Solar power plan for Prius aircon(ditioning)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5huHn0G07VL7ISkd317HzOkbyceYA

Solar power plan for Prius aircon

Toyota's ecological Prius petrol-electric hybrid will become even greener next year with solar-powered air conditioning on some high-end models, The Nikkei reported.

The solar panels on the roof of the new Prius model will provide two to five kilowatts of electricity, The Nikkei said.

Toyota plans to purchase the panels from Japanese electronics maker Kyocera, the newspaper added.

Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco declined to comment, saying the company doesn't comment on product plans.

...

[phantom power]

1. Solar roof I believe. 2-5 kW I do not believe.

2 kilowatts is about 20 100-watt panels. The roof of that car has room for four, if you squint.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. I think we may have a units problem

Here's a FAQ for a solar roof/battery charger for the Prius:
http://www.solarelectricalvehicles.com/faqs.shtml

...
What's the energy output of the system?
Up to 1200 watt hours per day.
...

(1.2 kWh/day)

Here's another description of the same product:
http://www.solarelectricalvehicles.com/products.shtml

...
This SEV solar module for the 2004 through 2006 Toyota Prius generates 215 watts of renewable energy and is the first compound convex solar module to be commercially produced.
...

OK, so, assume that Toyota's using newer, more efficient panels, and that we're talking about 2-5kWh/day.

[phantom power]

3. That would make sense. Bad Science Reporting strikes again.

[oldhippie]

4. Nope. I still don't buy it

I've had and studied PV systems for 15 years. You're not going to get 2-5 KWHrs a day off the roof of a Prius with any current panel technology. I might believe 1.5 KWHrs/day under ideal conditions. Enough to go maybe 4 miles.

[wtmusic]

6. Car A/C uses about 800 watts including the blower

so a whole day in the sun might get you an hour of A/C.

Assuming you have a place to store the energy.

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. Bad reporting alright - "... part of the two to five kilowatts needed ..."

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/toyota-equip-prius-solar-panels/story.aspx?guid={A5960A1A-E176-4A08-952C-4BC4A0A69284}&dist=hplatest

Toyota to equip Prius with solar panels: report

By V. Phani Kumar, MarketWatch
Last update: 9:44 p.m. EDT July 6, 2008

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Toyota Motor Corp. plans to install a solar power generation system on its Prius hybrid car, when the vehicle goes through a complete makeover as early as next spring, according to a media report Monday.

The move will make Toyota the first major automaker to install a popular model with solar panels. The redesigned Prius will have solar panels on the roof, which will supply part of the two to five kilowatts needed to power the air-conditioning unit, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Toyota plans to buy the panels from Kyocera Corp.

The Japanese auto giant intends to produce 450,000 units of the Prius in Japan next year, about 60% higher than the vehicle's output in 2007. It also aims to reduce the Prius' weight to improve the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle's fuel efficiency, the report added.

[Greyskye]

7. Is Toyota following the Aptera plan?

The Aptera (www.aptera.com) also has solar panels on the roof. When the car is parked, the solar panels power a climate control system, which keeps the internal temperature below 80, and vents the hot air out the back.

Now that's a smart application.