Toyota Motor Corp. plans to install a solar power generation system on its Prius hybrid car, when the vehicle goes through a complete makeover as early as next spring, according to a media report Monday.
The move will make Toyota the first major automaker to install a popular model with solar panels. The redesigned Prius will have solar panels on the roof, which will supply part of the two to five kilowatts needed to power the air-conditioning unit, the Nikkei business daily reported.
The Japanese auto giant intends to produce 450,000 units of the Prius in Japan next year, about 60% higher than the vehicle's output in 2007. It also aims to reduce the Prius' weight to improve the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle's fuel efficiency, the report added.
