It looks like you could put two of these on the roof: <a href=http://www.ovonic.com/unitedsolar/flexiblemodulespecs.html target=new>http://www.ovonic.com/unitedsolar/flexiblemodulespecs.html</a><br><br\ >If we use the output of the solar cells to pre-heat the cat, perhaps we could get SULEV -and- immediate hi gas milage? Maybe this is the answer to NSD driving (NSD Syndrome? :-)<br><br>Cheers,<br><br>Rick

&gt;If we use the output of the solar cells to pre-heat the cat, perhaps we could get SULEV -and- immediate hi gas milage? Maybe this is the<br>answer to NSD driving (NSD Syndrome? :-)&gt;<br><br>The only logical answer to NSD is for Toyota to put in a larger NiMH battery and let us plug-in for gasless mileage. This would remove the mileage penalty for those short 5 mile trips.<br><br>I saw one such auto at the Tour de Sol by the University of Tulsa and they said it had a 15 to 20 mile battery only range.<br><br>The question is how many would pay the extra money for this option. I know I would if the price was no more than $10,000 extra for this option.

How are you going to connect two 23v DC solar panels to a 380v dc battery? First you invert it to AC then step it up to 380 plus V AC then rectify it to 380 V DC. Your lucky if you get a drop of the 5 - 15 kw out the back end. Too much trouble for little or nothing.

Subaru's prortype hybrid does have a solar cell for a roof.<br><br>I have been led to believe, though, that a solar cell must be run for YEARS to generate the amount of electricity used to manufacture it (including obtaining and shipping the materials, etc. I assume). So in the short term it is no friend to the environment. Oh well, there's no free lunch. (Except passive solar... can't think how to drive a car off that though.)

"nagromme: I have been led to believe, though, that a solar cell must be run for YEARS to generate the amount of electricity used to manufacture it.."<br><br>I did some quick searching and it seems that the best payback time is about 2-3 years. Of course, that technology is probably a more expensive cell.<br><br>"Oh well, there's no free lunch. "<br><br>You are so right. There is life the way we wish it was, and life the way is actually is. And life is filled with all these yucky facts that make decisions grey instead of black&white.<br><br>I think solar is pretty cool. But it is true that it takes power to make the cells and the best pay back time is years. It is also a yucky fact that it takes nasty chemicals to make cells and there are nasty chemicals in the cells that have to be dealt with at the end of the cell's life.<br><br>yes, yes, yes. I know. There is lots of research going into reducing the chemicals in them and used in the manufacturing. But there are still chemicals in them.<br><br>The nasty problem with yucky facts is that it makes it really hard to hold a "moral high ground" on a particular technology. They all have pros and cons. Solar is not immune.

Back in about '92, I saw a Pontiac Firebird EV conversion with Lots of solar panels. On a sunny day, the guy said he could get 7 miles for free. Someday...<br><br>Leigh