The Driven
Toyota begins testing of solar-powered and self-charging Prius
Posted on July 15, 20192 minute read By Giles Parkinson
Car manufacturing giant Toyota Motor Corp is to begin trialling later this month a new version of its Prius hybrid car, this time with up to 860 watts of thin film solar that will be able to charge its “solar battery” as it drives, and add more than 50kms to its fossil fuel-free driving range.
The trials taking place in Japan use high efficiency (34 per cent) Sharp thin film solar cells situated on the bonnet (or hood), roof, rear hatch door and rear hatch door varnish.
The aim in the series of trial being co-ordinated by Toyota, Sharp and research organisation NEDO is try and reach 1kW output from solar panels on the car, which they see as a potential game changer – not just for hybrids, but also full battery electric vehicles.
“The goal is to contribute to the creation of a new solar battery panel market, including the transport sector, and find solutions for energy and environmental issues,” the company says in a statement.
Toyota has a small solar pack placed on some Prius PHV models sold in the US, but this provides just 160 watts of output and extends the range by a meagre 8kms.
One of the big new developments in this latest trial is the ability of the solar power to charge the battery while it is being driven, and not just when it is parked.
“By enhancing the solar battery panel’s efficiency and expanding its onboard area, Toyota was able to achieve a rated power generation output of around 860 watts, which is approximately 4.8-times higher in comparison with the commercial model Prius PHV (equipped with a solar charging system).
“In addition to substantially boosting its power generation output, the demo car employs a system that charges the driving battery while the vehicle is parked and also while it’s being driven, a development that is expected to lead to considerable improvements in electric-powered cruising range and fuel efficiency.”
Toyota hopes to use the data obtained from the trial to guide future decisions and calibrations around the onboard solar recharging system.
Giles Parkinson
Giles Parkinson
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of The Driven, and also edits and founded Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid. He has been a journalist for 35 years and is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review.
Like
Tweet
Get the newsletter
I agree to the Terms of Use
Trending Posts
nissan V2H 1
Nissan sees Leaf as home energy source, says Tesla big battery “waste of resources”
Posted on July 11, 2019
Source: Chad Mortensen/Twitter 2
Spotted – Tesla “Raven” Model S with upgraded range, motors and suspension
Posted on June 26, 2019
kona electric vs tesla model 3 3
Electric car choice arrives in Australia: Tesla Model 3 vs Hyundai Kona
Posted on July 3, 2019
Source: Tesla 4
Tesla Model S wins ultimate accolade as best car in 70 years
Posted on July 12, 2019
The Driven Podcasts
FAQs
towing with ev
Towing a caravan with an electric car – can it be done?
Nissan Vehicle to Home (V2H) system (
We’re building a new house. What do we need for bidirectional EV charging?
electric car
How many solar panels do you need to cover your daily EV recharging?
What do I need to know as a first time electric car driver?
Get the newsletter
I agree to the Terms of Use
EV News
EV Models
Road Trips
Podcasts
FAQs
Press Releases
Shenzen: A city miles ahead on electric vehicles
Posted on July 15, 2019No comments
Source: Rivian/Twitter
Why do we still need an Australian EV Buyers Guide?
Posted on July 15, 2019No comments
Toyota begins testing of solar-powered and self-charging Prius
Posted on July 15, 2019No comments
The Driven Podcasts
Connect With Us
The Driven
About
Get in Touch
Advertise
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Feedback
Electric Vehicle Insiders
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment