Toyota is actively testing a solar-powered Prius to cut the cord

By Stephen Edelstein Published September 13, 2019

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toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

toyota solar prius testing program prime — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Electric cars produce no “tailpipe” emissions, but the electricity that charges them needs to come from somewhere. Range anxiety and long charging times have kept many car buyers away. At the same time, the overall carbon footprint of electric cars can be lowered by using renewable sources. Toyota is trying to solve both problems by covering a Prius in solar panels.

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Tests with a prototype Toyota Prius (actually a Prius Prime plug-in hybrid) began in July. Toyota is working with NEDO and Sharp on the test program, with the latter providing solar panels that cover the hood, roof, rear window, and rear spoiler. The panels are just 0.03 millimeters thick, allowing them to be formed to the shape of the car.

Toyota already offers a solar roof for the Prius in some markets, but this prototype solar array is a bit more elaborate. It can charge the car’s battery pack while parked or while driving, according to Toyota. That battery pack was enlarged for the test, with extra battery cells in the trunk adding an extra 180 pounds of weight, according to Reuters.

Initial tests with the solar panels found that they were able to add 35 miles of electric range while driving, and 27 miles of range while parked. In addition to the greater surface area of solar panels on the test car, Sharp’s panels are also better at converting the sun’s rays into electricity than the solar roof on the production Prius. They have an efficiency rate of 34%, compared to 22.5% for the system that is currently in production, according to Toyota.

The fact that this solar array can’t even convert half of the sunlight that shines on it into electricity highlights one of the issues with solar power. Another is cost. Putting so many solar panels on a car is very expensive, and means commercialization is likely “years away,” Satoshi Shizuka, the program’s lead engineer, said in an interview with Reuters.

Toyota and other automakers will likely continue to offer solar roofs that contribute a small amount of extra power, but a production car that relies completely on the sun’s energy may not be feasible. There is another way to get a solar-powered car, however. Some public charging stations get their power from solar panels, so plugging into one means getting electricity directly from the sun.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Cars

Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.