*TOKYO – A Solar Powered Toyota Prius is being launched by Toyota Motors asan experiment after the thin solar plates for satellites were revealed. *
Toyota Motor Corp is experimenting with a sun-powered Prius that it hopeswill one day require no plugging in.
In the Japanese government-funded demonstration project, Toyota engineersfitted solar panels designed by Sharp Corp to the hood, roof, rear windowand spoiler to see how much juice the sun can generate.
The electricity from the panels goes directly to the drive battery, so thePrius can charge while moving or when parked.
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On a good day, the charge can be sufficient for up to 56 kilometres (35miles) of travel, more than the 47 kilometres driven a day by the averageAmerican, according to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
