Seven great auto technologies from the ’00s
The first decade of the new millennium has given us some fantastic new vehicle technologies. Here’s a few of my favorites. Feel free to add your own.
Tag » Toyota Prius
From the Why-Didn’t-Someone-Think-of-This-Before Department: Passive interior cooling system
I hate getting into a hot car. For that reason, I’ve always been interested in finding small solar-powered fan to pump some of that superheated air out of the cabin. It made sense to me. I tried a couple of poorly designed and cheaply made fans, but they didn’t work well.
Seriously, we can build a 500-horsepower car, send a man to the moon and make a no-bake cheesecake, but we can’t save ourselves from burning our backsides when we sit down in a car?
Now, it appears at least one automaker agrees. Toyota is offering a new optional solar panel, which comes with the sliding glass moonroof. The solar panel powers a fan that can be set to push that hot air out, leaving the cabin somewhat cooler when you get in. Besides the obvious benefit of getting into a cooler car, the system also allows the car’s air conditioning system to work less, saving a little bit of fuel.
The new Prius also offers a remote air-conditioning system. It is the first system in the world to function on battery power alone, and it allows remote operation so the driver can adjust the interior temperature for comfort before getting in the car.
Hey, I was happy just to learn about the solar-powered fan.
Check out this video demonstrating the solar-powered ventilation system in the 2010 Toyota Prius — http://www.pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/electronic.aspx?ncid=12067.