Solar Prius; “Filling Up” Your Tesla - July 8th, 2008
Prius to Catch Some Rays?
In an interesting development, word has it that Toyota has plans to add solar panels to the roof of its popular Prius hybrid. The panels, built by Kyocera, will be used to run the air conditioning. It will be two or three years before the Prius line gets a retooling, at which time the panels will likely be added. Green purists are grumbling about the fact that the collected solar power won’t be used to actually drive the car itself, but this strikes me as a perfectly reasonable way to introduce solar power into an overall automotive package, rather like the ubiquity of solar-powered water heaters in Australia. There’s a lot to be said for starting small and getting an idea popular accepted. Solar technology still has a long way to go to be a stand-alone power option in a vehicle, but every practical use will only lead to improvements in the overall efficiency of solar power generation.
Tesla Drivers, Makes Sure You Have the Right Plug
And, in further Tesla news, owners (none of whom have as yet received the roadsters they pre-ordered), will need to make provisions for an 8 hour charge a day from a 220v / 80A circuit like those used to send juice to home appliances. Try to “fill up” via the 110v / 15A route and you’re looking at 30 hours per charge.
Posted on July 8th, 2008 by Shorty
Filed under: general, technology |
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