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The 100 mpg solar Prius

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Posted Wednesday, 23 July 2008

Ever wonder if solar cells would make a hybrid car more efficient? Toyota is preparing a solar power option for the Prius hybrid car. The panels would recharge the car’s electric batteries while the car is in moderate to bright sunlight.

The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) decided to test the concept of this system. Their engineers modified the charging system so the car can be plugged into a large set of turbines or solar panels. A regular 110 volt AC outlet will also work. This article called NREL’s Prius Hits 100 Miles per Gallon has more details.

NREL also hired Solar Electrical Vehicles to add a rooftop solar charging system to the vehicle. The solar cell was glued to the roof of the vehicle. However, it’s a low power rig, generating a maximum of 215 watts from 146 four-inch-square crystalline-silicon cells. The real benefit comes from the additional 3000 volt battery that can store power from the Prius drivetrain, the solar cells, and the plug-in charging system. Total cost of the modded Prius is US$70000 - the mods alone cost US$42500.

Another company, Solatec, markets a less powerful, less expensive kit that produces only 24 watts of power using a smaller set of roof-mounted solar panels that resemble wide racing stripes. It’s designed to run the Prius’ air conditioner, sound system and other devices, and provides a 2 mpg improvement in fuel economy for US$1075.

The hybrid explosion

The hybrid car market has heated up in the last year. Dealers cannot keep hybrids in stock - in fact, some models have long waiting lists. Saturn of Honolulu was allocated only 4 VUE Green line hybrid SUVs for the 2008 model year.

Honda has announced it will build half a million hybrids a year by 2010, including versions of the Accord, Fit, and a new hybrid-only model. I’ve long hoped for a hybrid Element, put that has not been announced yet. Honda engineers hope to reduce the incremental cost of a hybrid to US$2000, compared to the current $3000 standard. Honda’s hybrid system is simpler and less powerful than others, but it’s easier to integrate the design into existing gas-only models.

Toyota is releasing 5 hybrid-only models in the US at that time, including a minivan and a new Prius. Even if Toyota can’t ramp up its own production, it will make money by licensing its hybrid engine technology to other car manufacturers, including Ford and Nissan. General Motors is licensing its own hybrid tech to Daimler, BMW and Chrysler. Chevrolet is rushing its Volt electric car into production as well.

See this MIT Technology Review article called Does Car Mounted Solar Make Sense? and these Business Week article called Honda Goes Whole Hog for Hybrids and Is GM’s Green Tech Better Than Toyota’s for more links and information.

Image courtesy of Abrilon through a Creative Commons license.