Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius

DoomsDave · 07-06-2008, 11:29 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080707/bs_nm/toyota_dc_2

Seems largely symbolic and not very effective, but I'm sure Toyota will be praised by the media...

vsd · 07-06-2008, 11:40 PM

I was thinking about why manufactures didn't use solar panels to power the a/c after reading up on the Aptera. Seems like it could work well on GM's BAS system to power a/c when the car is in auto-stop.

FenwickHockey65 · 07-06-2008, 11:42 PM

Didn't we have this first on the Provoq?
Hmm.

mbukukanyau · 07-07-2008, 01:06 AM

Solar panel's my bu tt. This is really getting tacky.

1931Chevy · 07-07-2008, 01:10 AM

I have been thinking about this for a while , why dont GM design a solar panel for the Volt so lets say when you are at work and for the people that let their cars outside in the sun for 6 to 8 hours this could help recharge the batteries maybe not a 100% recharge but half would be damn good since that way save half of what you would had spended plug in the car

63GrandSport001 · 07-07-2008, 01:28 AM

Solar panels on the volt would be awesome

How about also adding some airinlets that turn windmills that can recharge the batteries as well.

goblue · 07-07-2008, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

Solar panels on the volt would be awesome

How about also adding some airinlets that turn windmills that can recharge the batteries as well.

That would slow the car down if you used it while driving. Now, if you're proposing while stopped - it would be largely ineffective, but might add a tiny bit of power.

johnstarnes · 07-07-2008, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1931Chevy

I have been thinking about this for a while , why dont GM design a solar panel for the Volt so lets say when you are at work and for the people that let their cars outside in the sun for 6 to 8 hours this could help recharge the batteries maybe not a 100% recharge but half would be damn good since that way save half of what you would had spended plug in the car

That is an excellent idea! I also like Honda's creation of solar parking garages where you charge up while parked.

Uzzy · 07-07-2008, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsd

I was thinking about why manufactures didn't use solar panels to power the a/c after reading up on the Aptera. Seems like it could work well on GM's BAS system to power a/c when the car is in auto-stop.

I read somewhere several years ago that Buick was supposed to offer that as an option on the Park Ave. I guess it didn't happen the, did it? It was supposed to run a little fan or A/C unit to keep the cabin temps down a bit when the car was parked.

johnstarnes · 07-07-2008, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uzzy

I read somewhere several years ago that Buick was supposed to offer that as an option on the Park Ave. I guess it didn't happen the, did it? It was supposed to run a little fan or A/C unit to keep the cabin temps down a bit when the car was parked.

I too remember something about that....what an elegantly simple effective solution to getting into an oven on a summer day...so of COURSE GM did not impliment it...best to leave it to a competitor to offer.

Blair1118 · 07-07-2008, 08:45 AM

I've been saying forever that the HUGE roofs on Hummer's need Solar Panels.........

member12 · 07-07-2008, 08:50 AM

That's great if it never gets dark or cloudy where you live.

Uzzy · 07-07-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by member12

That's great if it never gets dark or cloudy where you live.

They're not used as a primary source of power, just as a supplement whenever possible.

afireinside7710 · 07-07-2008, 09:21 AM

wouldnt the solar panels just heat the car up even more?

camaro_freak · 07-07-2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Didn't we have this first on the Provoq?
Hmm.

will that make it to production or will GM renig on that too.

07-06-2008, 11:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
DoomsDave 2.4 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin, TX Drives: 1994 BMW 325is Posts: 91	Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080707/bs_nm/toyota_dc_2 Seems largely symbolic and not very effective, but I'm sure Toyota will be praised by the media...

07-06-2008, 11:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
vsd 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Under the California Sun Posts: 2,703	Re: Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius I was thinking about why manufactures didn't use solar panels to power the a/c after reading up on the Aptera. Seems like it could work well on GM's BAS system to power a/c when the car is in auto-stop.

07-06-2008, 11:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Chester, OH Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS Posts: 4,905	Re: Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius Didn't we have this first on the Provoq? Hmm. __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT RS: 3.6L DI VVT V6

07-07-2008, 01:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
mbukukanyau 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In front of my computer Drives: 2006 HHR 2002 Corolla-Before I saw the light Posts: 7,603	Re: Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius Solar panel's my bu tt. This is really getting tacky. __________________ Before Understanding comes Faith

07-07-2008, 01:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
63GrandSport001 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,538	Re: Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius Solar panels on the volt would be awesome How about also adding some airinlets that turn windmills that can recharge the batteries as well.

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07-07-2008, 08:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
Blair1118 2.0 Liter Supercharged ECOTEC Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Simons Island, GA Drives: 2001 GMC JimVoy II Posts: 181	Re: Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius I've been saying forever that the HUGE roofs on Hummer's need Solar Panels.........

07-07-2008, 08:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
member12 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Baton Rouge, LA and Augusta, GA. Drives: pickup truck Posts: 4,935	Re: Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius That's great if it never gets dark or cloudy where you live. __________________ I want to own a Corvette before I die. Louisiana!

07-07-2008, 09:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
afireinside7710 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Feb 2007 Drives: 2007 Cobalt 2.2L Ecotec Posts: 216	Re: Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius wouldnt the solar panels just heat the car up even more? __________________ Member of The: I will never buy a Japanese car in my life Club

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