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Toyota Motor Co.'s (NYSE: TM) Prius hybrid is by far the world's most successful hybrid vehicles, with sales numbering over one million units. In addition to the great gas mileage these gas/electric vehicles provide, could these cars become even more efficient? According to Toyota, that's already in the works.The Japanese automaker was featured in Japan's Nikkei newspaper yesterday as saying it will begin installing rooftop solar panels on its next-generation Prius vehicles. Starting with the high-end model, these solar panels will be used to power the air conditioning systems of the car. According to the Nikkei report, these solar panel arrangements may start showing up as next spring.
If Toyota can pull this off, it will mark yet another milestone in automotive history: including solar panel technology in a mass-produced car. It could also set off a trend to power automotive subsystems directly from solar power instead of internally generated power from the gas engine/alternator system or the onboard electric motor. Solar power is abundant and free -- why not use it as much as possible?
Now, where are the other automakers with this? General Motors (NYSE: GM)? Ford Motor (NYSE: F)? A show of hands, please.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-08-2008 @ 2:10PM
larry said...
Maybe not an auto manufacturer but there are other companies involved in huge energy ,fuel efficient vehicles. One is Enova ,who produces a product with up to 60-70% fuel savings in school buses and trucks.This is the type of company that will lead the future with teck and emmisions.They have MY show of hand!!!
7-08-2008 @ 7:15PM
Kent said...
Honda's hydrogen fuel cell car and now Toyota's solar panel. Where is Detroit? Shouldn't they be the innovators? Japan has historically been a green energy country and they are serious about it.
7-08-2008 @ 7:46PM
A D said...
Nice idea but why not use solar panels where they do the most, like on structures?
BTW, GM fuel cell vehicles are already on the road. Have been for months.
8-05-2008 @ 7:42PM
Mark Twomey said...
Imagine driving to work, leaving your car outside in the sun all day, coming out to drive home, and you find you have received a free top-up to your battery.
Solar panel efficiency is improving all the time. There is much that can be done.
Many small boats have a wind turbine on the mast to keep their batteries charged. A car could have its side panels wired to flex with in the wind and charge the batteries also.....watch this space.
3-26-2009 @ 11:20PM
solarcountry said...
Detroit is done. Silicon Valley will pick up that slack with producers like nanosolar. They are providing to tier 2 services to manufacturers and assembly businesses.
http://www.solarcountry.us