Solar power for the new Prius?
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I can’t be the only person to have been slightly underwhelmed after reading headlines in Japan today stating that the next generation Prius will use solar power, making Toyota the first major carmaker to use the technology in a mass production model.
Before anyone else gets too excited, it appears Toyota is planning to install solar panels in the roof of the new Prius to help power the air conditioning system, rather than propel the car. According to the reports, which aren’t attributed to anybody, Toyota will buy solar panels from Kyoto-based Kyocera capable of supplying part of the 2-5 kilowatts of power needed to run the air con unit. Whether the solar system will be optional or standard isn’t clear.