Solatec to franchise solar-assist flexible PVs for hybrids.

[skids]

Well, looks like Lapp's Prius Classic hack has to move over for a sleeker system. This is a company that develops solar powered long-flight aircraft, and on a whim that slapped a couple of those flexible panels on a 2004+ Prius roof and had the expertise on hand to put together a good current limiter circuit to protect the batteries. They say other hybrids will also be targetted, and claim a 10% mileage bonus in the NorthEast under mixed conditions. Kit is to be priced a bit over $2k, and they are looking for franchise partners to handle the sales and installs.

[Massacure]

1. $2,000 is pricey. Not many people will be able to afford it.

That would probably be better spent making the engine more efficient.

[skids]

2. That's one engine I wouldn't want to mess with.

That thing is a very tight engineering job and I'd be afraid to touch it. I'd love to see a Prius HFI hack, but I think most other owners feel the same there.

Anyway on reading further I'm a bit skeptical about their mileage claims. The panels it turns out are only 30 to 60W (I think 60, 30 per panel.) Lapp's were much beefier (260 I think) and although his electronics were a horrible bodge and likely wasted half that, I just don't see them making up that difference. With that small a system they are just offloading the 12V system, and not touching the big batteries -- and the 12V battery doesn't have enough capacity to keep much of the load generated during a workday in a sunny parking lot -- it would go mostly to waste. I wonder if their observed gas mileage is just the mileage gauge getting confused.

Right direction, not aggressive enough.