The Nikkei, Japan’s biggest business newspaper, reports today [JP] Toyota will use solar panels in its next-generation Prius hybrid cars to be sold starting 2009. The company’s Japanese website doesn’t offer any official information so the news is yet to be confirmed.
The redesigned Prius will come equipped with solar panels on the roof, partly powering the air-conditioning system, which needs up to 5kw. According to the Nikkei, Toyota will procure the PV panels from Kyocera.
Toyota is the world’s first major automaker to install solar batteries on vehicles. It is not yet clear whether the solar Prius will be sold outside Japan as well.
Surely it will be sold Outside Japan, But after 2-3 or may be 10 years… Japanese People get the Technology earlier than the other people.
http://free-and-useful.blogspot.com
We’re probably better off without it considering a Prius with these solar panels will cost alot more than one without them. If all it powers is “part of the the A/C” then it will not save much money.
The Green People will love it but those of us concerned about our pocketbooks will wait for a better, more cost effective, version.
hey rich, I guess you’re really not so rich after all.
What a jerk
So why didnt they just enlarge the battery pack… Solar pannels will not help everyone, and even those who it will benefit it will not benefit them daily….
I’m too lazy to take the snow off the top of my car for half the winter…
I’ll wait for the GM Volt
oh really, do you use your air conditioner much when it’s snowing?
Most of the cars I have driven run the AC when the defroster is on. It pulls the humidity out of the car.
There is no humidity in the air when it is snowing.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t run my air conditioning in the winter. Besides, the idea was to have the panels run the AC when it is parked so the cabin isn’t 300 degrees when you get in. At least that is the idea I sent to them back in 2005 when I bought my Prius.
Yes, because worrying about our pocketbooks is, ultimately, more important than worrying about our contribution to a filthy planet.
“Green People”? Can these only be faceless automatons, and not people who try to give a s**t? I think that’s a little unfair.
Our gay organization GFSE ( Gays for Solar Energy) in NY is interested in this technology. As a Prius owner I can see why they chose this car
“Toyota is the world’s first major automaker to install solar batteries on vehicles”
back in 99 my A6 came with solar panels in the sun roof to power an interior fan during hot summers; that was almost 10 years ago.
Sure, the A6 had solar panels to power the interior fan, but it wasn’t connected to a solar battery.
10 years is a lot of time betwen technologies. I’m surtain if Toyota was right with hybrid tech. they will also be a winner with this concept. There are no bad ideas just bad execution.
What a gimmick.
No, seriously:
http://tinyurl.com/5ys4e4
Wired laid it all out. What about the 30 lbs of Nickel in *each* car? If prius owners were serious, it would be:
1) Their only vehicle
2) Used only when public transit couldn’t
I’m tired of pious prius owners claiming this as salvation. Umm, motorcycle anyone?
I am *not* anti electric car concept, just this one.
Prius may not be the ideal solution, but when we bought ours in 2004, it was one of the two hybrid options reasonably available at the time.
By purchasing this car (along with 1 million others) we sent a message to auto makers that new efficient technology is in high demand.
I don’t think American manufacturers would have even considered producing cars like the GM Volt if Toyota and Honda’s hybrids weren’t so successful. (Maybe the current cost of oil would have got them started, but this all got rolling long before)
Here here! Along those lines, even if the solar panels only power part of the A/C, their installation will send a message, and encourage growth in the industry leading to more advanced technology along the line. Also, mass transit is not always a convient option, especially in Southern California. I would be interested to see how much gas would be burnt to run that A/C if the solar panels were not used.
It’s far, far, FAR better than all of us continuing to drive V8 Hemis and other pointless macho-mobiles. When a little four-banger wagon will do the job just as well, who needs a V6 Minivan or a Lincoln Navigator for the family??
I bought a 38mpg Honda Fit (after driving a V6 Maxima for years) and I will NEVER GO BACK. It’s more convenient in more ways than I can list (with the seating configuration flat, I can carry 8′ lumber in that car; my old Subaru Outback couldn’t even do this).
