Toyota to add solar panels to next-gen Prius

[BigAls87Z28]

That could work, but that means that major cities and towns would have to work together with GM. If it was Toyota, they would bend over backwards.
I think Detroit should, with the help of the Big 3, "Green" itself and try to become the Emerald City of America, giving tax brakes to green companies. This could help spur companines to help the Big 3 as well as give the city a better image overall. Plug in stations should be pioneerd in the city, setting the standard for the rest of America.

[ColoradoZQ8]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

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

The technology has improved greatly over the past 20 years. Solar panels can be made really thin now and can be shaped easily. They could be made to look like stripes -- like the twin stripes running down the center of many performance cars.

[lkimura]

Let me start by saying I'm an electrical engineer, and have installed a photovoltaic system on my house.

The amount of space on the roof of a Prius is about big enough for maybe 200 watts of solar cells, but the orientation of the roof is far from ideal. That is, the solar cells need to face the sun. So I would estimate a roof mounted solar array would only get around 160 watts of power at best.

You also have to consider how much sun you will get. When the sun is low, you get less power, when it is high in the sky my panels put out more, but never at their full rated power even though they are ideally situated. The reason is temperature, as the solar cells heat up, their power output drops. The manufacutres rate their power output at 25 degrees C, about 70 degrees F. In general, if I take my max power under these conditions, I average about 5 and a quarter hours of sun per day. So in the case of the Prius, I would expect to see the solar panel generate a total of 840 watt/hours (5.25 hours X 160 watts).

The current Prius uses an electric motor rated at 50 HP. One HP equals 746 watts of power. So the solar panel will be able to generate a little over 1 HP for one hour (I've assumed a very conservative 12% loss between the solar panel and the output of the electric motor), or the full 50 HP for 1.2 minutes. My guess is the solar panel isn't going to generate enough power to get the Prius out of the parking lot, let alone make any significant impact on its performance.

What about cost? A 200 watt array costs around $900 bucks. I imagine Toyota will be able to do it for less, but you have to also take into consideration the environment that it will have to operate in. Solar panels are delicate, each cell is hand soldered with really fine wire. In order to withstand the shock and vibration associated with a vehicle application will require a solar panel that is much more rugged - and that will cost money. Toyota will also have to warranty this panel, and that will also add cost. I wouldn't be surprised if a solar panel option will add a thousand bucks to the cost of the car.

All things considered, the solar panel seems to be a lousy idea if you consider the performance gains. However, the advertising factor should not be downplayed. The "look at me" factor of the Prius would be enhanced even more to a gullible public by this largely symbolic solar panel.

Frankly, I think the Volt is a far better solution.

[TJ95GAGT]

Anything that increases the cost/sales price of the Prius is good for GM.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by TJ95GAGT

Anything that increases the cost/sales price of the Prius is good for GM.

Great.

Another potential 4,500 - 12,000 $ repair waiting to happen - or have we forgotten things like the old Solar panel sunroof on the Mazda 929 ????

You just know somebody somewhere is going to get too close to some big EMF field near a big solar collector with a Prius like this and open up a wormhole that destroys the Earth or has the car 'melt' around them.

I'm thinking it might be a good idea for some to reposition with certain 'Big Pharma' - the pill is about to become redundant - "oh, look honey - they also glow now" .......

[neshapop]

Originally Posted by member12

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

This won't sell in England, appraently this is PR stunt for California "la la state"

[AMERICA 123]

It's ridiculously expensive per kilowatt - which means some Minister in some Ministry over there will just have to have it.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by DoomsDave

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...

I remember Saab doing the same thing in the mid-80s on a sharp looking concept car - solar panels in the roof to power the AC...

[logansowner]

Originally Posted by Sal Collaziano

No. Apparently some people did not read the article. The solar power is not intended to power the engine. It's simply being used to power accessories.. For example, if they can get it to power the air conditioning, than that's just one less thing the battery needs to power. This is really a no brainer and an excellent idea.

