Thank you. I assume you probably keep your car plugged in a lot at home, so did not really get the solar roof for charging the traction battery. In my case, with no option to plug in the car where I live now, the reason I went to a lot of trouble and expense (expense not just the $610, but more than $2000 to have the car delivered here from far away) to get that feature was to add to the EV miles available while parked. (My parking space here is outside in the sun. Also, I am retired, don't drive every day, so more days than not the car is parked there, not driving. So although I knew the solar charging was slow, a couple miles added per day, that was worth it to me. If however, it only works for as couple of months in the summer, not worth it. Well, too late to change it now. (Again though, none of the documentation states that.) I would still be interested to hear from others who have the solar charging roof- if none of them have EV miles (or charge percentage) added from being parked in the sun, other than in the summer? Others who have that roof, please speak up. Thank you,
So the assumption was 3 miles per kWh and perfect generation for 12 straight hours w/o control circuits chewing into the output.
You keep saying the same thing but never answer anyone’s questions. @LRO raised valid points. Chances are, it is adding some miles, albeit very few, as he said, but you are looking at the wrong display (the range guess-o-meter instead of the solar-power display). If you don’t have an electric outlet at home, you need to use a Level 2 ChargePoint station. It will take three hours, and you can do some shopping, drink some coffee, and read a book in the meantime. If you pay your landlord the installation cost, they must install a charging station in accordance with California law.
You're welcome ... Think you perhaps believed too many articles about how great the performance of the solar roof might have actually been before deciding that this was the right vehicle option for you. And certainly never understood the impact that the earth tilting in winter would have. Is it any wonder that they don't mention that in the favorable articles or marketing brochures but put an asterisk and some small type about that somewhere else? But you'll have good days to look forward to once the earth tilts in your favor again. And, if you think no one ever mentioned anything about winter performance or things like that, your Toyota owner's manual does state: ● The amount of power generated by the solar roof differs according to the season, climate, weather conditions, vehicle angle and surrounding conditions. ● If even part of the solar roof is in the shade, there may be an extreme drop in power generation. ● Clean the roof on a routine basis (Especially fallen leaves and bird droppings can lead to a substantial decrease in power generation) These are very factual statements here. I know, I was curious and tested them all out. Most people would dismiss them as not being important. I think you may be doing so too. Wish I could understand why you're so adamant to keep looking at the wrong display on your vehicle (the guess-o-meter) and coming to the wrong conclusion that your solar roof is not working at all. It's flat-out the wrong place to look. Why are you doing that? Your entire car is electrified and it doesn't all go to the wheels. Toyota has provided you places to see exactly what the solar roof is doing. Even down to what happens if a leaf sits on the roof and you've chosen to ignore it. They went out of their way and engineered a really solid solar roof system that does so much more than past generations that might have simply run a ventilation fan in the cabin. This one generates electricity used by the entire vehicle in ways you need to just accept don't show up on the EV miles (or %) of the guess-o-meter. Here's looking forward to June 21-22 when the flat roof of your Prius (and mine) is due to have the best performing day possible based on the position of the sun those days. Hope you find a sunny spot and the extra abundant power generated those days and get that extra 3 or more miles you've witnessed before.
it's hard to appreciate something you can't see, but at least you're not having the 12 volt problems that many are, especially since you don't drive much
@maiki, could you post a photo of this display so that we can see exactly what is going on in your car?
Exactly this. And also clicking "Distance". If parked in the sun, no matter if winter o summer, you have to see some figure in this screen. I have a 2023 PHEV Solar.
But, careful (and I know you know this) but for others that might think this is literal miles that goes straight to the "guess-o-meter" ... the owner's manual is clear to always state when it comes to talking about solar distance ... "These values are calculated by converting the power generated into driving distance, and may differ from the actual driving distance". I'm wondering did the first steam vehicle manufacturers that put buckets on the roof and collected rain-water take immediate credit and report how many more miles you could go on those raindrops before it might evaporate and give you nothing.
Yes, I do use charging stations. However, not always practical. Right now, for instance, EV miles are zero, running on gas. In looking for one with the solar roof (which was very difficult), I didn't think the solar roof would eliminate totally the need for charging stations, but still helpful to add a few miles per day of charge while parked, especially since I don't drive much.. (922 miles now on the odometer, bought car in July) If that only works for a couple months per year, not worth the extra trouble and expense I went through. Oh well.
Whenever at zero EV miles from P. 136 of your owner's guide the Solar Charging System will not ever direct any solar power (however meager this time of year in the northern hemisphere) to your hybrid (traction battery). And if charging at an EV charging station isn't practical and you're driving on gas ... Page 74 of your manual and beyond explains how to enable Charge Mode to generate EV miles ... "Electricity generated by the gasoline engine can be used to charge the hybrid battery (traction battery)" ... "when electricity needed for EV driving is not remaining". Works quite well and can easily generate some EV miles and get that above zero.