Less is more.
I read Honda is going to offer a hybrid Fit in 2010.
Seriously… My parents had a conversion van that had solar panels on the roof to keep the battery charged. Was the greatest thing till the glass on the panels got oxidized and solar performance was reduced greatly.
The whole prius concept is a gimmick. My dads 1997 Toyota Tercel gets over 56MPG street. The car cost him 10k new. All he has done to it since is replaced the spark plugs, oil, breaks, tires, air filter.
Problem with the Prius is that nobody is willing to pay out so much for a stripped down car that offers no advantages over a cheap-o economy car. The prius gets good only in favorable climates and situations. I.E stop sign on every corner, stop light at all intersections, driving 35MPH everywhere… no high way.
Why can’t car companies ether make something that doesn’t use a 100+ year old technology or something as reliable as the tercel again. I’m 90% sure this new prius will break the 40k mark and still have more problems/less advatages then my dads car.
Tercel was the best car toyota ever made. Too bad they stopped making cars like those. I’ll always be surprised how so many people don’t even understand what hybrid cars are for. Hybrids are not designed to save fuel… They are designed to lower carbon emissions only. Fuel savings is just a side effect. It’s just like Fuel injection. Helps but doesn’t fix the problem with the archaic technology.
This must be a joke! I don’t believe your dad’s Tercel gets 56 mpg. You might get this by over inflating the tires and driving 40 mph steady and coasting a lot but not in real world driving. The Tercel was a nice little car especially the wagon.
No, really! His dad drives the car to work and then back home… and it is downhill both ways!
The Nikkei is not the largest newspaper, it’s the fourth largest after the Yomiuri, Asahi and some other one. What the author may have meant is that it is a leading economic newspaper.
Hi ErikaB,
You are correct, that is why I wrote “business newspaper” ;).
What’s great about the A/C in a Prius is on a hot day you can run it while setting in the car, with NO motor running until the battery gets low and any input by the solar panel will help. Prius 2007 owner.
Cheers for Toyota! The continue to be bold in there attempts to make a difference.
Regarding GM, they deserve BANKRUPTCY! It is inexcusable that a global monster like GM has dragged its feet and failed to produce an automobile that runs on batteries.
Let see if big oil saves there BUTTs .
if GM goes under thousands of retirees will lose thier pentions and the only income that they have. maybe you should think about the people over the environment, i am a proud owner of a 2003 yukon xl denali 13 mpg and dont really care. the environment will take care of itself it doesnt need us to make retarded hybrids and ethanol that makes food prices go up. all you environmentalist are just hippies that need to just disapear. there should be a tax on all those stupid japanese cars instead of letting them ship thousands here with no import tax. support america not slanty eyed morons. if you really care than much you should walk everywhere you probably have an ass the size of texas
By ‘your’, do you mean “you’re”? Be cool, stay in school. How can your children ever develop past Neanderthal level if you can’t even read, write, or spell correctly? By ‘disapear’, do you mean “disappear”? By ‘pentions’, do you mean “pensions”? By ‘dont’, do you mean “don’t”? Your inability to communicate as a well-read, well-educated adult simply allows those who read your comments to immediately dismiss them. In other words, you completely wasted your (ignorant and racist) time. You are nothing. Congratulations.
One think I’m convinced of is that the ability to write correctly is no true measure of intelligence. I understood them perfectly. I’m also convinced that dismissing someones ideas because they are not written properly is prejudice. You go on to prove it. “ignorant and racist) time.”
The person was correct. If GM was able to remove large numbers of people from their “pentions”
seriously? thats the most ridiculous, ignorant and racist comment i’ve read in a while. you’ve don’t nothing more than embarrass yourself.
(by the way, it’s “you’re an idiot”)
“maybe you should think about the people over the environment”
Umm, without a hospitable environment, where will the people live?
“the environment will take care of itself it doesnt need us to make retarded hybrids and ethanol that makes food prices go up.”
