too Expensive?
- First Time Ever: Prius is Most Searched New Car on Cars.com
- Paul McCartney’s Lexus Hybrid Gets 4 MPG
- Sorry Folks, VW Diesel Electric Hybrid Not Coming to US
- Are Plug-Ins and Electric Cars A Health Hazard?
[...] should be refillable in less than 3 minutes, and at speeds over 35 mph emit about half the CO2 of a Toyota Prius. Oh yeah, and you could see them in the US at the end of next [...]
I think it is amazing that they are trying to use solar technology for vehicles. That means less the car owner has to spend in the long run for whatever features the solar panels are used to power. That, and I think it is a step in a positive direction towards “saving” the world from all of the noxious gas we spill into it with industrial-type technologies.
[...] Toyota Prius to Get Solar Power [...]
To all of you naysayer/objectionists out there I have two things to say. First, STOP the “pay back” nonsense. There is no payback on ANY vehicle, period. It is silly to complain about hybrid, PHEV, or solar costs or inject payback periods into the discussion when there is no payback at all on 2 inch rims, turbo chargers, V8s and V6s, 6 disc CD players, leather seats, etc.
Second, I have had it with all of the complaining because something new and different is not 100% perfect. Almost any of the technological advances we use today really sucked when they first came out. They had convenience problems, technology integration issues, cost prohibitions, etc. Think Cell phones, GPS devices, PCs, Plasma TVs, LCD TVs, Interent connectivity, etc. The list is too long to continue but I think you get the idea.
So I applaud the SPIRIT if what Toyota is doing. They spent 2 billion dollars in the 90’s to perfect hybrid technology while our own auto companies went the short term profit route and stopped innovating. It looks like Toyota is going to beat them again.
I doubt it having solar planels would yeild enough power to power the AC. Seems like a gimmic to me…