Re: [Vo]:Upcoming Prius with PV cells in roof

[Terry Blanton]

Here's a kit:

http://www.solatecllc.com/

and another with a much greater claim:

http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=898

But report of a production Prius:

http://manufacturing.net/News-Report-Toyota-Prius-Plans-Solar-Powered-AC.aspx

"The solar panels on the roof of the new Prius model will provide 2 to
5 kilowatts of electricity, the major Japanese business daily said in
a report without citing sources."

is, IMO, flawed.  You don't happen to have a subscription eh?

http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/

Terry

On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 10:35 AM, Jed Rothwell
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> There are reports that an upcoming top-of-the-line version of the Prius will
> have an array of PV cells in the roof. There is a photograph circulating. I
> hope it will also be a plug-in hybrid.
>
> The reports say that the PV array will be used "to run the air
> conditioning." Note that Prius air conditioning uses electric power, not
> scavenged mechanical power.
>
> At first glance, putting the PV array on an electric car seems like a nutty
> idea. As we have discussed here, the gap between PV output and the energy
> needed to power the car is so great that this seems like a waste of PV and
> an unnecessary complication that will cause problems. However, this idea
> makes sense in the Japanese climate.
>
> Small PV arrays are widely used in Japan, especially with older cars. They
> are mounted on the dashboard. Actually, just tossed on the dash, for two
> purposes:
>
> 1. To trickle charge the battery. They plug into the cigarette lighter.
>
> 2. To run those fans that fit in the top of the window. You leave the fan
> running while the car is parked. They keep the rain out and the car
> ventilated. (Actually, I think foil reflectors are better but I have not
> seen many of them in Japan.)
>
> My guess is that the purpose of the PV array in the Prius will be to run the
> air conditioner while the car is parked. That would be a nice feature in
> southern Japan, and in Georgia, too!
>
> Also, when the Prius makes a long stop at a traffic light with the air
> conditioner running full blast, sometimes the motor does not cut off the way
> it normally does. It stays on to power the air conditioner. When this
> happens I usually turn oft the air conditioning to silence the motor.
>
> The PV arrays appear to be fairly large, so I suppose they will also
> recharge the batteries with a significant amount of energy if the cars left
> for eight hours in bright sunlight. (Assuming the AC is not running.)
>
> - Jed
>
>