The New $120,000 Audi S8 and How it Tames its...
News
Reviews
Guides
Gas Mileage
Car Types

2010 Prius Incorporates a Unique Solar Roof, Learn More About It Here

 
15 14,169 views June 7, 2009

2010 Toyota Prius solar moonroof

2010 Toyota Prius solar moonroof

Enlarge Photo

The new Prius has many things that the old Prius lacked, for instance a solar moonroof.  Just what does the solar moonroof do for the Prius?

The solar moonroof is manufactured by Kyocera.  It is made up of polycrystalline silicon cells that are arranged in a six by six grid.  These cells generate electricity from the sun as all solar panels do.  The panel is actually capable of churning out about 50 watts of power which is more than enough to provide energy to a fan which cools the cabin of the Prius when the engine is off.

The solar moonroof option adds comfort to drivers and passengers by allowing the fan to operate at a stoplight or coasting when the engine is shut down to increase fuel economy numbers.

If you opt for the solar moonroof, you lose the standard Pagoda roof and due to the solar panels design you also slightly increase the frontal area of the vehicle.  The glass covered solar panels cannot fit the contour of the Pagoda roof.  Toyota believes that the solar panel will prove to be robust enough for the rigors endured in automotive applications.

Though optional and costly at about $2,000, Toyota believes most buyers will opt for the solar roof which should add some degree of additional comfort while driving through the hot summer days ahead of us.

Source:  Nikkei Newspaper Japan





Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Comments (15)

  1. By  solar panels Posted: 6/7/2009 7:36pm PDT

    I am glad that solar technology is being integrated to cars.But solar technology needs a breakthrough.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  2. By  Jan Svarovsky Posted: 9/23/2009 2:44am PDT

    Sorry but a solar roof is a perfect example of something that sounds cute but if you do the math is a complete waste of time. When the car is running, it consumes about 1000 times more power than what the roof creates. So the energy you save by having the solar panels running for the whole day is the same as you save by driving for 1 minute less. It is basically no energy saving at all. Waste of time! And waste of resources creating solar panels.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  3. By Salil Maniktahla Posted: 11/16/2009 11:58am PST

    Sorry, Jan, but your logic is flawed. Your assumptions are correct, but the solar panel ALLOWS you to not run the car for each of those "1 minutes."
    Think about it: you're at a stop (red light or in traffic). The engine shuts down. You want to bake, or start the engine again?
    This is a good solution to a problem.
    You, on the other hand...
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  4. By  Gabriel , Alnergy Posted: 8/27/2010 1:59am PDT

    Cool, solar power from solar panels is way to go! This is one cool way to maximize the use of the renewable sources of energy and green way to consume energy.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  5. By  ayan Posted: 8/31/2010 9:07am PDT

    This actually was a nice project to watch being built. Our offices are across the street and it is a very nice addition to the area.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  6. By  diy solar panels Posted: 9/11/2010 9:55pm PDT

    Great idea, but a bit costly just to run a fan. I guess it is a must have for the southern states where it is more warmer..
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  7. By  Solar Energy Posted: 9/14/2010 1:29pm PDT

    "Though optional and costly at about $2,000, Toyota believes most buyers will opt for the solar roof which should add some degree of additional comfort while driving through the hot summer days ahead of us." This seems ridiculously high, as a fair sized solar panel system for a home can be had for $600.00 USD.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  8. By MS Posted: 10/5/2010 8:44pm PDT

    Bravo. Even if this particular panel is not the Holy Grail, it sets the baseline for improvement and sets the example.
    I would argue that in a state like Arizona, Nevada, or inner California, it would indeed be nice to come back to a car that is not 150 degrees inside or makes you break into a profuse sweat upon sitting inside.
    Considering that anything above 14k (which gets you transportation and reasonable comfort) spent on a car is frivolous luxury, this is a luxury that actually makes some sense.
    With gradual advancement in solar film and panel tech, trickle charging the battery at better and better rates using the front hood should be the next move.
    The point here is that the people to whom it is worth $X will pay for these advancements until they are cheaper due to economies of scale. Until then we will have to suffer hearing the naysayers, paid hacks, and PR people from oil and detroit bash these technologies and cast aspersions in all directions. But EVs partially replenished by solar will come one day soon.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  9. By boing22 Posted: 11/10/2010 3:16am PST

    You've have to be an idiot to dish out $2000 for this on a car you buy that's supposed to save you in gas money. You might as well just keep your $2000 and when you get in, just punch up the AC if you're hot. Besides I drive with AC all the time in the summer. I assume that running AC and being comfortable is a vital part of the driving experience. I'm not going to sweat like a pig for to save just a tiny bit more. The car already gets enough mpg as it is. If the car then gets less because I use AC, then I assume that the cars REAL MPG since that's how I'd use any other car. Also as someone else said, the cells only produce about 1/1000th of the total electric the car needs to run, so it's a pointless gadget.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  10. By boing22 Posted: 11/10/2010 3:23am PST

    You can also buy some awesome fans and batteries for under $100-$200. Hook the fan(s) to some batteries you throw in the trunk and just use that. Then when you get home charge the batteries through a wire you connect into the trunk. Keep $1800 for something else.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  11. By gt Posted: 1/10/2011 11:35pm PST

    solar powered car coolers that fit in your windows have been around for awhile now, and they don't work that good. Even though having something like this would be cool to have on your car it just doesn't provide the energy needed to power anything bigger than a small fan. the problem with solar panels is you have to have a very large area to produce any real power, much larger than the roof of a prius. Don't buy it unless you just want to look like your doing your part for the environment.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  12. By  Dr. Ben Posted: 1/12/2011 10:57am PST

    What will they think of next? This could be the starting point for other car companies who will hopefully follow in pursuit!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  13. By Kingcruiser Posted: 2/9/2011 1:22am PST

    As a retired semiconductor engineer, I'll tell you the numbers sure do NOT add up. But welcome to America, where the "rich" (so hated by the Left) paid for all sorts of "stupid" things like automatic transmissions, hydraulic brakes, antilock brakes, electric headlights, radios, stereos, tape then CD and now MP3 players, heaters, defrosters, windshields, bucket seats, rubber tires, shock absorbers, ceramic brakes, hard tops, doors, electronic ignitions, electric starters, turn signals, GPS, etc... no wonder the Left hates the "rich"... By the way, powering ALL the cars by electricity is the latest FAD... in the 1970s, ALL cars were going to be diesel... "wave of the future" stuff... and how many are today?
    And my Father, a retired electrical engineer for SDG&E, laughs at it too. We can't build power plants fast enough to recharge cell phones and computers, much less transportation.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  14. By  Solar Chief Posted: 2/12/2011 9:40am PST

    I completetly agree with MS, "Bravo. Even if this particular panel is not the Holy Grail, it sets the baseline for improvement and sets the example..."
    The solar panel seems expensive but it's important to remember that all of today's techological achievements are a result of technology's evolution. Kudos to Toyota for leading the way for the automobile industry! This will benefit our children in the long run.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

  15. By  Home Solar Power Posted: 2/12/2011 10:19am PST

    As Chief Engineer of the largest Platinum LEED building in NYC my opinion is that all productive advances start small. There is no breakthrough here but just as in the office tower that I run it's a series of small energy efficient steps that leads to significant enrgy savings.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?
    Share

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Find Green Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
Green Car Reports
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 Green Car Reports. All Rights Reserved. Green Car Reports is published by High Gear Media. Send us feedback.
 

Use the form below to send us a tip, give us feedback, or just say hello.

(max 750 characters)