SOLAR Power Option for Toyota Prius
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 30,278
Likes: 355
From: Canada
SOLAR Power Option for Toyota Prius
This option consists in a solar-panel made from high efficiency mono-crystalline photovoltaic cells, with modules rated at 200-300 watts. The power obtained is used to charge the 3kW secondary battery that can be used to drive the vehicle up to 20 miles per day on electric power.
With fuel economy improved by around 29%(this depends on the driving style you have) owners could recuperate most of the $2000-$4000 cost of installing the system within 2 to 3 years. Performance will be improved further with the addition of higher-capacity batteries that currently are in development, potentially adding another 10 miles of electric-only drive.
With fuel economy improved by around 29%(this depends on the driving style you have) owners could recuperate most of the $2000-$4000 cost of installing the system within 2 to 3 years. Performance will be improved further with the addition of higher-capacity batteries that currently are in development, potentially adding another 10 miles of electric-only drive.
.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 3
From: none
Good idea. Nice to see that the panels seem to be efficient enough to warrant an installation.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 1
From: California
Trending Topics
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,335
Likes: 61
From: California
The future looks brighter for the auto industry. Imagine this a hydrogen/electric hybrid with solar panels. We're not going to need to buy as much oil from these oil producing countries anymore.
This is the preamble to the future...
This is the preamble to the future...
Last edited by Trexus; Jun 4, 2007 at 05:20 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 3
From: none
Oh... heh. I was just throwing out ideas. Didn't expect anyone to actually comment on that lol.
I mean, there has to be a way to make old hybrids usable. Solar panels are one option. 3rd party companies that do battery swaps (like engine swaps lol) so you don't have to pay the fulll price of a new hybrid etc etc
Sure... you got the cash and the installer?
It probably works for you since you're in Cali. Less effective for me since I'm up north.
I mean, there has to be a way to make old hybrids usable. Solar panels are one option. 3rd party companies that do battery swaps (like engine swaps lol) so you don't have to pay the fulll price of a new hybrid etc etc
Sure... you got the cash and the installer?
It probably works for you since you're in Cali. Less effective for me since I'm up north.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 1
From: California
Oh... heh. I was just throwing out ideas. Didn't expect anyone to actually comment on that lol.
I mean, there has to be a way to make old hybrids usable. Solar panels are one option. 3rd party companies that do battery swaps (like engine swaps lol) so you don't have to pay the fulll price of a new hybrid etc etc
Sure... you got the cash and the installer? It probably works for you since you're in Cali. Less effective for me since I'm up north.
I mean, there has to be a way to make old hybrids usable. Solar panels are one option. 3rd party companies that do battery swaps (like engine swaps lol) so you don't have to pay the fulll price of a new hybrid etc etc
Sure... you got the cash and the installer?
It probably works for you since you're in Cali. Less effective for me since I'm up north.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 3
From: none
For something small like my solar panel lights for my front entrance, it'll work for sure (it's only uses a NiCd AA-sized battery). It's pretty effective (a full day will last 8 hours into the night).
But then again, it's not critical that the battery be charged by solar power (of course the higher the usage, the faster you'll "recover" the costs so to speak).
What we need is more efficient panels.
But then again, it's not critical that the battery be charged by solar power (of course the higher the usage, the faster you'll "recover" the costs so to speak).
What we need is more efficient panels.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Club Lexus Editor
Car Chat
1
Oct 6, 2016 04:26 PM
GFerg
Car Chat
23
Jul 21, 2010 07:54 PM
GFerg
Lexus Prototypes and Next-Gen Technology
5
Feb 23, 2006 10:35 PM
LexFather
Car Chat
11
Feb 2, 2005 06:08 PM
