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Toyota Industries Corp. Develops Solar Charging Station for EVs and PHEVs

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Cacti, Dec 27, 2009.

  1. Cacti

    Cacti Poleikleng

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    Toyota Industries Corp. Develops Solar Charging Station for EVs and PHEVs

    Toyota Industries Corp (TIC) has developed a solar charging station for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). The municipal government of Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture plans to build 21 such stations at 11 locations such as the municipal office and branch offices. Full operation of the stations will begin in April, with 20 Prius Plug-In Hybrids.
    The station is grid connected, and also captures power generated by the 1.9 kW solar panel in an 8.4 kWh storage battery, for subsequent use in charging. Maximum output using grid power is 202VAC/3.2kW. Self-sustained operation using solar power from the battery pack has a maximum output of 101VAC/1.5 kVA.

    Green Car Congress: Toyota Industries Corp. Develops Solar Charging Station for EVs and PHEVs
     
    #1 Cacti, Dec 27, 2009
  2. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    This just goes to show Toyota's commitment to the environment. While many other automakers are greenwashing and arguing the profitability of hybrid vehicles, Toyota is out there thinking about the bigger picture, renewable resources, solar, and saving the environment. This just goes to show: Toyota gets it. It's about more than just money; it's about future sustainability of society.
     
    #2 Rybold, Dec 27, 2009
  3. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    That sounded more like a PR investment to me. It does not seem to really produce much power, and a user will likely plug into the grid at one of these charging stations anyway. The solar at the charging stations won't really provide much of the power (and really doesn't need to be at the same location, just on the grid). Building charging stations, especially those that can provide fast recharging, are necessary to make plug in cars more practical, so I do applaud that.

    Toyota did lose, or invest, a lot of money in the Prius at the beginning to get to be the profitable efficient hybrid it is today.
     
    #3 austingreen, Dec 27, 2009
  4. joe1347

    joe1347 Active Member

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    Hopefully a large number of employers will follow Toyota's lead and start installing solar charging stations in their parking lots as short range plug-in hybrids become commonplace. It certainly would be nice to recharge at work for the drive home - which would make the short range plug-in concept even more attractive with many drivers likely reporting extremely high mileage (if they can recharge at work).
     
    #4 joe1347, Dec 27, 2009
  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    +1
    Yea, the average home with PV panels is about this size ... ± 1Kwh. It makes our 7Kwh setup look behemoth. Still ... qudos to Toyota for setting it up ... even though it's only going to be set up in Japan ... so far.

    [​IMG]

    Now ... what's wrong with this phev - ev recharge tower depicted by Toyota?
    Wouldn't it be more practical to simply have the cable roll out from the car? That way maybe 2 or 3 cars could plug in. In the case of vandalism ... if someone cut a recharge cable ... it'd only mess up the car, rather than the charger for everyone else who pulled up later.
    ;)

    .
     
    #5 hill, Dec 27, 2009
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