Toyota to fit solar panels to next-generation Prius

Posted Mon Jul 7 2008 7:34 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

There are already a number of independent firms that will retro-fit solar panels to the roofs of hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius to help extend the car’s electric-only driving range, however, from next year onwards the Prius will be available with the panels direct from the factory. The new Prius is set to be revealed at next year’s Detroit Auto Show before going on sale around April.

According to latest reports, high-end versions of the car will be fitted with solar panels to power ancillary features such as the air conditioning system. The news comes from Japan’s Nikkei economic daily, which also reported that up to 450,000 units of the new Prius will be manufactured next year.

Toyota refused to comment on the report.

Retro-fitting solar panels to the current Prius can yield fuel savings of up to 29% depending on driving style. However, the costs of installing the panels can range from anywhere between $2,000 and $4,000.

Toyota’s next-generation Prius is expected to also receive a larger and more powerful 1.6L engine and will eventually be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Despite being bigger and more powerful, fuel consumption will be improved. Toyota will do this by installing a more efficient powertrain with improved batteries for longer electric-only driving plus a lighter body thanks to extensive use of advanced composites in its construction. The lightweight construction concept was first previewed by the 1/X concept (pictured) from last year’s Tokyo Motor Show.

Reader Comments

Mon Jul 7 2008 8:35 AM
raptor says

Fancy.

Is new gen Prius going to be plug-in?
Mon Jul 7 2008 10:01 AM
Gus says

Looks like it will, be, eventually.
I've never understood why they weren't from the very beginning. Seems like a simple thing to do.
Mon Jul 7 2008 10:50 AM
raptor says

Can't be too expensive either if you ask me. I would certanly consider it before solar panels.
Mon Jul 7 2008 1:55 PM
James says

Nothing new. Way back in the early 1990s the Mazda 929 featured an optional solar roof panel to power fans to cool down the interior when the car was parked. Obviously the technology has moved on, but someone else had already cooked up the idea.
Mon Jul 7 2008 2:36 PM
Roy says

Sure, it's not new, but it continues to differentiate the Prius from all the other hybrids. In the race to keep up with the Joneses, Toyota just re-positioned the starting line. So, the solar panels add as much to the cost of the car as a battery pack. Who cares? Not the people driving around their 8,000 dollar overpriced Priuses just to assuage a little guilt. For them it will be 2-4000 dollars well spent.

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