MendoCoastCurrent, January 1, 2009
Here's a possibility...prius with solar panels
Toyota Motor is developing a vehicle that will be powered solely by solar energy in an effort to turn around its struggling business with a futuristic ecological car, a top Japanese business daily reported.
The Nikkei newspaper, however, said it will be years before the planned vehicle will be available on the market. Toyota’s offices were closed Thursday and officials were not immediately available for comment.
Toyota is working on an electric vehicle that will get power from solar cells equipped on the vehicle, and that can be recharged with electricity generated from solar panels on the roofs of homes. The automaker later hopes to develop a model totally powered by solar cells on the vehicle.
In December, Toyota stunned the nation by announcing it will slip into its first operating loss in 70 years, as it gets battered by a global slump, especially in the key U.S. market. The surging yen has also hurt the earnings of Japanese automakers.
Still, Toyota is a leader in green technology and executives have stressed they won’t cut back on environmental research despite its troubles.
Toyota, the manufacturer of the Lexus luxury car and Camry sedan, has already begun using solar panels at its Tsutsumi plant in central Japan to produce some of its own electricity.
awsome when can i get one?
i want one!!!!!
^_^
Toyota generally makes good cars. When I drive a Toyota, it’s obvious that people who enjoy driving were involved in the development, Toyota is the best.
Just today I saw an add for a Ford that can have the addition of a solar panel a home owner can afix to their roof to charge their car. When I say it I thought that Ford once again missed the point. The solar panel needs be part of the vehicle so it can charge in the parkinglot while I am at work or on the road. We have plenty of sun here in Florida so why can’t FORD or GM figure this out?????
I do believe there are many ways for alternative, quality energy that saves consumers a lot of money, but the problem is the gov’t and oil companies will shut you down.