Yes, and we don’t need gas guzzling Yukon’s to make oil prices go up, which in turn affect food prices.
You, Mr Racist, are the real idiot.
This is the kind of conservatism we will leave behind us(hopefully for good) in the next election.
When someone whispers in your ear is there an echo? Your name pretty much sums you up…but just for giggles, cupcake, when exactly do you suggest we start worrying about the economy, energy alternatives and the environment? They are all inextricably linked, Einstein.
Let me guess… you don’t have children. A response like yours only shows how selfish and short sighted you are. A Grasshopper instead of an ant (If you don’t catch my fable reference – you’re ignorant too). And yes the environment will take care of us by killing us first. Only then will it be able to fully repair itself.
For folks who get a winter then a solar paneled vehicle may not sound like a useful purchase. Those of us who get 15 hours of sun a day would benefit from this configuration. Anything that takes part of the load off the primary power source makes for a step in the right direction.
I wished I could do that with my Dodge 1500. There is enough surface area there for several meters of panels. Put a lid on the bed covered with panels and you have almost enough power collection to run a house. Would be nice to add an electric system to that truck. Add a motor aft of the transmission case. If I could get 30 miles out of it a day I would cut my fuel needs by 3/4’s
But I know I am wishing out loud.
Sounds like you know what your talking about. Why not send a letter to the manufacturer of your choice with these suggestions. That’s what I did (back in 2005) and look they are doing. Maybe I helped or maybe they were planning all along, the point is ideas should always be shared. This advice comes to you from an industrial designer (ie: product designer) :)
I specialize in toy design, but I am always looking out to improve anything I get my hands on!
cbmtrx:
I admire your passion, but it is misguided. The current Prius is less economical and less environmentally friendly than a BMW M3. This solar model is not a great leap forward.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP6fe6i1vaY
The ‘green people’ the other poster referred to, I’m sure, is directed towards those who continue to fall for the current global warming swindle. Any designer who knows his basic history of trends (like myself) will tell you that this current ’save the planet’ stance is as much a marketing technique as it is a global issue.
The Prius is a perfect example of something that attracts customers by saying it’s helping to save the planet – but doesn’t. With a bit of research, you will also find yourself condemning this awful machine along with a great number of other ‘environmentally friendly’ products.
Unfortunately, prioritising one’s pocket book is the best way to approach things while companies continue to con us at the earth’s expense.
The Prius is the most economical consumption wise. The problem is people have not adapted their driving technique to maximise the potential of the car. Everyone expects to jam on the accelerator and start saving. It does not work that way. You have to coast a lot more (further away from stop light and stop signs than normal). Slower accelereation from stand still, and most importantly do 105 KM on the highway with cruise, or 50 KM on streets. You’d be surprised how many green lights you catch when you do the speed limit! I’m a Prius owner by the way :)
This may or may not be a good idea. Solar panels are somewhat expensive to produce, in both energy and materials. The Prius may end up in the dump before the energy of the panels’ manufacture is recouped.
toyota continues to show why they are the number one car company.
and, true to form, our american car builders will follow (after waiting several years) rather than lead.
Keep jobs in this country.our land is being sold out from under us we are to blind to see whats happening to this country were being sold to foreign country’s.Build at home purchase american made no matter what.look at what depending on other country’s has done.if this keeps on this country will come to a stand still all because of oil.whats next. look at our motels who’s behind the desk.were selling out this country.im not racial one bit i just think we should take care of this country first or lose it. Growth is takeing care of this country first.GOD BLESS AMERICA.
…the majority of Toyotas are produced in the united states…
Also, this country’s number one economic problem is the cost of fuel; the prius is one of the few cars that paid for its increased cost in fuel savings back when gas was under $3.00/gallon. It’s made in America, it saves you money, and it’s good for the environment… I do not understand where all this hate is coming from.
“look at our motels who’s behind the desk.were selling out this country.im not racial one bit”.
Not one bit? Really? The proof is most certainly because you can tell a foreigner by sight. What, in your little feeble mind, constitutes an American? Must be hard on you having an uncle who’s also your daddy.
