EcoTech Daily - Latest Comments in Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

solarenergy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:26:58 -0000

With all of the ingenious ideas of alternative energy out there, none of them are as practical and as efficient as oil. Want to make alternative energy practical and more desirable than oil?

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

Daniel — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:36:07 -0000

How about the next Prius be a bicycle.

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

Carlo — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:48:39 -0000

I like the idea.

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

Jeff - ScienceSays.net — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:41:38 -0000

I wrote about this a while back as well: http://www.sciencesays.net/2008/07/solar-powere...

I think it's a great idea, but I hope it's not just a gimmick - air conditioning can be a huge drain on fuel, but if the solar panels aren't up to the task, it could set solar cars back ages.

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

shabaz — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:33:03 -0000

oh Mr. Candid you do put a smile on my face but lighten up, no, probably not.
This is a "symbolic gesture", of course the automakers will put solar all over cars if it sells, it's called the flavor of the month and it is not a step in the right direction.
When has the auto industry done squat except maximize it's profit at the expense of all humanity?
Look i know you want a Prius, i want a Prius, we all want a Prius because the PRIUS IS A SUCCESSFUL MARKETING TOOL. Toyota is not filling demand, it is creating demand. Should that be ok? If a sucker is really born every minute is it ok to take advantage of them? I guess as long as they're just Rubes it's ok. right.

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

rajiv seth — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:42:33 -0000

no mention of the environmental cost of producing this gimmick -

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

Mr. Candid — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:33:49 -0000

Hey Shabaz,
lighten up!
Modern solar panels are approaching 20% efficiency , while this may seem quite low consider that this is double of what solar panels were 20 years ago, I think it's high time the auto makers do something to reduce our dependency on oil, I'm quite sure once Toyota starts this,the other auto makers will follow suit and the technology will improve.

It's a small step, but it's a step in the right direction

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

DigitalMind — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:32:31 -0000

1 Kilowatt of panels is a LOT ! I installed 30 watts of solar panels in my sisters off-grid house and that gave her lights for the first time (click on my name to see that write-up). I think if 1000 Watts isn't enough to power a car air conditioner, it's the AC units that need working on.

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

jez — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:09:14 -0000

1kw isnt so small as to not need to use the excess to charge the batteries, quite the opposite, if they can make a solar panel small enough to fit a car that can make 1kw it will be a miracle

1kw at say 10 hours a day will drive you for miles, and is not 'so little' not everyone needs the aircon on , but thats a lot of power for topping up batteries

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

chrisbaskind — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:06:05 -0000

I think the 1 kilowatt figure -- widely reported in the automotive press -- is high: 250 to 500 watts is probably what we'll see in production. In any case, it's a good thing. A better move, of course, would be to bicycle. But that's not news.

Re: Next-Gen Prius Will Have Solar AC

shabaz — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:33:41 -0000

still pushing consumerism chris?
still pushing pie in the sky gadgets too.
toyota will never install solar cells on a car, probably because then they have to warranty them.
1 kw??? go google shopping and try to find a 1kw panel, huge. toyota prius, small.
but but but new technology will make it all possible....pie in the sky, and you're pushing this fantasy.
why not unicorns or alternate dimensions or AI or something else that "could" exist.

i have berated you in the past for caring more about quantity then quality in your "news" efforts
and here I am again, courtesy of stumble upon by the way, greatly disappointed by the green movement.
Green has got to be more then a marketing slogan. You are trying too hard to be the next hot thing.
you are selling out your beliefs by trying to make money at this.