Not a Solar Prius but a Prius with solar
By now everyone has probably heard the rumors that Toyota was going to be delivering a Solar Prius in 2010. Most people have also heard the debunking of that rumor by Toyota. Well, Toyota has unveiled the 2010 Prius. It isn’t totally solar but it does have solar panels.
According to Ecogeek, solar panels are built into the roof. EVWorld has confirmed that the optional solar panels are not for recharging the battery but for ventilating the car on hot days.
Simply put the solar panels will power an internal fan to keep the car cool during hot summer days while the car swelters in parking lots. Not exactly the “solar car” that many have been clambering for but an excellent use of solar in a practical car.
This third generation of Prius will only get a purported 50 combined mpg versus the 46 combined mpg of the current second generation car. Not a huge jump in efficiency there.
Toyota is saying that the back seat of the 2010 Prius (which looks very similar to the the current Prius) will be roomier. I guess for families with teenage boys that will be a plus. For the rest of us, it just means more room to stash junk.
The 2010 Prius will have a couple of new features that sound very American. The air conditioning can be remotely started to pre-cool the car, without turning on the gas engine. And this Prius will also have an optional self-parking feature. Shades of Detroit!
I guess Toyota felt that they had to have more sizzle since the new Chevy Volt, Ford Fusion, and updated Honda Insight will all be coming out around the same time. Since Toyota has not provided any significant improvement in miles per gallon, the company felt they had to offer more amenities.
That wouldn’t be so crucial but the new Honda Insight is expected to be several thousand dollars cheaper than the Prius. Many Americans will want to buy American hybrids to show support to the stumbling American auto industry that has finally gotten the message. Though the cost of the Volt could very easily push them towards either the Honda Insight or Toyota’s Prius which both look to be less expensive.
The Prius is finally getting some good competition and although it won’t be a “solar car”, it will be using alternative energy wisely in this next generation of cars. Who knows what the fourth generation might look like.
Pictures from Toyota via Ecogeek
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of “getting the word.” You first have to know what the word is. Which you don’t, apparently.
Hummer anyone? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
January 26th, 2009
But this article leaves unsaid one of the most important features that all hybreds should have — plug in charging. Many of us don’t drive more than the batteries can support without resort to using the gasoline engine, especially if the new batteries to be used on the Volt are used. Right now it costs an extra $3,000.00 to add this to a Prius, which is a lot to have to pay — much more than it would cost the original manufacturer.