Are you behind the desk? No why not? The job was there for the taking? Not interested? That’s why they are there and not you. You should be in a “thinking job” and not a “doing job”. As long as our children remain “smart” and get hired for the “thinking” jobs life will be just fine.
FYI the Prius is being manufactured in the US in two states: California and Kentucky. You can’t keep this narrow minded view of what “American” is. The economy is too diversified and spread out globally to recognize what is truly “American”.
I agree with the comments that the prius in not a net environmentally friendly vehicle. It is much more expensive and resource intensive to manufacture while giving only limited improvements in gas efficiency. I just bought a motorcyle, which gives me 60 plus miles to the gallon and took about 1/8 the amount of energy and resources to produce as a conventional car.
When I can’t ride the motorcycle, I take mass transit or ride my bike to work. That’s the way to save the environment.
Good for you. You found your solution. I hope eveybody who reads this will deside to be as pro-active as you. In my situation, I have a husband that takes the train and a child that needs to go to daycare, my solution was to sell my V6 volks Jetta and get a Prius.
I have been saying for years that solar panels are the way to go. Not only for car AC, but for houses. Why not use all that heat to save money and energy?? As for those complainers about nickel this, or inefficient that…
These are only the first steps, folks! Way after we are dead, our grandkids WILL be driving electric vehicles, because they MUST! It IS where we are heading; it’s only a matter of time. I DO agree that the big, fat automakers have dug themselves their own graves (potentially). US oil, big business, car labor unions, and fat Americans have only themselves to blame. BUT… we CAN use our knowhow to get out of this mess, catch up to, and LEAD, the rest of the world, in solar technology. Let’s do it NOW, instead of 30 years from now!
I have been saying for years that solar panels are the way to go. Not only for car AC, but for houses. Why not use all that heat to save money and energy?? As for those complainers about nickel this, or inefficient that…
These are only the first steps, folks! Way after we are dead, our grandkids WILL be driving electric vehicles, because they MUST! It IS where we are heading; it’s only a matter of time. I DO agree that the big, fat automakers have dug themselves their own graves (potentially). US oil, big business, car labor unions, and fat Americans have only themselves to blame. BUT… we CAN use our knowhow to get out of this mess, catch up to, and LEAD, the rest of the world, in solar technology. Let’s do it NOW, instead of 30 years from now!
No Hydrogen is the future. Unless someone comes up with a WAY better battery that doesn’t involve digging up the planet to make it. We have Honda’s in LA running on Hydrogen now. The just put in the gas station up the street. I am getting one? No. Why? Because it takes more carbon to build a new car that runs on Hydrogen then to drive my 23MPG car for another 10 years. (or it dies)
I suggest you start saving now. The cost to build the infrastructure for fueling stations will be astronomical. Perhaps that is what the petrol companies are doing. Charging sky high prices now so that they can afford the cost in 50 years. That way they can keep the Villa in Spain.
Wally:
I agreed up until you said, ‘look at our motels who’s behind the desk’. You’ll be voting republican I presume.
Exactly a prius is WAY worse for the enviroment then just a plan old Corolla. The Nickle mining alone is just insanely bad for the environment. If you want to save the environment and live green. TURN OFF THE AC. You will live with a little hot. Might not be the most comfortable but the GEEZ stop being a hypocrite. Same people buying prius are the people who buy organic fruit shipped 2500 miles from where they live in trucks that are so fuel inefficient that it would be better if you just pored DDT on the ground out side your house. First Buy a USED CAR (no new carbon created by manufacturing DUH.) AND BUY FROM LOCAL FARMERS. Next move closer to work. Yup might cost you more but guess what its about saving the earth not saving your pocket book. Or are you only concerned about the planet when its convient and cool for you to do so?
dg007:
That’s all well and good, but I think spending more money and causing more harm to our planet by driving a Prius is hardly the way forward.
