Toyota Prius Hybrid Also Going Solar

Toyota Motor Corp plans to install solar panels on some Prius hybrids in its next remodelling, responding to growing demand for "green" cars amid record-high oil prices, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday.

The panels, supplied by Kyocera Corp would be able to power part of the air-conditioning on high-end versions of the gasoline-electric Prius, the source said.

According to Toyota this is more a symbolic gesture than anything else because it's not easy to power anything else with solar panels in a car.

Apparently, sales of the Toyota Prius have skyrocketed with Toyota having difficulty keeping supply up to demand ever since gasoline began to soar.