Hybrid

Hats off to Toyota for deciding to take the plunge and install solar panels on the roof and hood on at least one model of the upcoming plug-in Prius, due in showrooms in 2010. Lots of automotive blogs are snickering over the fact that the panels will only generate a fraction of the energy needed to power the car, but they're missing 2 important points: First- the panels can power the "part" of the car's air conditioning, which is something many drivers in the South and Southwest will be thankful for. Not sure how much "part" is, but it's a start. Second - and more importantly, it's a psychological statement. A reminder that the car could be 100% solar power, if you install solar panels on the roof of your house, and use that to charge the Prius. Sure it's a big expense up front, but your fuel costs would be fixed for the next 30 years! Thanks, Toyota.

When I talk to people about the prospect of seeing millions of plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars hitting the streets by 2012, one of the first questions I get is:

"Won't all these electric cars require building hundreds of new power plants?"

The answer is: "No, but we have to be smart about it."

It's a great question because it goes to the heart of the solar economy. The traditional model is that this huge new demand for electric power would be satisfied with new power plants. The new model is to charge your electric car with solar PV panels on YOUR roof.

A medium-sized array on your house would feed the grid during the day (at peak hour rates), while you charge your car at night, using your credit to buy back power at non-peak rates.