Solar panels on a pip?

Jim,
Sorry for the late reply.
Not really. I normally cannot charge at work, but being a network Engineer, I needed to work Late 3 nights that week.
I ran a heavy duty extension chord to the car, and charged each time.
The same week, I was able to charge at my friends house, and at a charging station.

The point is, charge as often as possible.

When people see my car, they ask "How long can you drive on EV" My response is roughly 15 miles, and then they sigh, but then I tell them its a blend of EV and HV and tell them my MPG and then they are impressed.

I also smirk and laugh when I eventually fill and its under 30 bucks.
-Mike

 

The reason no solar panel on PIP? The same reason they do not offer the solar panels on the Prius FIVE. Weight. As ridiculous as it sounds, because the Prius FIVE has bigger wheels, that combined with the solar panels cause a change in the performance standards claimed by Toyota and for consistency as they want all the models to meet the same standards.

 

That's pretty good actually. Parking car in the sun for 8-10 hours at work would get a 20% free charge. Nothing wrong with that. And that's with the small panel. If they eliminated the sun roof and made the whole roof a solar panel, it would double the area and get a 40% charge for parking in the sun at home or at work.

Can't imagine it is the weight of the solar roof that is the reason Toyota doesn't offer it. How much can it weight vs. the regular roof? Another 10-20 lbs? Can't see that affecting the mileage significantly. It's a gallon or two of gas or difference between driver of 150# vs. 170#. ATP doesn't off solar roof either and that doesn't have heavier battery etc.

Toyota is bizarre on options offered on models. You have to spend $5,000 to get auto/on/off headlights and power seats.

 

And how much difference in weight do you think there is in the 15" and 17" tires and rims on the Prius Five?

 

Likely slim to none. The mileage difference has to do with the increased resistance, turning circle etc of the bigger wheels and tires is it not?

The car can't be the THAT sensitive to weight differences otherwise they'd have to put a BMI weight chart with mileage differences in the sales office.

"If you weight 200#, your mileage will be reduced by 10%"

The 17" tires on the ATP are perfect example of quirky Toyota marketing and options available on cars. Why not have the nice 15" alloy wheels available on the PIP available on the ATP and not suffer any mileage loss?

Not putting the solar panel on PIP and ATP models is likely just quirky Toyota marketing.

 

You missed the point.

15" Tires + Solar = vehicle maintains specs
17" Tires = vehicle maintains specs
17" Tires + Solar = vehicle falls outside specs

 

No you miss point.

Solar panel, 15" tire, PIP, ATP = vehicle maintains specs.

 

Your equation would be correct if you took the the extra 176 lbs of batteries contained in the PIP out of the car.

 

ATP doesn't have 176 lbs of PIP batteries...but no solar roof.

The issue is would the 20#(?) of sun roof have any more effect on mpg than a driver weighing 170# vs. one weighing #150?