Toyota has the technology and that’s great but now it needs to redesign that ugly jelly bean to look good. Look at the GM ‘Volt’. Now that’s sharp !
The prius still gets 100% of its propulsion energy from burning gasoline.
Sell me a plug-in hybrid.
Until then, Im not buying.
As for ‘buy American’, get a grip.
This is a market, not a country.
A country is where you move to after exploiting this market.
The sooner you correctly view America as a market and not a country the sooner you will see it all makes sense to sell out everything. That its becomming 3rd world…who cares.
There are much better, less corrupt places to live in this world, after you finish exploiting this market for what its worth, which is increasingly not much.
Nothing wrong with being careful when spending our cash. No problem there.
Problem is with the “100%” comment. Wrong. To be technically and practically correct, the batteries in Toyota’s hybrids can power the cars for close to 2 miles on favorably terrain and given a stiff tail wind. Even the larger Highlander SUV can cruise on electric at low speed for 2 miles.
Get the facts straight.
If you are arguing that the gas engine has to run to charge the batteries, you are still wrong. Regenerative braking use the momentum of the car to recharge the battery and that energy is used to propel the car as well.
Get the facts straight.
Now we can return to arguing why we do not need a Prius :-).
“The Nikkei, Japan’s biggest business newspaper,”
See the word business in there?
“Toyota is the world’s first major automaker to install solar batteries on vehicles.”
Solar batteries, not solar panels.
Left to right, top to bottom, group words into sentences.
As for the product? Sounds like rubbish to me. So now we have to worry not only about disposal of those batteries which pose huge environmental threats but also the silicon based PV panels? Last I heard we are running low on usable (quality) silicon due to the amount we have already deposited in landfills from our constant trashing of electronics.
The Prius is like replacing thermonuclear war heads with dirty bombs. Less immediate destruction, but the same wonderful “glow in the dark” side affects.
Again, get your facts straight.
Toyota will pay a bounty to buy back the hybrid batteries to recycle.
The focus on the Ni metal hybrid batteries is hilarious. So lead acid batteries are not toxic? Fire retardant in the car is not toxic? The vinyl in new car off-gassing is not toxic? The process of drilling for oil and processing it into fuel usable by automobiles is clean?
Ni is ONLY used for Toyota gas-electric hybrid?
Finally, if all that is BAD to your mind, WHAT is your proposal? Do nothing?
A lot of posters here are so eager at bashing the Prius for strange illogical and ill-informed reasons, they miss the points completely.
Motorbikes? Only singles, not useful for a family or people who must drive others around.
Ni batteries? Toyota pays a bounty to bring it back for recycling.
Ni toxicity? Ni is used in many things we live with today; ever heard of stainless steel? Why pick on Prius?
BMW “cleaner”? Care to state EPA emissions rating for the life of the vehicles mile for mile?
“Slanty eye morons”? Do you know that Toyota has factories in the US employing thousands of Americans? Do you propose that is unpatriotic and we should starve our own people? THis is the dumbest of all the anti-Toyota posts I have seen. Proud to own a 13-MPG Yukon? Environment be damned? Geee, how about we make a special rule for you to start using DDT in your house and on your property, let your children wear banned fire retardant infused clothes, add lead back into the fuel for your cars, in the paint in your house and asbestos in your home and bed? You are so tough and SO AMERICAN, how about you prove your manhood by taking on these toxic metals because YOUR natural system in YOUR body can take care of itself? Oh, when you get CANCER, please, no need for medical help! Let nature take care of it for you, right?
It is amazing how the educated in AMerica has fallen and how the uneducated is considered the norm. Now we have a bunch of mindless little drones who do not think for themselves and simply repeat and believe what others spout without and critical thoughts. No wonder 54% voted for you-know-who twice over the last eight years. The dumbing of AMerica has finally begun. Sad.
Yes and there is a recycling center in Conn. or Vermont that now a Superfund cite because they forgot that the chemicals in mother boards is water soluble OOPS. I don’t use stainless personally I use silicon and Iron. Its not a matter of negating Ni its a matter of not using it when we don’t need to. You might want to read that article in Wired. Some of it is flawed but most of it is right on target.
