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Next Gen Prius To Have Roof Solar Panels
Toyota Motor Corporation plans to install solar panels on its next-generation Prius hybrid cars, becoming the first major automaker to use solar power for a vehicle, the Nikkei business daily reported on Monday.

The paper said Toyota would equip solar panels on the roof of the high-end version of the Prius when it redesigns the gasoline-electric hybrid car early next year, and the power generated by the system would be used for the air conditioning.

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Next Gen Prius To Have Roof Solar Panels



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EL34EL34 - 7/7/2008 10:53:50 AM
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This should make Bore very happy ;-)

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bimmerfan25bimmerfan25 - 7/7/2008 10:48:42 PM
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This will make anyone with a healthy brain happy.

The days of making fun of people who want more efficient energy are over. Nowadays you're a brainless fart if you oppose it.


MichaelTaylorMichaelTaylor - 7/7/2008 11:58:43 AM
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Toyota is being very smart with the upcoming Prius. This car has "clean" written all over it. The current Prius is already very green, but this new one will be even better.

Solar panels on the roof? Nobody ever thought of that before! Kudos to Toyota!

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Agent63Agent63 - 7/7/2008 2:48:52 PMView My AgentSpace
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If it were anything but a Toyota you would be bashing the hell out of it. =)


bimmerfan25bimmerfan25 - 7/7/2008 10:53:49 PM
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he is bashing it.

so what's wrong with putting solar panels on the roof if you're not the first one to think of it? it's about our energy future, not who comes up with cr@p first


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 7/7/2008 11:14:23 PMView My AgentSpace
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Actually there were cars with solar panels before this, and an aftermarket company that made a solar powered system to keep cars cooler in hot climates, so Toyota copies that technology from someone else now SHUT UP STUPID!!!!!!


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 7/7/2008 11:15:04 PMView My AgentSpace
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I would love to like this new car, but Idiot michale taylor makes me hate it. It does look nice though.


chewychewy - 7/8/2008 9:39:08 PMView My AgentSpace
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Audi and others have put solar sunroofs for a while already (as an option), the solar panel powers a fan. The fan runs while the car is turned off, that way you have a cooler car after it's been in the sun.

You can't get much power from such a small solar panel, it won't be powering an AC, a fan at best.


nvmenvme - 7/9/2008 3:54:12 AM
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audi has already installed solar panels on its sunroof glass, and the bmw X5 hybrid prototype has solar panel on the roof, so there goes being the first to think about it, but still kudos to toyota for doing it on what i imagine will be a very large production scale... our future depends on it!


kut17kut17 - 7/7/2008 12:46:23 PMView My AgentSpace
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If all it's going to power is the air conditioning, it might not be worth buying. Solar panels are pretty expensive and air conditioning doesn't use that much more gas. If it was solar panels to power the car, then I think that would be a great idea.

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TheSailorTheSailor - 7/7/2008 1:46:08 PMView My AgentSpace
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I'm not so sure that is true! Fuel consumption from running the A/C is estimated to be as much as 20%! So this would signify a noticeable reduction in fuel consumption.


xboyjan9xboyjan9 - 7/7/2008 3:37:08 PM
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It's funny that you say that because I had a road trip for the 4th of July weekend and I drove about 600 miles on my Toyota Camry...I averaged 40 MPG with the AC on all the time and I was driving about 65-80 MPH! This was really pleasing considering the gas prices now! But I also used cruise control most of the time so I don't know if that made a difference?


0to600to60 - 7/7/2008 4:21:02 PM
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Starting with the AC I think is a good move. As time goes on, I am sure they are another automaker will take this idea and run with it, expanding it for other use within the car.


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/7/2008 1:42:42 PMView My AgentSpace
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See this is the kind of thing which could actually give the Prius an edge over the diesels... Ofcause, the diesel manufacturers could just do the same thing.

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enp83enp83 - 7/7/2008 1:59:24 PM
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Well lets look at the EPA ratings...