Or maybe everyone should just forgetting about experimenting with things like this so we can continue to go nowhere. Of course, if it were GM doing this on the Volt, everyone would be writing letters with cash stuffed in the envelope to Lutz.

Exactly. GM is too far behind, they don't have the intelligence, the marketing or the money to keep up with Toyota. The Prius will be cheaper and likely more efficient than the Volt, and now with these cells taking more work away from the engine/batteries, it's going to be just this much better.

If I gave a **** about saving gas, I'd seriously contemplate a Prius, and then when it's used, it's still worth something when I want to sell it. GM has about a year to smarten up, or I won't be buying anything from them besides a Silverado or hopefully a Vette some day.

On a good day they can make a vehicle that's as good as a Honda or Toyota (Malibu) but I can't remember the last car GM made that was ya know... better.

[logansowner]

Originally Posted by AMERICA 123

It's ridiculously expensive per kilowatt - which means some Minister in some Ministry over there will just have to have it.

And the Volt is ridiculously expensive too. Sometimes it isn't about saving money. Even with this option it will certainly come in way cheaper than the Volt anyway. If GM thought of this you'd be praising it as the second coming of Jesus. But it's a Toyota so it's useless.

[ph39]

Originally Posted by logansowner

Nobody read the article, did they?



You can already buy really good solar cells that are much more efficient, but people still keep the image of the POS cells they sell at WalMart as battery tenders.

I read the article - I also read all of the comments people were making about using the solar panels to charge the batteries to extend the range.

I also read the quote about the 2KW - 5KW.

"The panels, which are expected to begin appearing on the high-end version of the gasoline-electric hybrid car as early as next spring, will supply part of the 2 to 5 kilowatts needed to power the air conditioning, MarketWatch cited the Japanese business daily as reporting. Kyocera will reportedly supply the panels."

The 2KW to 5KW is for the air conditioner - and the solar panels will supply ONLY PART of the needs.

[rozz]

Originally Posted by AMERICA 123

Great.

Another potential 4,500 - 12,000 $ repair waiting to happen - or have we forgotten things like the old Solar panel sunroof on the Mazda 929 ????

You just know somebody somewhere is going to get too close to some big EMF field near a big solar collector with a Prius like this and open up a wormhole that destroys the Earth or has the car 'melt' around them.

I'm thinking it might be a good idea for some to reposition with certain 'Big Pharma' - the pill is about to become redundant - "oh, look honey - they also glow now" .......

GM said the same thing about Hybrid, blab blab blab. Now, they are playing catch-up.

[logansowner]

Originally Posted by ph39

I read the article - I also read all of the comments people were making about using the solar panels to charge the batteries to extend the range.

I also read the quote about the 2KW - 5KW.

"The panels, which are expected to begin appearing on the high-end version of the gasoline-electric hybrid car as early as next spring, will supply part of the 2 to 5 kilowatts needed to power the air conditioning, MarketWatch cited the Japanese business daily as reporting. Kyocera will reportedly supply the panels."

The 2KW to 5KW is for the air conditioner - and the solar panels will supply ONLY PART of the needs.

So because they don't power the cars full needs they shouldn't be there at all? And I suppose I shouldn't have bought the wind turbine for my house because it only provides part of my power needs?

Isn't that kind of like saying plasma TV's shouldn't exist because the old CRT televisions worked just fine?

The idea is that you will now be able to stop at traffic lights and keep the AC on and let the engine shut down. You could do it now with battery power, but it would run them down quickly. If the solar panels can independently run the AC then it's power that isn't used from the battery supply.

If they were only the WalMart Special chargers that cost $100 each and only provide 20 watts, then yes, I'd call BS on it, but if it can run the AC by itself, then it is definitely worth doing.

[msubleda13]

didnt mazda have solar panels on a 929 like 10 years ago???

[jry]

Big friggin' deal.
My 96 Flair motorhome has solar panels. It takes a pretty big panel to contribute to the operation of a vehicle. The panels on this motorhome are on top of the roof and are large. They don't do much to aid in recharging the house batteries. Truly a symbolic move, to be sure. They'll work real well while the car is parked in a garage.