Solar Prius? | Green Energy News

December 4 2005 – Vol.10 No.37

SOLAR PRIUS?

Yes, it seems feasible that you could glue some flexible solar panels to the roof of your Prius to get better fuel economy from the already fuel-stingy car. Given a long enough period of sunlight - and down time for the car - the solar panels should be able to trickle enough electricity into the battery pack to bring it up to full charge.

(If the battery pack is at full charge the vehicle’s gas engine will spend less time and less fuel on keeping the battery charged - thus the improvement in fuel economy.)

For $2195 Prius owners (and soon other hybrid owners) can buy a kit that will add solar power to their cars. The kit from Solatec includes two self-stick, conformable solar panels combined to supply 30 watts at 18 volts in optimum conditions. A proprietary charger/ current limiter is included that can be hidden behind interior trim panels.

The company says its prototype SolaPrius (R) averages 55 miles per gallon in city driving and 62 on the highway, a 10 percent improvement in the pre-installation numbers on the test vehicle.

And what happens to the Toyota warranty? Well, it’s hard to imagine Toyota honoring it after a car has been tinkered with. But then, some may not care and go ahead with the solar installation anyway.

Visit Solatec at http://www.solatecllc.com/ .