Possible to buy a Prime with the Solar Charging Roof?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM.

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  1. maiki

    maiki Member

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    I have been looking for months to buy a new or lightly used 2024 or 2025 Prius Prime XSE Advanced with the Advanced Technology Package and the Solar Charging Roof. I have contacted a few local dealers about it, and no one seems to be able to find one for me?

    Have they made very few with the solar charging roof? Why? It seems like a very good option, for only $600 more.

    Why that feature is important to me? After losing my home, car, and everything I own (currently renting a car) in the LA wildfires January 7, I now live in an apartment building. I have an outdoor (uncovered) parking space, with no outdoor electrical outlet. So I can't plug in the car at home to charge the electric motor. It would be very convenient if it could charge from the sun while parked and while driving,

    Frustrating though, that the dealers I have worked with can't find one with that feature?

    Has anyone here succeeded in finding one with the solar charging roof? Any suggestions? (Once again, I would consider lightly used as well as new.)

    Thank you in advance. :)
     
    #1 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    You might be barking up the wrong tree... the solar roof option does add a little bit of power to the car, but it is very little.
     
    #2 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jun 20, 2025 at 3:11 PM
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  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Some here have gotten it.

    Unless you expect to have home charging again soon, or have regular charging elsewhere, the solar roof isn't going to help you. It will only add a few miles per day.
     
    #3 Trollbait, Jun 20, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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  4. maiki

    maiki Member

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    Adding any charge would be useful to me. I do not drive a lot. Many days the car would be sitting in that outdoor uncovered parking space without going anywhere, and it would be good if it could be charging from the sun.

    Yes, I know I would likely also have to go sometimes to a charging station as well (since no plug-in option at home), but getting some charge from the sun would be a very useful option for me.

    So back to my question- any tips on how to find one with that option?
     
    #4 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
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  5. maiki

    maiki Member

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    See my reply to Leadfoot,. A few miles per day of solar charging would be useful to me,

    Any tips on how to find one with that feature?
     
    #5 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM
  6. Paul Gregory

    Paul Gregory Senior Member

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    It's just an expensive gimmick.
    Pure and simple.
     
    #6 Paul Gregory, Jun 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM
  7. RX808

    RX808 New Member

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    If you 'build' the car you want on Toyota's site, you can search for it. I just threw together one with a solar roof and it showed me a handful within 500 miles of a random (55109) zip.

    -Toyota of Lincolnwood, Tom Pappas, Spartan Toyota all say they've either got one or its in transit
     
    #7 RX808, Jun 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2025 at 5:37 PM
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  8. maiki

    maiki Member

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    Thanks. (So far the only respondent who tried to help, rather than tell me the feature is worthless.)

    I have done the build feature. (zip code 90291, where I live.(near Los Angeles, CA)) It sends my build request to local dealers I specify. So far those dealers have told me they can't obtain one. I'll try again,
     
    #8 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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  9. maiki

    maiki Member

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    Could any of the car-buying services such as Carmax, Carvana, Cargurus, Costco Car Buying, etc., be helpful in finding one (including perhaps a lightly used one), rather than only working with dealers? (I have never used such a service before to buy a car, know nothing about them?) (Just wondering, due to lack of success so far with dealers?)
     
    #9 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
  10. maiki

    maiki Member

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    Tried the build feature again (90291). Then inventory search. It listed a couple " exact matches". (not available now, but coming in weeks,). However, when I clicked on those listed as " exact matches", and looked at the details of each of those cars, they weren't really exact matches, including none having the solar charging roof?)
     
    #10 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
  11. RX808

    RX808 New Member

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    Can you change your location? When I build, I can change my zip, and on the results page expand the radius to all dealers w/in 500 miles, not just local.
     
    #11 RX808, Jun 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
  12. Paul Gregory

    Paul Gregory Senior Member

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    But telling you it's worthless is helping you.
    Anything else is just enabling a bad choice.
     
    #12 Paul Gregory, Jun 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
  13. RX808

    RX808 New Member

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    Do a build, complete the build, "View Inventory", input your zip, set the range to 500 miles and then on the lower left (at least on a Chromebook) you can filter all the results by "Solar Charging Roof" When I do that, I get a bunch of hits

    Puente Hills, stock #252768 VIN JTDACACU2S3051954 In build phase availibility 07/25
    Stevens Creek Toyota Stock C254472 VIN JTDACACU7S3048886

    I mean, my internet connection here is kinda buggy, so those are just he first two I saw.

    And, honestly: A good salesman should be able to be doing this - they've got better resources than us. Though I suppose, if they're selling like hotcakes I guess that they don't even have to try.
     
    #13 RX808, Jun 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    fella here just bought one. i'll see if i can find him
     
    #14 bisco, Jun 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
  15. maiki

    maiki Member

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    Thanks. When you created the build with solar charging roof, check inventory, and it listed a few that it said were " exact matches" to your build, did you click on those, look at the features, and see if the solar charging roof was actually listed on those?
     
    #15 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 7:48 PM
  16. RX808

    RX808 New Member

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    Yep: That Puente Hills one, I checked the dealer site and it appeared to be correct.
    I was checking Stevens Creek Toyota when my internet reminded me of the downsides of rural internet connectivity
     
    #16 RX808, Jun 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
  17. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Japan is the primary market for the Prius Prime when it was designed. In about half the homes that could have home charging, the Level 1 will be slower than North America and Europe, with Level 2 not being possible. Public charging is more common though. The solar roof is intended to supplement that.

    Your post only spoke of no charging at home with no mention of ability to charge elsewhere, nor what your daily car use is like. We were left to assume the solar roof would be the only charging with a typical daily commute of 10+ miles. In that case, the solar roof is worthless, and you'd actually be better off saving some cash, and getting the hybrid.

    Since you've given more details, there may only be nine new 2025 Prius PHVs with a solar roof in the whole country available according to Cars.com.
    https://www.cars.com/shopping/results/?dealer_id=&include_shippable=true&keyword=solar&list_price_max=&list_price_min=&makes[]=toyota&maximum_distance=all&mileage_max=&models[]=toyota-prius_plug_in_hybrid&monthly_payment=&page_size=20&sort=best_match_desc&stock_type=new&trims[]=toyota-prius_plug_in_hybrid-xse_premium&year_max=&year_min=&zip=18951
    I did a search for Prius PHV XSE Premium with solar as a keyword. You can also search for used there.

    Toyota did not ship many here, and, IIRC, those that got one here had to wait.
     
    #17 Trollbait, Jun 20, 2025 at 7:55 PM
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  18. maiki

    maiki Member

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    Thanks. Can you post the link to the car?
     
    #18 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #19 bisco, Jun 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
  20. maiki

    maiki Member

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    Thanks. Of course I can charge at charging stations, Many around here, But if I could supplement that with some solar charging, that would be worthwhile for me, I am retired, not driving to work every day, so many days it would just be sitting in my parking space, and would be good if it could charge there.

    I will look at the link you gave. Thanks,
     
    #20 maiki, Jun 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
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