One Step Closer to Car Nirvana : Built-in Solar Rooftops

Do you know the mpg for a 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?

133 mpg-e. Yup, 1-3-3 miles per gallon (add the “e” for factoring the in the electric capabilities).

Do you know some cars and trucks still roll in below 20 mpg?!

That means the gas you buy in the new Prius is worth 6 times more than a gas guzzler.

Plus with the new Prius Prime you can include SOLAR PANELS BUILT INTO THE ROOF!

Yes, we do understand that in the Sierra Foothills many us need 4WD and trucks. That is why after you read this article, check out our other article where we recommend the best options for trucks in 2023 –  “Gas Guzzling Giants: The Absurdity of 16-MPG Trucks in a 2023 World.”

This is a game changing milestone for transportation.

There have been some cars that have solar built in their roofs and panels, but not a mass produced trusted brand like Toyota. Before this, the closest we had was the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and that was for an only electric car, not a plugin hybrid like the Prius Prime. Other cars had solar panels but they did not charge the hybrid electric battery, only charging accessories or the 12 volt battery. These solar panels charge the hybrid battery.

Let’s break down what this means.

1. The big issue for a regular hybrid vehicles is that they do not store energy well in their smaller ev  batteries.  On a vacation, if you let a hybrid battery drain to zero, it becomes a very expensive fix. In a regular combustion vehicle it’s easy to charge the 12 volt battery or simply replace it, but a hybrid will cost you thousands to replace the much larger hybrid lithium battery and they are not chargeable with jumper cables.
2. Having solar panels on a hybrid car is like having a built in trickle charger, making sure that your hybrid battery never goes dead when you are away. This is a huge difference between a regular hybrid vs a plugin hybrid with solar panels. It saves the risk of a huge potential expense, and saves the owner from having to find a driver while on vacation.
3. Also to consider: A plugin hybrid engine being a mix of  an electric motor and a hybrid/electric battery bank always needs to have gasoline to function correctly. So in an emergency you would have to be aware to never run your gas to empty. You could however leave some gas in, and charge the car via the solar panels to continue to get miles without having to plugin or fuel up. It would last longer but possibly not indefinitely. 
4. Therefore an electric car with solar panels would probably be the most emergency proof vehicle on the market.  When there is no gas, and no electric to plugin (which does happen in emergencies in California) your car could keep on running. But depending on the amount of solar panels built in, you may only get around 2-6 miles per day with the Prius Prime but more if you charged with the solar from your home. 

Again not a perfect solution, but a step in the right direction.

Bottomline:

For $600 you can add solar panels to the 2023 Prius Prime hybrid plugin vehicle. Essentially owning a car that can not only travel 44 miles without using gas but can also charge itself and, has a built in “trickle charger” for vacations.

It is affordable at $30k, and feels like a smart buy for a customer thinking about living sustainably, efficiently, and economically. It has also been redesigned to look more sporty as the older Prius versions looked sort of clunky.

If I were to buy a new car, this would be on the top of the list because it is a very high mpg plugin hybrid with solar panels. To me, the closest thing to car nirvana considering all the factors.

Why wouldn’t I prefer just an electric car with solar panels? Well, when the power is out, and you can’t get a charge, you’ll be happy you have the gas engine to keep you rolling under any situation.

Yes, I did just say I would be happy to still have a gas engine… as long as it’s efficient!  This is the Sierra Foothills, and charging stations are not prevalent. 

Why not just a gasoline car? Knowing the benefits of hybrid cars, the innovation and advancements they bring (check out regenerative braking!), I think having an “only gas” engine is a thing of the past. It’s simply not that efficient in it’s current design. Also when they turn the gas pumps off in emergencies or when gas prices skyrocket, I can charge my car with solar on my home and on my car!

The 2023 Prius Prime is not the only car to have solar panels built in, but it is the first to hit the mass market from a maker like Toyota.

Check out the chart we compiled below to see other vehicles that incorporate solar panels into their designs.