2009 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel 30city/41hwy
2008 Toyota Prius hybrid 48city/45hwy

Advantage hybrid


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/7/2008 3:52:09 PMView My AgentSpace
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Well... Try looking up some real world numbers instead... You are not the first one to try and pass off those EPA ratings as true. However, the fact is that if you drive in a sensible way in a Prius, you will probably only reach 35 MPG in a mixed cycle... The thing is, the EPA ratings are calculated using a pre-charged car. This means that you have an extra amount of juice that comes out of thin air! Usually, the PRius will recharge using the engine, and as I've already mentioned to others in other treads, the energy loss in the Generator-battery-inverter-motor setup is higher than 25% while drive train loss is less than 20% sometimes as low as 15%... The Prius is living high on hype and scewed numbers! There are several european hatchbacks which are 20-30% cheaper than the Prius which will give you AT LEAST the same fuel economy!


enp83enp83 - 7/7/2008 10:07:46 PM
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okay i get it sailor, the epa overestimates for all hybrids but underestimates for all diesels because you said so. Thanx for clearing that up for all of us with a nice equal and fair scientific study on both cars.


bimmerfan25bimmerfan25 - 7/7/2008 10:52:02 PM
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who cares about diesel? diesel is not the answer. the future belongs to either electric or hydrogen, and it is looking like it will be electric.

Prius is the car from which the future of our transportation will evolve.

the only place you'll see a diesel engine after 30 years will be in a museum next to a steam locomotive.

this is the 21 st century, the ancient internal combustion engine won't cut it anymore. time to move on. Toyota Prius will be a major player in helping us, humans all over the world, do just that.


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/8/2008 2:42:25 AMView My AgentSpace
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Ahhhhhh... That is a very mature way of dealing with defeat huh? The best proof that I am right is that ol' huuey here is ignoring me! If knew that he had any chance of refuting me, be sure, he would, but he doesn't... If you don't believe me, too bad for you, but if you're not just a soar looser, you should look it up and you shall be enlightened... I'm out!


enp83enp83 - 7/8/2008 10:22:13 AM
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I provide a link to a very scientific and very fair comparison. The sailor provides no link, just his opinion..and don't you dare question his opinion.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4416/priuswinrd4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/><a href="http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=142&i=priuswinrd4.jpg"><img src="http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4416/priuswinrd4.70562fac8c.jpg" border="0"></a>

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[URL=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=142&i=priuswinrd4.jpg][IMG]http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4416/priuswinrd4.70562fac8c.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

<a href="http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=priuswinrd4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4416/priuswinrd4.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img604.imageshack.us/content.php?page=blogpost&files=img142/4416/priuswinrd4.jpg" title="QuickPost"><img src="http://imageshack.us/img/butansn.png" alt="QuickPost" border="0"></a>

[URL=http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=priuswinrd4.jpg][IMG]http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4416/priuswinrd4.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

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enp83enp83 - 7/8/2008 10:23:19 AM
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I provide a link to a very scientific and very fair comparison. The sailor provides no link, just his opinion..and don't you dare question his opinion.

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/7192/priuswinsh4.jpg


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/8/2008 5:26:00 PMView My AgentSpace
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how is it an opinion how the epa does their ratings?! you didn't provide any scientific proof, just an estimate of fuel consumption (which the epa itself tells you to use ONLY as a loose guideline, not a fact of life...

so where is your scientific proof?¡ all you have is someones guestimate... which is based on an unrealistic assumption, that the battery is always fully charged... can you show me the scientific proof that disproofs that?! you have produced nothing but that one source which really isn't a source as it tells nothing of how it came up qith those numbers (which would be scientific proof)...I've read the test procedures, you should too... don't you know that when you want to prove something, the more sources you have, the more credible it ia... I have provided the necessary proof several times, and to be honest, i really can't be bothered spending my time finding it all again, just o hear another fanboy dodge facts because it doesn't fit into their version of reality... if i am such an idiot and nothing i've been saying is true, it should be an easy job finding other sources which back up the epa's rating of the prius... the thing is though, you can't, now can you? nope... it is easier to just try to miscredit me, right? i think all the regular users on this site have seen me prove my point several times, so you are the one who needs to prove something here, not me...


enp83enp83 - 7/8/2008 9:58:06 PM
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It's alright sailor everyone on the board can see that you're trying to take a magazine's "efficiency drive" stunt as real world numbers yet disregard the EPA's FAR MORE CONTROLLED (and thus fairer and a more accurate comparison) revised 2008 style numbers as somehow not scientific.

You want to take mpg numbers for the diesel from this magazines "efficiency drive" stunt and compare it with a different cars mpg numbers FROM COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SOURCES! Way to have multiple variables. A far better comparison would be one from the same source. Especially when that source conducts tests as controlled as the EPA does. I'm quite certain a great majority on this board would agree. I'm sure you'll continue to try and compare the loosely controlled "efficiency drive" mpg numbers against some completely different set of mpg numbers...but you're not fooling anybody.


