Your solar Prius coming soon

Toyota working on solar powered EVs

According to unconfirmed reports, Toyota is "secretly" working on solar powered electric vehicles. To start, the vehicles might only be partially powered by solar power, while offering the ability to fully charge via roof top solar panels. The long term goal, however, is to have the solar cars achieve all of their power from the vehicle's own solar cells.

Dyson to focus on solar powered cars?

Do sun-powered cars make sense?

When you hear Dyson, you probably think vacuum cleaners, but you might soon be thinking automobiles. Using his experience developing lightweight, yet powerful electric motors, Dyson hopes to create solar-powered plug-in electric cars according to an Independent story. The vehicles would either be powered by solar arrays on garages or on the car itself, and Dyson believes fleets of such solar-powered vehicles could be on the road within 10 years. (Source:Cars.com)

Solar hybrid vehicles versus battleships

A Solar Prius from Solar Electrical Systems

The technology to develop a solar assisted plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius exists today, in fact Solar Electrical Systems has already helped integrate the technology into such hybrid vehicles. Sure, such hybrids are expensive, maybe not even cost-effective, but that is only because gasoline prices are artificially low.

When the U.S. spends more than $100 billion per year - NOT including war costs - just to secure oil from the Middle East, it becomes obvious that the real cost of gasoline is significantly higher than paid at the pump - we pay most of our gasoline costs as taxes to fund the military-industrial complex that is securing our oil.

The technology to fundamentally change the world, via replacing our corrupt energy paradigm, exists today, it is just economies of scale that are needed to bring down the costs. Yet, when all of the costs of securing and maintaining our current energy paradigm are considered, it seems to me that the costs of developing a clean and green future are easily worth the investment.

Honda's visionary approach to fuel cell vehicles?

The key to Honda's green future?

Honda is a pretty cool company. Not only does Honda make some of the most fuel efficient vehicles - fleet wide - in the industry, they also make some pretty cool jet airplanes. Even more interesting, however, Honda now makes next generation solar cells.

Why would an automaker make solar cells?

I'm sure there are many reasons that Honda might make solar cells, but one interesting reason showed up at the LA Auto Show. (Finish)

Will Google partner on the Astrolab?

My dream car: A solar powered plug-in hybrid vehicle

O.K. The Venturi Astrolab solar powered plug-in hybrid is not exactly ready for primetime, but the fact that it is almost production-ready is extremely exciting.

Hybrid technology, plug-in technology, solar technology! Damn, had they just added biofuels and a small wind generator, it would be alternative energy perfection.

I was able to check out the Astrolab at Wired's NextFest, and if you live in California, you just might have seen the Astrolab on a freeway near your, as did the President of Google, according to Edmunds.

Google is now heavily invested in solar power and electric cars, and it has been pushing plug-in hybrid technology. Would't helping Venturi set up a factory in California to build Astrolabs be the perfect fit? The perfect convergence of technologies?

I hope so. Those guys at Google are money, baby.

First solar powered plug-in hybrid ready for sale?

To be built and sold in America by next year?

The Venturi Astrolab solar powered plug-in hybrid vehicle was displayed in Los Angeles today. It was also announced that the solar powered hybrid will be produced in America and that it could be ready for sale by next year.

According to reports on CNBC, the Astrolab, which travels around 70 miles per charge with a top speed of 74 mph, is not just powered by solar panels, it can also be plugged into a standard outlet just as a conventional electric car.

The company plans to develop numerous cars in a wide range of prices for the American market. Ultimately, final prices will be significantly dependant upon the scale of production.