Toyota developing solar-powered car

It has been reported by a top business publication on Thursday that Toyota Motor Corporation is clandestinely concentrating in the development of a vehicle that will be propelled exclusively by solar power in its attempt to reverse its struggling industry with an eco car of the future.

The publication of Nikkei, however, commented that it will take years before the intended vehicle will be offered for sale. The offices of Toyota were closed Thursday and officials were not right away available for interview. The Nikkei reported that Toyota is laboring on an electric car that will receive part of its energy from solar cells outfitted on it and can be recharged with the power produced from solar panels utilized in of solar-powered homes. The car manufacturer, however, later hopes to develop a version wholly powered by solar cells installed on the vehicle, the publication said without citing the sources of information. The solar car is part of the Japanese top car maker’s attempt boost revenues during times of crisis, The Nikkei reported.
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chewy - 1/3/2009 3:05:27 PM

-2 Boost

no actual car will go anywhere on solar power

tesla311 - 1/3/2009 3:56:37 PM

+3 Boost

i'm putting solar panels on my roof and getting a tesla roadster, it's pretty much a solar car at that point, imo.

veyron1001 - 1/3/2009 4:07:59 PM

-1 Boost

Be more reasonable and buy an Elise.

DinamoR - 1/3/2009 6:45:18 PM

+2 Boost

Great to hear that Tesla! that's what I want to do.

Toyota must have something up its sleeve. The current solar panels only get like 15% efficiency, which is a huge improvement over the 5% efficiency of older panels. They must be planning to have solar panels with at least 60% efficiency if they make such claims.

There is enough sun light hitting earth every day to power the whole world for 18 years. 60% efficiency solar panels would be HUGE and would change the world forever.

Agent63 - 1/4/2009 6:44:08 AM

+1 Boost

In the Pacific Northwest (Vancouver BC) where I live a Solar car will not sell nor will it work because of the rainy weather we have up here. So the car's marketing has to be geared towards Southern states like Arizona, California, and Miami where temperature is warm throughout most of the year.

Places like China with all that smog won't do it any good either. In Japan itself it may be hard as well because populated cities like Tokyo is full of smog.

0to60 - 1/3/2009 10:43:33 PM

+2 Boost

you wont be liked around here, lol. they are here to bash Toy/Lex

XYZZ - 1/4/2009 12:48:30 AM

0 Boost

an experimental solar car drove up to alaska last summer. owner/designer broke several records, and intends to break more.

while only a 1-passenger vehicle, it has accomplished the "proof of concept."