Nifty...from Toyota

[TheAnvil 0]

clicky

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[quade 4]

Quote

"It's more of a symbolic gesture," said the unidentified source. "It's very difficult to power much more than that with solar energy."

Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you could power an effective air conditioner with the amount of real estate on the roof.

Love to see the numbers on that.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[wmw999 2,589]

My son had a Ford Taurus station wagon for a short while that had a solar-powered ventilation system; one of those clam-shell types that come on RVs. It took a decent-sized (2X4?) foot panel to power. It had previously had a second panel mounted on the hood for a working A/C as well.

The roof was painted white; as you might guess, the previous owner was a NASA power systems engineer who'd been playing with it. He looked like Rick Moranis in "Honey I Shrunk the Kids." His daughter refused to drive it when she became of driving age (too much of a fashion statement, I guess ), so he sold it.

Just the ventilation system would make a 10 degree differential in the car, and the best part was that it wasn't as hot as some to climb into in the summer.

Those were probably not high-efficiency panels, too. So it's sounding kind of reasonable.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[base428 1]

The Aptera announced something similar last year.

(c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted. <==For the media only

[Gawain 0]

Good stuff, but not an entirely new idea.

Mazda used to use solar panels on its 929 model to power fans to keep the cabin cool on hot days.

It's a good example of how these "alternatives" may be effective supplements to traditional sources of power.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

Quote

"It's more of a symbolic gesture," said the unidentified source. "It's very difficult to power much more than that with solar energy."

Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you could power an effective air conditioner with the amount of real estate on the roof.

Love to see the numbers on that.

It probably isn't what we normally think of as "air conditioning", but just ventilation fans that run while the vehicle is parked, to offset the heat buildup from the sun.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[billvon 3,120]

>I'm kinda surprised that you could power an effective air conditioner with
>the amount of real estate on the roof.

You could get about 200 watts with that area in direct sun. The Prius has a variable speed compressor and can be throttled back to 200 watts. However, it would likely be much more effective to run the car's vent fan and just exchange the air.

Side note - when my Prius is parked at the DZ (which was 106 this weekend) I will often turn it on in EV-only mode, let the A/C run for five minutes or so, and then get in and drive off. The engine doesn't start until I'm onto Goetz heading south.