Technology cannot solve all our problems but neither can we ignore human errors. Superfund sites exist for many reasons. On one extreme, due to lack of understanding of our own technology. On the other extreme, due to gross human greed. I have no clue what happened in Conn or Vermont so I cannot comment. I can take that logic further though.
If one recycling failed in one place, for reasons not clear (human? bad science?), then we stop recycling? So we take one specific instance and generalize it to mean all? This is extremely poor logic and bad scientific approach. IN science, we look first for factors, facts and measurable and repeatable observations before we dare form anything close to a generalization. One specific example is insufficient.
As for Ni, I agree with you on that we each can choose when there is a choice. Unfortunately, stainless steel is everywhere especially in large commercial buildings, cars, aircraft, ships, trains, office furniture, home furnishing.
My point was to not pick on Toyota for its use of Ni, that is unfair.
Toyota is also working on Lithium technology now to replace Ni. That is not pleasant either.
What is the alternative? We all return to riding horses?
P.S. Charging our plug-in’s from the coal fired grids is not going to solve the problem either.
The vast majority of electricity in this country is generated from carbon-based fuel. All that would do is reduce our need to buy the fuel from the middle east. (good thing, but not eco-friendly)
dg007,
by capitalizing entire WORDS in your previous POST, you don’t seem much more INTELLIGENT than the people YOU were just BERATING for their improper SPELLING. Get over yourself.
of course the comment was deleted.. oh well.
At least it allows a new outlet for Solar panels to be used and in a way that size and weight will be a factor as to another reasons for solar manufacturers to make them better and cheaper so as time goes by that might be able to run the whole a/c system .
Toyota has their mind the right place, but there are a lot of downsides to solar. Has anyone ever done any research on what goes into making a solar panel? I am not sure what the energy required to fabricate the actual solar panel is, but I have studied the energy required to make solar-grade pure silicon. It blew my mind. Now I’m definitely one to support the environment and “go green” where I can, but I was honestly let down and disappointed when I found out what I did. The process of purifying silicon is SO energy intensive it makes you wonder if they ever pay off in their lifetime. Another disappointment, when making pure silicon a lot of waste is produced, and yes the factories in the U.S. do everything they can to recycle that waste and dispose of it properly. However, the factories producing pure silicon in China have decided its cheaper to skip the recycling step (which it is) and just dump the waste into landfills. Mmm nothing like hydrogen and chlorine gas filling our landfills. The demand for silicon is so high factories are doing anything they can to produce silicon as fast as possible. I wish this weren’t true, but I’m afraid it is. Now if someone would study how long it takes a solar panel to pay off all the energy used in the production process, that would be nice!
Don’t see the problem with PV cells. Getting things out in the market is essential to making these products more cost effective.
We need to separate “Green” vehicles from “Fuel Efficient” vehicles. Green would mean that they produce no harmful chemicals, emissions, or waste, where fuel efficient just get better gas mileage. Most Green vehicles have so many batteries and other parts that will need to be thrown away eventually, that they aren’t green at all; wed almost be better off using regular gas power. Most of the yuppies that jump on the “Green” bandwagon just do it so they feel better about themselves trying to “do their part” but they really aren’t helping anything. Eventually were going to have a billion Prius batteries leaking into our water and destroying the environment, so hopefully all you “Green” people will be willing to help clean them up when the time comes.
Only way this will help the environment is if you make the car affordable. Otherwise it i s just a look good gimmick ti make a few hollywood actors and the very rich act as if they are concerned.
As far as Gays for Solar Energy. Is there a Straights for Solar Energy group as well,. I feel left out.
Not quite sure about the size of the solar panels on this but im guessing its at best three square feet. They stated there ac needs five thousand watts to run, how much of that do you really think that solar panel will contribute. What can the best solar tech produce per square foot one to five watts? Could three hundred square feet even power one ac? Just asking
I’ve seen solar roofs on lots of cars as an accessory. I’ve seen it on BMW and Audi. The solar will help keep the car cool in the summer, and somehow help heat the car more evenly in the winter.
