Kyocera offers details on solar cells used by 2010 Prius
Want to know more about the solar moonroof option that's available on the latest third-generation Toyota Prius for 2010? Read on. According to Tech-On from Nikkei newspaper in Japan, the actual polycrystalline Si cells used by the automaker are supplied by Kyocera and are arranged in six columns and six rows.
These 36 cells are about 16.5-percent efficient and reportedly generate over 50 watts of power, which is sufficient to directly power an electric fan that helps keep the cabin cool when the car isn't running. Toyota's first design apparently sent power to a battery, but the Japanese automaker was worried that the power source would degrade over time with frequent use.
Interestingly, the inclusion of the solar moonroof precludes the use of the standard car's Pagoda roof, which slightly increases the car's frontal area and therefore negatively impacts overall aerodynamics somewhat, though not enough to cause any measurable decrease in efficiency. According to Toyota, the unit is quite robust and there is no need to be concerned that the solar system isn't able to withstand the rigors of automotive use.
[Source: Tech-On]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt 11:23AM (5/21/2009)
Now, if they could kindly cover the hood and any other flat-ish areas too, we would love some extra battery charging action. Just leave it parked in the sun while at work and your batteries are topped off for the EV mode commute home. Thanks for the thought Toyota, but I can crack my windows and sunroof without a fan.
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:45PM (5/21/2009)
The panels don't charge the battery. This is mentioned in the summary and the article.
They only run the fan. Which is weird to me.
Matt 2:45PM (5/21/2009)
I'm saying "what if" they charged the battery. I'm aware of the direct connection to the fan, just not sure why they did that. I mean, how hard is it to roll your windows down just a little or crack open the sun roof. Not only that, but there is an option to make the air conditioner remote activated. It seems like they would make better use of the solar power (hence the comment I originally posted)
guyledouche 11:58AM (5/21/2009)
^--- Ill-informed comment
Please do your homework before posting nonsense like that.
Even if you covered every square inch of that vehicle with cells, you wouldn't be doing your battery pack any favors. The power density of solar is minuscule compared to the power needed to recharge one of those multi-killowatt packs.
Additionally, most people in urban environments do not want to leave their windows or sunroof cracked on their brand new Prius while it is parked in a garage or on the street in fear of vandalism or theft. Therefore, this ventilation system actually makes TONS of sense. The boys at Toyota are not dummies and usually make very sound decisions on how they build their vehicles and what options to offer. I may not agree with how they distribute them, but they sure as hell know how to build them.
Dont you think that if a solar self-rechargeable car was a feasible and viable commercial product, there would already be 20 companies working on them?
I don't mean to be ragging on you, but this site already has a lot of misnomers and nonsense posts floating around regarding RE and green vehicle technology. I am just trying to keep people from getting confused and keep the content factual.
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Matt 3:19PM (5/21/2009)
A: If you park in a deck the solar panel doesn't do squat
B: Slowly charging a battery with, say, a 300-500 watt array for eight to nine hours would not only improve your battery life (compared to quick charging on the fly with by the gas motor), but it would definitely make an impact on your fuel economy, since you could make much better use of the EV mode. They ALREADY DO THIS with golf carts:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/06/15/greener-golf-with-a-solar-golf-cart/
and it works. I know the Prius is no golf cart, and i don't expect you would be able to exclusively rely on solar power, but this is far from an ill informed idea. Honestly, with the rate at which we are improving the efficiency and cost of solar cells, I think this is totally realistic.
lne937s 1:10PM (5/21/2009)
I think thin-film would work better for cars for mass adoption. While not as efficient, it could be used in windows easily- anywhere you have laminate glass. It could be used at the top of a windshield, a sunroof, rear window, etc. to replace window shading. It wouldn't take much to power a small fan to keep the interior from gettin too hot- 50 watts seems like overkill intended to charge the battery until they figured out it wasn't feasible. Thin film also tends to work well off-axis and at high temperatures, for those of us that park in the heat not facing the sun...
http://www.schottsolar.com/global/products/bipv/schott-asi-glass.html
http://www.pv.kaneka.co.jp/products_s/index.html
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:47PM (5/21/2009)
Honestly, 50watts (about 1/12th HP) seems like peanuts to me. Remember, the stronger the sun is on the panel, the more light comes in and heats up the interior. I'm not surprised it takes that much power to keep up. It's still going to be hot when you get in the car (due to the surfaces inside absorbing light), just not as hot.
lne937s 2:12PM (5/21/2009)
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4LA34
34 watts is enough to move 110 cubic feet per minute through a 4" duct, which is basically the interior volume of the car- 50 watts sounds like overkill. We have to remember the application- this is not a lot of air we need to move. If you could vent the entire interior volume every 5 minutes or so, it would do the job it was intended to do- 10 watts should be able to do that job.
why not the LS2LS7? 2:31PM (5/21/2009)
Good call on the math. You've convinced me.
Carlos 1:55PM (5/21/2009)
Will be one extra or are coming with the basic Prius?
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guyledouche 5:18PM (5/21/2009)
MATT-
Your still spittin nonesense my friend.
I am an EE and a solar engineer by trade. I work with and design solar systems EVERY day.
Lets take a look at your response:
" Slowly charging a battery with, say, a 300-500 watt array for eight to nine hours would not only improve your battery life (compared to quick charging on the fly with by the gas motor), but it would definitely make an impact on your fuel economy, since you could make much better use of the EV mode. They ALREADY DO THIS with golf carts:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/06/15/greener-golf-with-a-solar-golf-cart/
and it works. I know the Prius is no golf cart, and i don't expect you would be able to exclusively rely on solar power, but this is far from an ill informed idea. Honestly, with the rate at which we are improving the efficiency and cost of solar cells, I think this is totally realistic."
Let me bring a couple reference points to light so that you can understand what you are saying...
You mentioned about that tomberlin golf cart with the single panel on the roof that ABG did a story about a while back... Do you realize that the panel on that roof would take roughly 100 hours to charge the battery bank in that golf cart? It is a GIMICK plain and simple. ZAP offers their Xebra truck with a single solar panel on the roof and they even admit that it is basically a waste of time. The best it will do is trickle charge the pack and perhaps keep the pack a bit warmer on cold days, but I even doubt that.
You mentioned that if you could put 500 watts of cells onto the car that it would extend the life of the pack and lessen your reliance on FF's. Lets just imagine that you a have magic powers and can somehow squeeze 500 watts of cells onto the skin of a Prius, what do you think the efficiency of those cells would be since they would be following the lines and chape of the car? Answer - Next to nothing. You might be able to get 60-75% of that 500 watts assuming it was noon and the sun was directly overhead. With that being said, you would be feeding lets say... 350 watts into a 7 kWh bank. Keep in mind thats only for one hour. Once 2 or 3 oclock rolls around, your efficiency is down to nothing, literally. Do you see where Im going here? It is a waste of time and money and just not practical with todays solar technology.
You have to understand that I appreciate your enthusiasm, and I am a HUGE advocate for EV's and actually own 2 converted S10 trucks which I charge from a 4.5 kW array in my back yard. I just like to keep things real and keep the info legit on this site. Solar panels are really just better suited on a building or on a tracking system, not on a car.
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NeverFollow 2:57AM (5/22/2009)
The solar moonroof option cost $3600
(also depending of your location, you may have to get the $2,800 leather option)
see comments under:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/05/13/toyota-launches-build-your-prius-minisite/
For $15 you can get the Auto Kool
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6079960-7.html
I am in California and it works great. You need two (one on each side)
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