3rd Generation Prius To Have Roof Mounted Solar Panels

The Nikkei Japanese business daily on Monday reported that the next generation Prius will come installed with roof-mounted solar panels to power its air conditioning unit.

The daily reports that the solar panels will be supplied by Kyocera Corp.

As mentioned in my earlier post, the 3rd generation Prius is rumoured to be previewed in January 2009 at the Detroit Motor Show. It will feature an all new 2ZR 1.8-litre engine mated with a NiMh battery pack (no lithium-ion until 2010, earliest. I know the US publication "Car and Driver" says it's a 1.6-litre. They are dead wrong. The new powertrain will produce 160bhp of combined petrol-electric output (versus the current generation's 110bhp). Dimensionally it will grow to about 3-4 inches longer and about 1-inch wider with no significant changes in weight.


I am found this on some forum with no reference to its source. Drop me a note if you deserve credit for the image.



Scans from Japanese scoop magazine X-Mag.

Related post : Come 2009, let the hybrid car wars begin. Will we see more hybrids in Malaysia and Thailand?

Actually there is nothing new about fitting solar panels on the roof of a production vehicle. The W211 generation Mercedes E-class comes fitted with solar panels when you choose the optional panaromic roof. It works to cool down the vehicle by activating the blowers without drawing power from the battery. In reality and based on experience of us drivers in the tropics, it doesn't work. Period. There is no point circulating hot air around in the cabin. What it needs is for the blowers to work in reverse direction, which of course presents an entirely new set of technical challenges.