(Wind power)- constant turbine scoop windmill rotating action while generating a very useable amount of energy. Mounted on roof, or behind the grill work in the front. Not limited to sunny conditions only, but all weather conditions.
To MISSING THE POINT:
I do not have those figures, but undoubtfully, they would lean in favour of the Prius. However, you are yourself, missing the point. The majority of the CO2 produced by the Prius occurs in production. This is not the case with the cars listed below, which all produce less CO2 on the road than the Prius too (apart from the Mini, which produces the same).
1. Seat Ibiza 1.4 TDI Ecomotive 3dr
99 g/km£10,995
2. Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI BlueMotion 1 3dr
99 g/km£12,120
3. MINI Cooper Cooper D 3dr
104 g/km£14,420
4.Toyota Prius T3 Hybrid 1.5 VVT-i 5dr
104 g/km£17,777
Notice the price too. As I said… people are spending more money to cause MORE harm to the environment. Think about it.
So I assumed that they finally dumped NiMh and joined the 90’s with LiON batteries. Silly me.
I do however agree with the others that have posted about the amount of energy/damage involved in mining nickel. And I surely hope that they are paying you quite nicely to give them all that nickel back in their battery recycling program.
The separation of green/efficient cars into respective categories is spot on. What (if anything) would fit in the green category?
Mr. Ratan TATA, India has plenty of sun all 365 days, in fact too much of a good thing. Your Jewel, NANO has a roof profile that is ideal for installing Solar Panels Please, Please SIR instal solar panels to power the Nano. That will make NANO #1, save the huge oil bill for India, Save the environment, Earn Carbon credits. In sum a win, win, win, a BIG WIN for all and make you our HERO worldwide.
Vote for Obama. He is our Savior. Only Obama can implement green earth technologies, while also apologizing to the world for the arrogant american usage of raw resources. Obama and Reverend Wright are RIGHT, God D*** america!
How about HHO, check it out. A gas every oil company in the world doesn’t want you to know about. Spread the word. Do the research.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6YYUOx6fBU
Lets think outside the box. Solar panels are a luxury item to keep your car the same temp as when you got out. This has nothing to do with keeping green. But keeping comfortable in the summer time.
the Japanese do it again. while GM and Ford mgmt are trying to locate their a**es, the Japanese are developing innovative solutions to differentiate themselves in the marketplace while setting themselves up for mass market opportunities in the future. Its both a shame and an opportunity since only through competition will American ingenuity awake from its sleep.
All this talk on solar panels and i still think there effectiveness is completely over looked. How much power can use possibly get from the surface of a car roof? Just enough to power the check engine led light ill bet.
The last two comments were uncalled for.
Instead of arguing who is greener or who is polluting the earth the most, we should be looking at true alternative forms of energy such as separating water into hydrogen at the point of entry into the carburetor, etc. Can’t be done? Check out the web site for “car runs on water”. Also check out another website “aptera.com). Finally, why shouldn’t we be pushing our oil soaked parties, Democrats and Republicans in Congress to set up true research facilities to develop workable, practical alternative energy? It happened when the US made the decision to go to the moon!
i hardly think facing the facts about the energy output of solar panels is uncalled for in a discussion on a supplemental power source. I havent read up on the latest and greatest in solar panels, so you tell me how much you can get from three square feet. Im still guessing an average of five watts, and the ac requires five thousand watts. If im wrong the lay out the facts.
Ok, lets estimate the effectiveness and get some numbers…
The article says that the solar panels will power “part” of the 5kW a/c system. So lets be generous and say 75% of 5kW is powered by solar (3.75kW). Probably around or less than 50% in reality.
