Anyone see the announcement that the future Prius is supposed to have solar panels on its roof to operate the air conditioning? This would allow you to put the car in the mode where the gas engine stops at a traffic light (for instance) but you still get to have cool air. Up to this point, if you want cold air, you have to keep the gas engine running. It's a neat idea but I have no idea how they will actually do it.

The solar panels are supposed to produce 2000 to 5000 Watts. With the best will in the world, I don't see how this can be true. I have 21 large solar panels on my house, the system is only 5 years old and produces a maximum of 3000 Watts. No way a panel small enough to fit on a car's roof could produce that many kilowatts. I don't think even NASA has solar panels that efficient. Anyone know what's really going on?

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970