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2010 Toyota Prius to come with solar panel technology


Toyota is reportedly planning a significant automotive industry first with the introduction of solar panel technology to be used on the next generation of its largely successful Prius hybrid hitting the market in 2009.

In a recent Reuters report citing the Japanese business daily Nikkei, Toyota will install solar panels developed by Kyocera Corporation on a premium model Prius. The panels are expected to power the car's air conditioning system and are said to improve the vehicle's overall efficiency.

Also floating around the rumormill have been talks of a completely new Toyota hybrid car as well as a Lexus-only model. While there has been no official confirmation from Toyota, the forthcoming solar panel technology will also reportedly be employed on the automaker's new new hybrid models as well.

Toyota recently announced an increase in its research and development efforts of plug-in hybrid and lithium ion battery technologies to be implemented on a new plug-in due in 2010. The model will be built in close collaboration with partner Panasonic EV Energy and is expected to give stiff competition to Chevrolet's upcoming Volt.

Since its inception in 1997, Toyota has sold roughly 1.5 million Prius hybrids worldwide. The car was revamped with Toyota's latest hybrid synergy drive in 2003 and will make its third generation debut sometime next year as a 2010 model.

Source: Reuters via Nikkei