Toyota’s New Solar Powered Vehicle
One of the most popular Hybrid vehicles on the market today is the Toyota Prius. It is both compact and economical, with a starting price of just $22,400. This price puts the Prius within the realms of possibility for the everyday, albeit environmentally-conscious, individual.
The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 mpg city, and 49 mpg highway. Even for a hybrid, that’s not bad, and it’s a step up from earlier years’ Toyota Prius models.
But a new pricing structure is lined up for this hybrid. The Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.
The lowest cost model is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.
It gets better though. A rooftop solar panel package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – although not for the V.
The solar roof system costs between $3,600 and $4,500. It uses solar energy to supplement the vehicle’s power and get even better mileage. This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control AC … for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?
With this new combination of hybrid technology and solar power, a whole new range of fuel efficiency may be feasible. The solar powered hybrid is said to make mileages of up to 70 mpg possible, under the right circumstances.
If you live in or often drive through a sunny climate, the solar roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and pollution emissions.
Under some (although somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.
But at the very least, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s “eco” settings and follows basic guidelines can expect to stop for gas far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should probably take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.
About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how they can live greener and more environmentally friendly lives.
To learn more, visit her blog, Green Gadget Blog.
Source Article: Prius Goes Solar
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