Toyota Solar Prius being Tested

[rmay635703]

https://insideevs.com/news/358458/to...iXD15cs8PRUSBU

Looks like Toyota saw lightyear 1

[oil pan 4]

What's there to test?
Put some panels on it, put it in the sun. Done.

[freebeard]

From the Lightyear 1 thread.


https://techxplore.com/news/2019-07-...tric-cars.html

Reports noted the solar cells were extremely efficient. According to The Drive, the solar Sharp-made solar cells are of the triple-junction compound type, sporting a conversion efficiency of 34 percent, and occasionally more.

Etherington: "The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun, and can add up to 56.3 km (35 miles) of power to both the driving system and the auxiliary power battery on board, which runs the AC, navigation and more."

All in all, Elektrek offered its take on the news:

"As we always like to point out with these solar car efforts, a car's roof is not the most ideal place to install solar cells. They would most likely be more efficient installed on the rooftop of a home and then, you can use the power to charge your vehicle. However, there's something appealing about your vehicle producing its own energy and it is starting to get more attractive with the specs Toyota is talking about now."

There have been conformal panels for the roof of the Prius from years ago. The difference here is the [1/3rd] thickness and the high efficiency.

[ksa8907]

I recall a research team in Canada doing testing a few years ago.

I've strongly considered a panel or two but for the 12v system, hard to justify the cost.

[freebeard]

There were a stack of these at a swap meet. I kick myself for only getting one. ($5-8?)

[oil pan 4]

Those are junk you don't want to use solar panels like that.

[freebeard]

It's an OEM VW part. It's Okay for trickle charging a parked car.

[redpoint5]

I'd have bought for $5.

I remember the first solar cell I purchased, from Radio Shack, for $8. It was the size of one of the cells in freebeard's photo. I've always been interested in harvesting nature's bounty.

That said, solar panels are on a vehicle are dumb, no matter who's doing it. Toyota's previous solar panels are a gimmick, and this one is an expensive gimmick. So the car can harvest $0.75 worth of electricity, if you leave it out on a very sunny day rather than parked in a garage, assuming you've already drained enough of the battery that it can still accept a charge.

This is as interesting as a solar powered bread slicer, possibly less.