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/9/2008 2:14:07 AMView My AgentSpace
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You still cling on to this "far more controlled and therefore scientific" thing, however, you provide no solid evidence to support this... If it is so controlled and scientific, how could the EPA, due to an administrative change in the way they do things suddenly reduce the Prius rating last year?!

If they don't use a car as it if on the road, it isn't accurate, and as they use a pre-charged car (which it will never be as you will have used gasoline to charge the battery at some point) it isn't very accurate, no matter how controlled the test is! It is the same as you driving around in your Prius (i'll bet a fiver on you owning one judging from your comments) to charge the battery, then go and find a flat strech of road afterwards and then test your mpgs... That isn't accurate! That would be cheating!


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/9/2008 2:17:37 AMView My AgentSpace
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Or if BMW fitted an extra two gallon tank on their epa test vehicles and then said "Oh no, you have to disregard of the extra fuel in that tank as it isn't standard equipment... Would that be an accurate and controlled test, sure, but it wouldn't make it correct... Same thing for the Prius!


enp83enp83 - 7/9/2008 3:48:25 PM
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It is very controlled and scientific. The EPA tests follow set parameters to make sure all cars are tested the same. That's what the great majority of people will use to compare mpg numbers, from a controlled test where they know that every car was tested at the same speed in the same conditions.

On the other hand YOU want to take mpg numbers from one magazines "efficiency drive" stunt where they averaged 45-50mph in ideal conditions and compare it to a completely different magazines road test where they did 75mph on the highway and and had stop and go traffic.

Every single time I get into my '06 Civic hybrid the hybrid battery (as well as the 12volt under the hood) "pre-charged". When I drove it off the dealer lot is was "pre-charged". Every time I fill up the battery is in a state of "pre-charge". Regenerative braking keeps the battery "pre-charged". BMW is not going to get an extra 2 gallons of gasoline on it's own, don't be stupid, but hybrids do charge their batteries on their own.

BTW you can paypal me that "fiver" at enp83 at hotmail.


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/9/2008 4:59:17 PMView My AgentSpace
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yes theydo... you are completely correct about that, but it is how they charge those batteries... I have no idea if the civic hybrid is plug in, in that case, congrats, you must have a huge power bill. If it isn't however, the energy for the batteries has to come from the engine... they don't just magically regenerate themselves! they charge by using the engine as a prime mover for the generator. And as we all know, there is no such thing as free energy, so if you want to charge your batteries with a power of 10 kW, you will have to draw 10 kW + losses in converting mechanic energy into electric energy...meaning that yo are pulling 10 +4 to 6 kW of loss from the engine and therefore a relatively larger amount of fuel. does that seem reasonable or are you just hell bend on saying the eact opposite of what i'm saying?!

So when I say precharged, I don't mean like when you sit in your civic in the morning, because THAT pre-charegd energy has already been sucked from your precious fuel, meaning that it is accounted for in your everyday driving. The pre-charged batteries in the EPA tests however are not accounted for in their test because the energy in the battery was already there before they started measuring the consumption. Are you following me now? That is why i say that it is like testing a BMW (or any other car for that matter) with an additional two gallons of fuel and then saying "yeah, but just disregard of those two etra gallons of fuel, because they won't be there out of the road"...




TheSailorTheSailor - 7/9/2008 5:19:43 PMView My AgentSpace
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ohh... and where did i mention that audi that did 70 mpg (on open mountain roads doing normal cruising speed)?!

I have lots of european hatchbacks which eat prii for breakfast when it comes to fuel economy... actuslly, you can have a 5-series which will outdo what real life tests (not closed test guesstimates(you obviously still haven't looked into how they come up with those ratings)) has shhowed that the prius will do... even if it made it past the 45 mpg mark, it still wouldn't owe up to full size european sedans... not even if you compare it usimg your beloved official ratings... the 520d has a comcycle rating of 47 mpg... and there is a new jetta bluemotion 1.9tdi out in europe which will do 50 MPG (21,7 km/l) according to the official rating. and then we have all the hatchbacks like the peugeot 207, the citroen c3, the opel astra, ford focus, bmw 1-series, audi a3, vw golf, seat leon, skoda fabia, fiat bravo which are all in the same size as a prius and which all have 50+mpg models... (that is above and beyond anything you can epect from any prius)...

