Solatec Solar Panels for Hybrids

Solatec LLC(TM) announced that it is producing flexible, rooftop-mounted Solar Panels for Hybrid Vehicles, starting with a kit for the 2004-2006 Toyota Prius. A prototype (pictured) has been operating in the Northeast for several months under mixed driving conditions. With Solatec panels installed on the roof, the prototype SolaPrius(R) averages 55 MPG city and 62 MPG highway - an overall 10 percent improvement over the pre-installation numbers. All-season testing is in progress.

Solatec's photovoltaic kit adds two flexible, conformal panels that charge the hybrid automobile's auxiliary battery through a proprietary charger/current-limiter system concealed behind interior trim panels. The self-adhesive, rooftop-mounted panels are only 0.6mm thick and cause no change in aerodynamic drag. The panels are rated for 30 watts at 18 volts.

Development of the hybrid vehicle solar panels came about as a side project of Solatec LLC's solar aircraft research, which uses the same high efficiency flexible photovoltaic panels to sustain the aircraft in flight. The same aircraft grade adhesive is used on both systems.

The $2,195 kits will be available nationwide through dealer franchises. Kits for other hybrid cars are presently in development and testing.

Solatec LLC is a Nevada company engaged in alternative energy research, development and manufacturing. Solatec's main areas of research currently include solar, wind power and geothermal energy.

There have been questions as to why this hasn't been done before.  The miles that have to be driven to recover the cost of the panels, like the miles to be driven to recover the additional cost of a hybrid are likely to be to high to justify the panels on an economic basis.  If your living in the desert (lots of sun), add a few more batteries (more cost) and only have to drive a few miles, you might be able to have the convenience of not having to buy gas very often.  But then an electric vehicle would make more sense.  But there are a lot of people, like me, who would like to have the newest technology, would like the environmental benefits of burning less hydrocarbons and see this as a way of developing technologies that will be necessary as our hydrocarbon fuels become depleted and much more costly.

Resources: New Solar Panels for Hybrid Cars Improve MPG, Press Release, November 6, 2005
Solatec LLC, Wells, NV, USA, Company website

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Comments

[Steve Yang]

Great idea. But,
I seriously doubt the utility of 60 Watt, at 36V of peak power, with questionable interface to the intricate electronics of the Prius.
$2200 for a car battery charger is too pricey!

I assume a couple of HorsePower maybe needed to keep a car rolling on electric power.
I would like to collaborate with any one interested in developing a more useable system.

[Rundel Fertatas]

This is a great idea for parking lot replenishing of car batteries. Obviously no one is suggesting that all of the motive power will be provided by the solar panels, real time. And certainly the intricate electronics of the Prius will be well protected by the design--a fused, voltage regulated, connection to the battery terminals. Not exactly rocket science.

[Ivan Kirigin]

Actually, this won't really charge the battery used to move the car. It's the alternative store used for things like power locks and windows.

You can still save from it, as this means less energy used in the ICE to power this battery, but it won't be huge. You just need far more than 30W at 12V to make a change, especially to power the more significant battery systems of the plug-in modded version.

[Mosaic]

wow!!! this car make really good and no! air pollution and also can list destruction noise....

[run your car on water]

i never heard of solar power cars. this is so new to me.