buying used 2017 Prime (150,000 km) worth it ?

It's certainly not available in the US because it doesn't meet the rollover-crash safety standards, and it's not clear if it has ever gone beyond a prototype in Japan. It doesn't seem to be a very useful feature. It's better to install solar panels on your house to charge your car.

 

What, that solar roof? It's been an option on the Prius Prime since its introduction. It's only available in Japan and Europe.

The official reason for it not coming to North America is that it shatters during a roll over, which means failing US regulations. It also isn't a cheap option. Convertered yen price was $3000. A European poster also said you have to give up some other options to get it.

Discussion about it here.
Some new information on the non-US bound solar roof | PriusChat

Last year, they revealed a prototype that had more advanced PV cells on the roof, hood, and hatch, including the rear window. that one could provide power to the traction battery while the car was running.

 

the solar battery

 

I can't find a solar battery option on the Toyotas website. Do you have a link?

@Tideland Prius, you seem to know a lot about what's going on with the various options. Have you ever heard of a solar battery in North America on the Prime? Other than unfulfilled promises?

 

not in n/a, but toyota cheaped out and used the same design here, throwing in two seats and hoping no one would complain.

 

The solar battery is part of the solar roof system that is optional in other markets.

 

I'm not sure if the solar panel and/or NiMH solar battery charge the traction battery at all. The YouTube video is showing that they only power and/or charge the 12 V system, which would have a small effect on the fuel economy and/or EV range.

 

So what do European models have to do with the original question posed from North America? Clearly, the extra hardware in Europe is not what prevented Toyota from using a thee passenger arrangement in the back of NA models.

 

Overall, potential weight of the car. This a Prius. The bigger battery is a big source of added weight, but Toyota also wanted the solar option. The design needs to account for the heaviest trim. The solar roof option means forgoing some other high trim options. Weight could be a reason for doing so*. They've already taken out the spare and rear wiper, and added a carbon fiber hatch. Eliminating a seat with attending passenger was needed.

When asked, around the time of the introduction, about 5 seats, it was stated that the weight of a fifth passenger was an issue, and reinforcement would be needed. Moving the charger wasn't a big deal. So Toyota either adding the reinforcing, or dropped the maximum design weight somehow. I lean towards the former, as the solar option doesn't appear to equal the weight of a person.

*weight considerations may not be for engineering, but weight bins for regulation testing.

 

So, apparently they can have the solar charging in some markets but not others. But they can't have five passengers in some markets but not others. I always assumed it was weight and not space regardless of the small amount of weight added by the solar option. Apparently, they have made the necessary strengthening changes. And probably figured out that there won't be many 250 pounders trying to wedge themselves into that middle spot between two other adults.

Wait! I think I figured it out. Americans, on average and compared to much of the world, are HUGE.

 

Ah, OK, so can it actually charge the traction battery through the solar battery? What is the capacity of the solar battery in terms of kWh?

 

Here is the solar battery. Scroll to the end of the webpage. The part number is G9240-47040. There is no further information provided. It appears to be small, perhaps no larger than about 60 Wh (0.06 kWh), mainly useful to charge the 12 V battery.

Buy genuine battery & battery cable for Toyota Prius PHV 4 generation 02.2017 - present from Japan - Amayama