Your typical gas-electric motor Toyota Prius

It’s a small step in big direction for any automotive manufacture. The solar-crystal panels soak up energy and transform it into extra power for the air conditioning unit. Running your air can add to the struggle of keeping a vehicle moving at a constant speed while cooling off occupants. Now, that pressure is taken off of the motor. Soon, you may see the gas-electric-solar Prius at a car dealer near you! Talk about a tri-powered automobile.

Is it possible – a 2009 Solar Powered Prius?

So, what’s next for the solar powered car? Maybe all internal and outside lights could run on stored solar energy. Or why not operate power windows via sunlight? If the world will be overrun with solar powered vehicles we may soon see the extinction of the garage.

Solar Panels – Crystals absorb solar energy and power the Prius air conditioning

“One-miiiillllliiioooonnnnn Toyotas”

1,028,000 at the end of April, to be exact. This number represents a total of worldwide sales, more than half of those purchases coming from North American customers. Toyota says it “aims to sell more than one million Prius every year” – after 2010 that is.

Lately, Toyota’s profits have been under pressure as it struggles against a strong yen and weakening US economy. Still, rising gas prices and the popularity of the Green trend have played a positive roll in helping Prius become a commuter favorite.

Philadelphia’s PhillyCarShare Prius – a favorite among the car share industry

The Pruis has been a big hit with younger drivers and the environmentally conscious since its 1997 debut in Japan and 2001 debut in the United States.

The First-Gen Toyota Prius