Toyota to install solar panels on Prius models

MUNICH, Germany — Toyota Motor Corp. will install solar panels on various models of its Prius hybrid model family. With the move, the company plans to respond to higher demand for "green" cars, reports news agency Reuters.

According to the report, the panels will be supplied by Kyocera. They will contribute to the power supply of the air conditioning in the vehicles equipped with the panels. However, the energy supplied will not suffice to power the air condition completely. Reuters quotes an unnamed source close to the matter saying that this is "more of a symbolic gesture" and that it would be "very difficult" to power much more than air conditioning with solar energy.

While many automotive OEMs are developing alternatives to the use of fossil fuels, solar panels are far from being a viable solution to power vehicles since silicon prices are high, efficiency is still rather low and energy storage is difficult.

Toyota declined to comment. A spokesperson said the company does not talk about future product plans.

The company plans to introduce the third generation of its Prius hybrid next year. Also competitor Honda Motor Co. will add a new low-cost model to its hybrid line.

Automakers have teamed up with battery manufacturers to bring lithium-ion batteries to the market. This type of batteries is said to be able to store a much higher amount of electrical energy in smaller packages to extend cruising ranges for hybrids and ell-electric cars.

Toyota has teamed with Matsushita to develop lithium-ion batteries. Similarly, Nissan has launched a joint venture with NEC. Among the European automotive OEMs, Volkswagen partners with Sanyo and Bosch group with Samsung.