So once again, the Prius is just a silly gimmick used to boost toyota image and make them look green!


enp83enp83 - 7/9/2008 10:05:06 PM
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70mpg '09 A4 is from the other article posted earlier, where they had 20 drivers drive a preselected efficient route and told them to drive in the most efficient way possible averaging 45-50mph. Now you're trying to compare a EUROPEAN "comcycle rating" to a US figure...are you even using the same type of "gallon"? Even if a diesel got 15% better gas mileage than a hybrid it would still cost more per mile as diesel is 18-20% more expensive (in the US). Therefore to be the same cost effective a diesel needs to get at least 18-20% better mpg than a gasoline hybrid.

The fact that you even entertained the idea that the Civic hybrid is a plug in showcases just how little you know about hybrids. Honda (or Toyota) has never sold a plug in hybrid in the US. I would love to have one though as the electricity to power the car would not cost as much as gasoline.

A GREAT MAJORITY of the energy restored into the hybrid battery packs comes from regenerative breaking. Turning the kinetic energy from the momentum of the car into electrical energy for the battery pack instead of turning into heat in the brake rotors and pads. Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to drive by "pre-charged" Civic hybrid...still "pre-charged after 54k miles...

"I have no idea if the civic hybrid is plug in"-TheSailor showcases his lack of knowledge about hybrids.


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/10/2008 3:38:04 AMView My AgentSpace
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ohh yes i am... that is american gallons... sorry, no help for you there... and as i am currently sitting in europe, this is a very valid comparison as gasoline and diesel is the same here.

BTW: Europeam 2009 rating for the prius is 45 mpg comb... so it isn't an invalid comparison... and that is even based on the same wrongful assumption, that the batteries recharge out of thin air prior to the test... Way to bend the rules toyoda!


enp83enp83 - 7/10/2008 6:53:50 PM
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"they use a car that has a full battery"

Provide documentation or STFU



"I have no idea if the civic hybrid is plug in"-TheSailor showcases his lack of knowledge about hybrids. (He doesn't even understand regenerative braking)


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/11/2008 3:35:12 AMView My AgentSpace
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nahh... just shows my lack of interest... and i am very well aware of how regenerative braking works... and all the other small bits of fanzy gadgetry in your car... I actually have an education in how power plants as well as engines work and work with engine electric systems on a daily basis... what ou have? a hybrid which is the best thing to come out sinde sliced bread and come hell or high water, nothing is going to change that..

want proof? www.epa.gov there is your proof... you can read, right? and you live in a free country (well... sort of atleast)... go and read it yourself... and stop yelling... or what was it - STFU... silly man


enp83enp83 - 7/11/2008 4:34:30 AM
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Blame your lack of knowledge on whatever you want, the fact remains the same that you don't know much about them.

I used the search feature on epa.gov and found nothing about hybrid cars being "pre-charged" or starting with a full battery during the EPA tests. Once again, provide documentation or STFU...


"I have no idea if the civic hybrid is plug in"-TheSailor showcases his lack of knowledge about hybrids. (He doesn't even understand regenerative braking)


TheSailorTheSailor - 7/11/2008 6:00:44 PMView My AgentSpace
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lol... look again... and look a bit harder this time...

and yes, I lack total knowledge on the civic hybrid, basically because no one ever mentions it and it is so darn boring... And the fact that it gets even worse mileage than the prius... I really hope you got it cheaply!


enp83enp83 - 7/12/2008 5:06:28 AM
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Sorry but the purden of proof is on the one making the claim...this isn't the Mexican legal system. The Civic Hybrid's highway mileage rating is IDENTICAL to the Prius. Once again, you don't know what you're talking about. No one on this site is surprised by that anymore.


ghosthunterghosthunter - 7/7/2008 2:47:33 PM
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if it sounds too good to be true, chances are, it is not true.

The efficiency of the Silicon photocells are very low. Most commercial used solar panels have around 12% efficiency. Given the prius’ surface area, I estimated that no more than 240 watts (under the optimum condition, or STC condition) of power can be produced. As a rule of thumb, average power is equal to 20% of the peak power. I high doubt those energy would be enough to power the AC.

As a side note, the last attempt to use solar energy in a car (that I know) is done by Audi, and all they managed to do was to power a small electric fan to circulate the air while you are away from the car. A small fan uses no more than 1 watt/h, and a decent electric AC uses at least 300 W/ hr.

In conclusion, I don’t think the car is capable of powering the AC purely by the solar panel.


