2010 Solar power
in [Toyota Prius]
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From: Peter Granzeau on 2 Sep 2009 20:04 On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:05:51 -0500, "Was Istoben" <entshuldigen(a)oopla.com> wrote: > >"Randy" <rmaheux(a)cfl.rr.com> wrote in message >news:4a9b9fd2$0$4971$9a6e19ea(a)unlimited.newshosting.com... >> Why is it that the optional solar panel in the 2010 Prius is used to power >> the A/C and not to charge the main battery pack? >I'm not positive about this but I think it just runs a fan to circulate >outside air through the car to maintain an interior temperature roughly >equal to the interior. On a sunny, 105 degree day in Phoenix the interior >would probably be around 110 instead of 140. Nest, the need to figure out a way to make the windshield opaque when the car is turned off, so the steering wheel doesn't get so hot it raises blisters when you need to use it to drive the car.
From: John Oliver on 2 Sep 2009 20:51 On Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:04:16 -0400, Peter Granzeau <pgranzeau(a)cox.net> wrote: >On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:05:51 -0500, "Was Istoben" ><entshuldigen(a)oopla.com> wrote: > >> >>"Randy" <rmaheux(a)cfl.rr.com> wrote in message >>news:4a9b9fd2$0$4971$9a6e19ea(a)unlimited.newshosting.com... >>> Why is it that the optional solar panel in the 2010 Prius is used to power >>> the A/C and not to charge the main battery pack? >>I'm not positive about this but I think it just runs a fan to circulate >>outside air through the car to maintain an interior temperature roughly >>equal to the interior. On a sunny, 105 degree day in Phoenix the interior >>would probably be around 110 instead of 140. > >Nest, the need to figure out a way to make the windshield opaque when >the car is turned off, so the steering wheel doesn't get so hot it >raises blisters when you need to use it to drive the car. People in Australia use sunshades http://www.motormate.com.au/default.asp?pageid=ProductCatalog&catid=1035 -- John Oliver jdoliver(a)westnet.com.au AIM or MSN jdoliver98
From: Mark F. on 5 Sep 2009 11:31 It is REALLY there to cool the traction battery. cooler battery longer life!.. IMHO.. Mark "Randy" <rmaheux(a)cfl.rr.com> wrote in message news:4a9b9fd2$0$4971$9a6e19ea(a)unlimited.newshosting.com... > Why is it that the optional solar panel in the 2010 Prius is used to power > the A/C and not to charge the main battery pack? >
From: Chas Gill on 5 Sep 2009 18:54 "Mark F." <m.flo(a)gte.net> wrote in message news:h7u08i$sul$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > It is REALLY there to cool the traction battery. cooler battery longer > life!.. > IMHO.. > > Mark > > > > "Randy" <rmaheux(a)cfl.rr.com> wrote in message > news:4a9b9fd2$0$4971$9a6e19ea(a)unlimited.newshosting.com... >> Why is it that the optional solar panel in the 2010 Prius is used to >> power the A/C and not to charge the main battery pack? >> > I don't think it's really there to do any of this stuff. It certainly isn't big enough to provide sufficient power to run any sort of air con system (it would probably need a couple of 30 foot "wings" to achieve this, somewhat like earth orbiting satellites). All it does is to provide sufficient power to operate a low voltage - low current fan to circulate ambient temperature air from outside the car in an attempt to reduce greenhouse effect temperatures inside the car on sunny days. This means that the air con (when eventually switched on) will have less work to do to get the internal temperature comfortable, thus saving gas, etc. The battery cooling fan (as I understand it) will only run if the hybrid system is on and the battery is too hot. I suspect that "too hot" in this case is a lot hotter than the battery temperature is ever likely to reach from sunshine alone. However, those Prius equipped with the "moon roof" solar panel are also equipped with remotely controlled air con (which runs off the traction battery for up to 10 minutes, I think) to allow you to make the interior of the car even more comfortable before you get in. Unless you live somewhere really hot I would say this little lot is overkill. Here in the UK it's a 3000 UK Pounds optional extra. Can't see many people going for it, to be honest. I didn't. Chas
From: Peter Granzeau on 6 Sep 2009 19:59
On Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:51:24 +1000, John Oliver <jdoliver(a)westnet.com.au> wrote: >On Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:04:16 -0400, Peter Granzeau <pgranzeau(a)cox.net> >wrote: > >>On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:05:51 -0500, "Was Istoben" >><entshuldigen(a)oopla.com> wrote: >> >>> >>>"Randy" <rmaheux(a)cfl.rr.com> wrote in message >>>news:4a9b9fd2$0$4971$9a6e19ea(a)unlimited.newshosting.com... >>>> Why is it that the optional solar panel in the 2010 Prius is used to power >>>> the A/C and not to charge the main battery pack? >>>I'm not positive about this but I think it just runs a fan to circulate >>>outside air through the car to maintain an interior temperature roughly >>>equal to the interior. On a sunny, 105 degree day in Phoenix the interior >>>would probably be around 110 instead of 140. >> >>Nest, the need to figure out a way to make the windshield opaque when >>the car is turned off, so the steering wheel doesn't get so hot it >>raises blisters when you need to use it to drive the car. > >People in Australia use sunshades > >http://www.motormate.com.au/default.asp?pageid=ProductCatalog&catid=1035 I was being a bit caustic. We have things that turn headlights on automatically. We have things that start windshield wipers automatically. Why not have something that opaques the windows automatically, too? |