Better Economy for the Prius?
The Toyota Prius currently stands relatively unchallenged as
the most popular gas-electric hybrid car sold in the
but new entrants into the hybrid market have sent
they’ve come up with will add another “first” to the Prius’ accolades. As early as 2009, consumers can expect the
roofline of their premium Prius to be lined with solar panels, a source of
energy which has not been used on any production vehicle.
While many may expect those solar panels to help recharge
the electrical system of the Prius, they will actually help increase fuel
economy by running the car’s air conditioning system. Air condition is a heavy electrical drain on
both conventional and hybrid models, and long trips with the AC on is
attributed to causing decreased fuel economy, but with the roof mounted Kyocera
solar panels, the air conditioning system of the Toyota Prius will no longer
rely on the same power source as the drivetrain.