http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Maybe flirt with some useful technology instead of just trying to revamp a car that technically has the biggest carbon footprint in the world after all that shipping and processing. ]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Poulan's grammar is fine. It's the lack of capitalization and punctuation that needs correcting.]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Also, in cold weather, the less heat pulled away from the engine into the cabin during engine warmup, the greater the fuel efficiency.
In hot weather, electricity is better used for accelerating than cooling, so either way this helps.]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 10:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Agreed. That BS has been thoroughly debunked long ago. It's a shame that people constantly have to waste the keystrokes refuting it, lest it go unchallenged.]]>Jul 6th 2008 10:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Back on topic, I could do without a solar panel, but I'd by a plug-in in a heart beat. ]]>Jul 6th 2008 10:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Engadget used to actually have intelligent comments. Now its all the 12 year olds who had their online gamer privileges revoked.]]>Jul 6th 2008 11:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 10:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
See, if it was, in fact, debunked, it wouldn't be 100% factual anymore, now would it.

This is coming from someone who thinks Prius batteries that are going to eventually become useless once they can't hold a charge for a reasonable amount of time.]]>Jul 6th 2008 10:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/announce their new plug-in for 2010-to-2012is can be solar powered?
They are just letting this little fluffer out so nobody gets
surprised when they start looking for panels.

3ngadget used to actually have intelligent comments. Now its all the
12 year olds who had their online gamer privileges revoked.]]>Jul 6th 2008 11:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 11:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/tools/glossary/operation_comfort/solar_sunroof.html

And if you don't like links, here is the text:

"Even in very low sunlight, light-sensitive elements under the glass sunroof panel produce electricity to power the ventilator inside the vehicle. Even when the ignition is switched off, the interior will be supplied with a continuous flow of fresh air and temperature levels inside the vehicle can be reduced by as much as 50% with the outside air that is cleaned as is passes through the dust and pollen filter. This kind of ventilation does not put any additional demands on the car’s battery. This preliminary cooling lets the air conditioner cool the interior to the desired temperature with little energy and use of the ventilator."

So it is very possible that this is where they are going, but the system may also run while the car is on...]]>Jul 6th 2008 11:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 7th 2008 3:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Perhaps this would be better: Where does the juice go if you don't fancy using the AC?]]>Jul 7th 2008 10:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 9th 2008 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Cars don't have roots... do they?]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Hmm, that's a bit of a stretch. I think it's more likely that over time, the Prius has somehow evolved to have roots-- perhaps because such a mutation would make it more likely that a particular specimen would survive, as it would virtually eliminate the chances of the car being involved in a fatal crash.]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 11:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 7th 2008 2:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
(OK, my car doesn't, but some do...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roots_blower )]]>Jul 7th 2008 10:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/

Hahahaaa]]>Jul 7th 2008 7:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 10:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 11:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
I am personally familiar with Kyocera Solar's products and have several of their KC80 80 watt solar panels powering a remote communication site in Wyoming. Their panels are just as good as the next in my experience.]]>Jul 7th 2008 11:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 9:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 10:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 11:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
]]>Jul 7th 2008 2:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 7th 2008 6:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
I commend Toyota for taking a step in the right direction, but a solar panel shouldn't be designed into a car until it's intended to be used as an automotive power source.]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Oh, and driving in 120 degree heat without running the AC? Not smart.]]>Jul 6th 2008 10:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 10:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 10:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
Report at:
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/106842/article.html]]>Jul 6th 2008 10:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
@bertbusdriver: That's true, but I'm not blasting down the highway at 85 with the windows down. On surface streets at a reasonable speed limit, impact on fuel economy is negligible. See Mythbusters for more info.

@BigD145: That makes plenty of sense - spend several thousand dollars moving to a climate where I'm less likely to need a Prius with a solar-powered AC. I'll get right on that.]]>Jul 6th 2008 11:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/Jul 6th 2008 11:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
@jordan: It's actually crappy right now - we just started our monsoon season, which means hot temperature + moderate humidity. It's not 100%, but we get miserable heat as well as moisture. At least we get thunderstorms at night to cool off.]]>Jul 6th 2008 11:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/06/prius-to-go-partially-solar/
If however you aren't using the AC or radio or any other feature most people use, then the energy collected from the solar panels will instead be used to power the hybrid motor. The benefit is that solar power can be collected even when the car is off and is parked in a parking lot.]]>Jul 7th 2008 2:26AM