Hi All:

___The FE hit when running A/C in a Prius I or Insight is > 30% when lab tested. A Hypermiler can easily lose > 40 % in the smaller ICE’ed hybrids! The Prius II is probably similar given it is the same block as that of the Prius I and ~ the same HP although the electric A/C should be somewhat more efficient then a belt driven one … possibly? See below.

___75 W wouldn’t run an A/C unit for a car unfortunately. You might be able to assist the pack to lower its SoC loss from the electric A/C unit over time but even if the car were completely covered with 20 - 22% efficient PV cells, it wouldn’t come close to the power of running the Prius II’s or any other electric A/C that I know of.

___I looked up some of the latest PV Racing automobiles and the top teams have barely 1,500 W on tap using the best cells made in maximum sunlight and with an area of coverage > 8 sq. meters.

Aurora Solar Car

___The typical automobile A/C compressor uses ~ 4000 Watts. Future Truck
___Let us say the Prius II with an electric A/C unit requires just ½ this much because of the electrical compressors ability to run at a much more efficient RPM vs. a belt driven std. mechanical unit which is all over the map. This is still 2,000 W. Even a perfectly flat topped Prius coated with the most expensive Gallium Arsenide PV Cells in existence, the sun directly overhead, and in a southern latitude would probably only be able to generate maybe 750 W at maximum? You wouldn’t have any windows to look out of either … Well, maybe a peephole In the real world using off the shelf and much less expensive PV cells covering the entire roof and hood? You are possibly down to just 150 - 200 W in maximum sunlight.

___Hopefully someone with a much better understanding of PV’s capabilities and of the Prius II’s actual electrical powered compressor needs will reply. I am just throwing numbers out as I find them and I am probably off by a significant margin.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net