Sneak Peak of the New Prius #7 - Solar A/C Confirmed?

Toyota is such a tease. They should release a photo of a label that reads "110VAC electric only". Some folks might think that a pure electric Prius version (no ICE) was being released. Unless I'm missing something, a fob A/C button is little indication of the "much requested" solar panels.

 

Careful with generalizations. That statement is absolutely false here in Minnesota. Location makes a profound difference.

.

 

Just checking to see if anyone was looking.

(actually had a blond moment):yield:

Well I park under cover at home and at work but I do realise I'm lucky to park under cover at work.
Intelligent people put their $30,000 car in the garage rather than their $500 lawn furniture but each to their own.

Remote AC would be nice on a solar charged battery when I do park outside. I'm not sure how the remote looks cheap, I know like all Toyota remotes and switches it will feel solid and the switches on the remote will be smooth and precise. Have you driven a Nissan lately? Switches feel like they are full of gravel, that is cheap.

I'll be sad if the plug-in comes in 110 volt only, 240 volt please.

 

Please refer to page-3 of following paper about the PTC heaters.
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/Hybrid06.pdf

Ken@Japan

 

maybe...maybe not. it may still be available...

one push...unlock drivers door

2 push....unlock all doors

3 push...unlock all doors AND open hatch

 

Close!! but not quite....A/C stands for "anti collision"

turn it on, it prevents bumper hits from unskilled parallel parkers and door dings from people on their way to weight watchers.

but seriously...what i hope it means is

air circulation.... auto vent control to block off grill...

 

i always called it a panic button when i started to panic cause i couldnt remember where i parked.

i hit the button, the car says "here i am!!"

feelings of panic subside...im good!!

 

the suspense is agonizing

 

This is wonderful...thank you. I have printed a hard copy for my files.

 

Remote startup of the A/C makes NO sense from an energy consumption
standpoint. Given the temperatures a closed car can reach inside,
it makes much more sense to open all the doors and the hatch and
wait for a breeze to carry the vast bulk of that hot air out
of the cabin for free, instead of trying to make the A/C fight
it with the sun still blasting in.
.
What would be much more effective would be close-fitting silvered
shades you could draw over all the windows when parking. That
would be great for those "prius as RV" roadtrips, too. And much
simpler than remote-start climate control. I don't think the
A/C could keep up with that highly efficient "greenhouse effect"
black dashboard and the way it collects heat, especially not at
the 200 or so watts you might be able to collect from a PV panel.
.
That would be much closer to the auto-cloaking idea, too..
.
_H*

 

Re: Here's what I said at the POG

Some of the new 2.4GHz ISM transmitters are quite small and have a range of a few hundred feet (50 to 150meters). Google "loc8tor" for a wireless "Find me" system that has a claimed range of 400 to 600 feet. BTW: it's interesting that on their range page, they're using a small image of the Prius as their car example. Coincidence? I think not!!

If Toyota is using similar technology, you could have a useful range to start the A/C cooling your car.

My guess: solar to top off the primary battery and use the battery to run the A/C for a fixed time period after button press.

 

The new fob doesn't look to me like it's meant to be inserted into a key hole like in the current gen. Does anybody else also see it that way?

And doesn't look like it contains a mechanical key either...

 

Mine has the lock/unlock same position as the ones showed in the 2010 pic and its a 2008.

 

i dont think its A/C in the normal sense either. i can see maybe just a circulation fan running, thermo controlled to kick in at 120º...then again, that would be a bit low for Phoenix and the like, maybe thermo ADJUSTABLE setting??

this would prevent the furnace/sauna blast you get in the first 2 minutes after a day at work in August.

but why have it on a remote?...then again, my remote would reach my Pri when i was working, (seniority gets me window seating!@!...jk... no one in our figure H building is more than 50 feet from the wrap around windows)

unless its to kick on the A/C for just a minute or so it takes to walk that last 100 feet?

 

The suspense is killing me. More teaser pictures please...

 

i think it will be like modern version of lowering all the windows before you enter the vehicle (like you have in Lexus models if you hold unlock for 10-15 seconds)... it will re-circulate and probably cool air via A/C for limited time, designed to quickly lower the temp inside the vehicle... it will probably use solar panels to re-plenish battery so AC can work for a little bit.

during summer high temps (and it is crazy hot here, >40C in the shade), it helps a LOT to just lower windows via key fob 20-30 seconds before i enter the vehicle, and i am sure this will be a lot better too...

 

indeed... it is just like all the new smaller vehicle smart entry keys (Yaris, Auris)... Rav4 here gets upscale version, similat to this one (upscale Corolla in Thailand)

 

As I've been spending 5-10 minutes every morning for the past couple weeks scraping frost off my windows, while my ICE is running and heating up the car interior, I would have to say that remote A/C startup makes a lot of sense. I'd also like my Prius to be secure when this is occurs, as I will likely be in my house staying warm and not looking through the window to make sure no one is cleaning me out.