A car powered with a wind-turbine on its top!!! Sounds interesting right, no? Well, how about a car with a long sail on top? Still no takers? Okay, these were the suggestions doing rounds on internet forums in response to Totota’s announcement last week.
Toyota has decided to ship its Prius model with Solar Panels on top to power the car’s A/C. And most skeptics are laughing their asses off at this move, saying the panel can’t even power a couple of fans inside a car. Toyota’s claims are considered absurd unless they have developed a truly path-breaking solar technology.
What could dampen the prospects of a solar car? in the developed markets?
- Predominantly overcast weather and little overhead (perpendicular) sunlight
- Reduced efficiency due to accumulation of dust/snow
Still, solar-powered roof arrays on cars are not new. Such cars are around since 1985, but aren’t quite popular. Lets see what Toyota dishes out next year.
