Prius Goes Solar

High-end models of the 2009 Toyota Prius, the most popular car in the U.S. and the most fuel efficient, will now have a new claim to fame: solar panels.

The cars’ solar arrays, according to unconfirmed reports, will only produce enough electricity to keep the air conditioner running.

But according to this Prius White Paper, a solar-powered Prius could drive between five to eight miles on solar power alone, which could actually reduce gas consumption by 17 to 29 percent.

Solar-powered vehicles are not a new idea. There are a variety of prototypes of alternative vehicles that have been designed with solar panels to provide extra green power. However, Toyota is a major car maker, and that’s a first.

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