According to a 2005 article, Americans spend over 100 hours per year driving to work. Now you won’t have have sunny days all the time, but lets assume you do. I usually have my a/c on most of the time so lets assume 100% of the time you are driving you have it on either heating or cooling. So take 100hr/yr times 3.75kW and you get 375kW-hours energy saved per year by the solar panels.
Now you can take that your car produces an estimated 10.5kW-hours per gallon of gas(see sources below). Divide that by our energy saved from solar and you get ~35.7 gallons of gas saved per year.
Finally break that down and you get the following:
35.7gal @ $4.10 (national average) = $147/yr saved
$12.20/month saved or ~40 cents per day.
35.7gal / 52weeks/yr = ~0.7 gallons saved per week.
Again these are estimates and can be higher or lower based on LOTS of factors (weather, driving time, a/c usage, engine efficiency).
Sources:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question424.htm
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/censusandstatistics/a/commutetimes.htm
“So lets be generous and say 75% of 5kW is powered by solar (3.75kW). Probably around or less than 50% in reality.”
You clearly have pulled that from your anus with no concept of reality. Simply stating random percentages does not make them true because you wish it to be. If you could even get one kilowatt out of a panel that size all houses would be powered solely from solar that wouldn’t even take up the whole roof. No no, the power a panel this size would be much much much less perhaps maybe the best you could hope for is around eighty watts.
True, I was just picking a high % to compensate for my lack of solar efficiency knowledge and was just generalizing because I don’t get paid to look all this stuff up nor do any of us know the technical specs. The point was to show that even with the crazy 75% you don’t save much money at all.
I do apologize, after reading that first bit i honestly didn’t pay enough attention to the rest and clearly missed your point. I am sorry for the insult, i get irritated with people praising solar panels when they are so pathetically insignificant at producing electricity. And just to be clear im all for green energy, wind power has some true potential and solar heat concentrators shows some promise.
This is the dumbest idea that is nothing more then a marketing gimmick to attract the larger bank accounts and lower iq group. Ill bet the extra weight of the panels charge controller and batteries expend a thousand fold (just a complete guess) more energy in gas then they produce in electricity.
Again sorry for the misunderstanding.
Solar panel roofs – great idea! Now Prius needs to up-grade to diesel motors for even greater efficiency. I wish they would, futhermore, add an additonal manufacturing plant to make Prius vehicles more available. Hard to be found in Orlando area!
MISSING THE POINT wrote:
“…Problem is with the “100%” comment. Wrong. To be technically and practically correct, the batteries in Toyota’s hybrids can power the cars for close to 2 miles on favorably terrain and given a stiff tail wind. Even the larger Highlander SUV can cruise on electric at low speed for 2 miles.
Get the facts straight.”
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You get the facts straight. Where do you think that energy comes from to cruise your two miles? Outer space? Its gasoline, idiot.
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If you are arguing that the gas engine has to run to charge the batteries, you are still wrong. Regenerative braking use the momentum of the car to recharge the battery and that energy is used to propel the car as well.
Get the facts straight.
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Typical incompetent.
Where does the energy of the momentum come from? Outer space?
Its gasoline, again, idiot.
Or do you believe in perpetual motion machines?
Freaking idiot.
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Can anyone confirm the “…the air-conditioning system, which needs up to 5kw”
5kw? I assume this means 5,000 watts. That’s a great deal more power than a 24,000 BTU window air-conditioner uses (about 3,000 watts), and that A/C unit can cool a 1400 – 1600 sq ft room. The power from the photovoltaic array would be less than 200w, based on the panels available here ( http://www.solarhome.org/solarpanelscenter.html ) and the surface area of the roof. So, given the extra cost (probably $1000+), and the limited savings (a few dollars per year).
This will be nothing more than a status symbol, not a solution. Photovoltaic technology will accelerate rapidly in the future. Until it does, the consumers seeking cheaper energy will have to look elsewhere.
I understood them perfectly. One thing I’m convinced of is that the ability to write perfectly is no true measure of intelligence. It may even be just a genetic trick. I’m also convinced that dismissing someones ideas because they are not written properly is prejudice and stupid.