Solar Powered Cars; Toyota, Blue Car and Koenigsegg

OK so it isn’t just us planning to put Solar on cars – plenty of manufactures are!

At the top end of the scale – Swedish super car manufacturer Koenigsegg has recently released pictures of its 170mph four seater car.  The company who have recently acquired a controlling stake in SAAB (after GM nearly went under) say the car will do 0-60 in 5.2 seconds.  The Koenigsegg Quant Solar Super car uses NLV thin film as the skin of its bodywork.  This is similar solar technology that we plan to use on the Landcruiser.  Obviously the price tag is going to be on the high side!  Have a further read on Inhabitat

Koenigsegg’s Quant Solar Supercar

A little more in the real world the Solar Powered blue car is planning to hit the streets in 2010.  French battery manufacture Bolloré has announced that it will be in production next year!

Blue Car Bollerie

Even closer to reality is the next generation Toyota Prius

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeOE4Vg7Cq0

The optional  Solar Panel roof has two functions: #1) Draws air from outside and through the cabin just to keep some airflow going through the car and lowering the ambient temperature. A car sitting in the sun can get upwards of 130 F degrees. #2) You set your A/C controls, and if you are within 90 ft of the Prius, you can press a button on the remote. It runs… Read more your A/C system, without using the engine, for 3 minutes. Lowers the interior temperature, so when you get in, its more comfortable, but also, when you start the car, you’ve taken some workload away from the engine, so it doesn’t have to burn as much fuel to run the A/C system. THAT’S how it saves fuel.