Toyota has been leading the green charge since the introduction of its Prius hybrid, but over the subsequent years, a few automakers have been able to catch up to Toyota’s green prowess. However, Toyota will be looking to distance itself from the competition once again as the Japanese automaker is reportedly working on a solar vehicle project.
According to a report by Japan’s The Nikkei newspaper, Toyota is secretly working on a solar-powered electric vehicle. The EV would use vehicle-mounted solar panels to charge the car’s onboard battery pack, and would also include a home solar charging system. However, the newspaper’s sources also indicated the technology is still several years away from viability.
The use of solar panels to power an electric vehicle may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but it isn’t actually too far out there. One company has already developed a solar conversion kit for the Prius which generates enough juice to power the hybrid for 20 miles. Toyota ’s upcoming third-generation Prius will also use solar panels, although they will be used to power auxiliary systems rather than charge the car’s batteries.
Toyota is currently developing a plug-in version of the Prius hybrid, which could be the first application of the company’s solar charging system. The Prius plug-in is expected sometime between 2010 and 2012, which means a solar version might not be far behind.
