Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius

**Danny** · 07-10-2008, 08:22 AM

The AP is posting a correction this morning to their report that sent the Internets crazy earlier this week regarding solar panels on the 2010 Prius. They are now saying that instead of the solar panels producing all of the power needed to power the air conditioning, the Nikkei article actually said that the solar panels will provide a portion of the 2 to 5 kilowatts needed to power the a/c.

Nice translation there, AP

Correction: Japan Toyota story on solar panels on Prius models

Rybold · 07-10-2008, 09:44 AM

The [darn] link to the actual article is not working, but Yahoo News is also reporting the AP Correction. "In a July 7 story about a new Toyota Prius, The Associated Press erroneously reported that The Nikkei newspaper said a solar panel will provide 2 to 5 kilowatts of electricity to power the air conditioning in the planned model." Yahoo! News Search Results for prius solar

kcpistol · 07-10-2008, 10:15 AM

Makes sense - any power created would be "free". Before anyone says it, of course it costs energy to create those solar panels - but "storing" energy at today's prices to be extracted later seems smarter and smarter.

My question is this: will it charge the battery even when the car is off? If it does that means that your battery could be "topped off" while its in the parking lot and you are at work (assuming no parking garage). I think that would be pretty cool, especially if the new battery has more capacity. What do you all think?

zenMachine · 07-10-2008, 11:25 AM

Anything to push solar technologies forward is welcomed by me.

boulder_bum · 07-10-2008, 11:43 AM

I'm all for solar, but this seems like a big waste. I'd rather have a plug-in, and solar power on the roof of my home to charge it.

Jack66 · 07-10-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boulder_bum

I'm all for solar, but this seems like a big waste. I'd rather have a plug-in, and solar power on the roof of my home to charge it.

But what if it helps to charge itself in the parking lot at work and lets you put the energy saved from your home system into your home?

hill · 07-10-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack66

But what if it helps to charge itself in the parking lot at work and lets you put the energy saved from your home system into your home?

Read up on Photo cels. You'll then understand how little the amount of energy is, that one can get from the surface area on a prius. At least P.V. isn't as impractical as hydrogen cars ... but look at all the misinformed running around the landscape that wrongly think this is going to be a silver bullet for the future of energy demands. Yes, the AP story was in dire need of corection, and it was just a matter of time.

.

bruceha_2000 · 07-10-2008, 02:54 PM

How many watts CAN you generate on the roof of a Prius parked for 8 hours in the sun? Other than the potential for no ROI due to the cost of the panels, I don't see any reason to dump on the general concept. We have our little 50W 'leaf cars' on the Consumption screen to show us what we have recovered. 50W here and 50W there, eventually it adds up to POWER! It would certainly help if you have 3 bars when you arrive at work and 8 when you are ready to leave

JamesWyatt · 07-10-2008, 05:39 PM

More importantly, will there be a sunroof?

donee · 07-10-2008, 07:07 PM

Hi bruce...,

Watts are determined by the intensity of the sun, and the size of the solar panel. Time is not involved at all.

Watt-Hours is the energy one can generate with a source of watts, over time.

The leaf cars are 50 watt-hours.

07-10-2008, 08:22 AM	#1
Danny Admin/Founder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 4,555 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 26 Times in 8 Posts TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 23	Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius The AP is posting a correction this morning to their report that sent the Internets crazy earlier this week regarding solar panels on the 2010 Prius. They are now saying that instead of the solar panels producing all of the power needed to power the air conditioning, the Nikkei article actually said that the solar panels will provide a portion of the 2 to 5 kilowatts needed to power the a/c. Nice translation there, AP Correction: Japan Toyota story on solar panels on Prius models __________________ PriusChat Offers Discounts on: Extended Warranty - $990 : Pre-Paid Maintenance - $875 : HeatShield SunShades : BT Tech Stiffening Plate : All other Prius Accessories

07-10-2008, 09:44 AM	#2
Rybold Double Gold Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 519 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius The [darn] link to the actual article is not working, but Yahoo News is also reporting the AP Correction. "In a July 7 story about a new Toyota Prius, The Associated Press erroneously reported that The Nikkei newspaper said a solar panel will provide 2 to 5 kilowatts of electricity to power the air conditioning in the planned model." Yahoo! News Search Results for prius solar

07-10-2008, 10:15 AM	#3
kcpistol Byte Stylist Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 43 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Re: Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius Makes sense - any power created would be "free". Before anyone says it, of course it costs energy to create those solar panels - but "storing" energy at today's prices to be extracted later seems smarter and smarter. My question is this: will it charge the battery even when the car is off? If it does that means that your battery could be "topped off" while its in the parking lot and you are at work (assuming no parking garage). I think that would be pretty cool, especially if the new battery has more capacity. What do you all think?

07-10-2008, 11:25 AM	#4
zenMachine Just another Onionhead Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,367 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius Anything to push solar technologies forward is welcomed by me.

07-10-2008, 11:43 AM	#5
boulder_bum Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 1,119 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius I'm all for solar, but this seems like a big waste. I'd rather have a plug-in, and solar power on the roof of my home to charge it.

07-10-2008, 02:54 PM	#8
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,191 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius How many watts CAN you generate on the roof of a Prius parked for 8 hours in the sun? Other than the potential for no ROI due to the cost of the panels, I don't see any reason to dump on the general concept. We have our little 50W 'leaf cars' on the Consumption screen to show us what we have recovered. 50W here and 50W there, eventually it adds up to POWER! It would certainly help if you have 3 bars when you arrive at work and 8 when you are ready to leave

07-10-2008, 05:39 PM	#9
JamesWyatt Señior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 343 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius More importantly, will there be a sunroof?

07-10-2008, 07:07 PM	#10
donee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,506 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Correction: Solar panels to only supply a portion of power for air conditioning on 2010 Prius Hi bruce..., Watts are determined by the intensity of the sun, and the size of the solar panel. Time is not involved at all. Watt-Hours is the energy one can generate with a source of watts, over time. The leaf cars are 50 watt-hours.

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