Solar Panelse for your Prius

check out this thread :
http://priuschat.com/New-Solar-Panels-for-...MPG-t13370.html
Three pages to read and more pictures.

 

Snakeoil.

Those panels aren't very large and amorphous panels don't achieve the same efficiency as crystalline panels. What I'm saying is that they'll contribute little energy gain to the system. Certainly not 10% worth. Lets see, a 120 watt crystalline panel is 24x40. How big are those strips? Then take into account that they don't have the efficiency of crustalline panels. Yup, snakeoil.

I'd be willing to bet that their 10% gain in economy was due to other factors. Like learning how to drive it.

The guys at work have been after me to doctor a photo and add a crystalline bank of panels to the top of our Prius. Sort of a Prius aircraft carrier look.

 

http://www.calcars.org/priusplus.html

 

Somebody (long long ago) posted a picture of a Prius with a (very tall) windmill on top. Driving the car makes the windmill turn, generating electricity to power the car. Perpetual motion. Yeah, I know... but it was a cool picture.

Real solar-powered cars have to go to extreme lengths to maximize surface area and minimize weight, rolling resistance, and drag, plus they need many many thousands of dollars worth of batteries.

You're better off putting the solar panels on your house and driving an electric car. Or something like the Prius-Plus.