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chewychewy - 7/8/2008 9:41:42 PMView My AgentSpace
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perfect analyses, I think Audi (and others?) still offers the solar panel/fan combination as part of a summer package on the A6 and A8.


theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 7/7/2008 4:44:59 PM
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"becoming the first major automaker to use solar power for a vehicle"

Ehile I understand its use in powering batteries, both Audi and Mazda have used solar cells.

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quizzquizz - 7/7/2008 4:51:41 PM
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In 1985 Saab had a sports car that used solar cells on the roof to turn on the a/c fan to keep the interior of the car cool: "One of the most significant integration of environmentally sensitive technologies in the EV-1 was the roof being built almost entirely of solar cells that produce electric power for the fans that provide ventilation in the car when located in close proximity to direct and indirect sunlight."

http://www.saabhistory.com/2007/06/24/the-saab-experimental-vehicle-ev-1-1985/

Obviously, this feature and its potential was unimportant back in 1985 when gas prices were nothing.

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85bmw745i85bmw745i - 7/7/2008 11:18:39 PMView My AgentSpace
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Thank you, Quizz, Now I don't have to do the research myself to shut Michael Taylors ignorant Arse up!


Homer007Homer007 - 7/8/2008 8:36:56 AM
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true but Toyota's Prius is mass produced which is phenominal thing to do.


answeranswer - 7/7/2008 7:21:31 PMView My AgentSpace
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I thought the Prius already has the A/C operating independent of the gasoline engine?


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motor1motor1 - 7/7/2008 8:07:52 PM
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This is probably the smartest idea I have ever heard Toyota say! What a genius idea - why can't other brands be as smart as this? Bravo, Toyota. But I don't think they should stop just at the Prius, put it in other models as well. Good job.

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TheGeniusTheGenius - 7/7/2008 8:38:48 PM
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There we go again.. "..becoming the first major automaker to use solar power for a vehicle" Guess the writers at the Nikkei business daily don't do any research.. Quizz is right..Audi has had it on some European models for years, and brought it to the US in late 2003 on the A8 (go to audiusa and see the curent A8 options list..its $790)

That said, its another example of great marketing from Toyota.. A Prius with solar panels couldn't be greener regardless of what the panels were used for...Some people will even believe it powers the car..think its a smart idea that will augment the image of the Prius and Toyota in general.



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bimmerfan25bimmerfan25 - 7/7/2008 10:55:13 PM
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as far as I know a bunch of companies have used a solar sun roof to do little minor functions.

sounds like this roof will be pretty major, delivering real energy not just powering a dashboard light bulb or two


huu76huu76 - 7/7/2008 11:17:37 PM
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Would've been better if it could recharge the battery, just like those $50 solar panels you can buy for boats and cars.

Atleast you can drive with the A/C on unlike those A4 diesels.

Wasn't BMW bragging just a while ago how all their regenerative crap will only power the electronics to help save on fuel? Guess it doesn't count if Toyota uses it on a hybrid.


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Designer1Designer1 - 7/8/2008 5:51:31 AM
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Truly beautiful technology coming from Toyota, excellent job!

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Homer007Homer007 - 7/8/2008 8:39:49 AM
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yeah, I second that! Great stuff with a crap load of future potential use.

INNOVATION.

(but, I'm still a skeptical..hopefully the article is true LOLOL)


truckmentruckmen - 7/10/2008 4:36:13 AM
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Eventually solar paint will not only cool your ride but it will also recharge your batteries to, now all toyota has to do is have a way larger cruising range in electric only.

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DieselRulesDieselRules - 7/11/2008 6:43:56 PM
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Audi had solar panels in the roof back in the 1990's.

"First" claim is totally bogus.

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DieselRulesDieselRules - 7/11/2008 6:47:34 PM
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This feature is perfect: A marketing gimmick tacked onto a car that is itself a marketing gimmick.
The Prius came out to stop tree-huggers from spray painting Toyota's gas-guzzling SUVs, at a time when Toyota sold more models of SUVs than ANYONE. What a green company!

Now they tack on a dinky solar panel that provides only 10% of the power needed for just the AC alone (a detail that they omit).
So it does dick, but makes tree-huggers even more smug driving a car that created the pollution of dozens of non-hybrids in its production.

Way to go Toyota!

Meanwhile, in countries where gas is expensive and people judge cars by REAL performance, Toyota sells tons of diesels and no hybrids. Funny that?

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