Per What Light Wave Do Solar Panels Use? 7% of the available energy is in the visible part of the spectrum. If the cells are highly effective at capturing energy in infrared and ultraviolet, and transmit most of the visible, then you would have high visibility and high electrical output.
Any new news on the 2018 Prime? Wondering if I should just get a deal on a 2017 or wait for a 2018 with added features.
I think the general consensus is that a mostly complete carryover is likely for 2018. I would imagine deals like we are seeing now are the lowest we'll ever see.
I would suspect different color choices to be the only change. That's what we've seen in each of the groups (generations).
I agree -- there’s a very high likelihood that it will just be a carry-over year with a $xxx price increase. (Probably in the neighborhood of $500.)
I'd been holding out for a 2018 Prime to make sure I get the most "modern" features since it will be 5-10 years before I buy again. In light of the above (no changes expected for 2018), can anyone give a quick comparison of the 2017 Prius Prime vs. the 2018 Camry Hybrid LE with respect to the techy side of things (safety features primarily)? I know the 2018 Camry is on the new architecture (TNGA?). Is the 2017 Prime also on that new architecture? If not, what would I be missing by buying the Prime vs. the Camry Hybrid (again with respect to techy-type stuff). Thanks.
Entune 3.0 is one of the biggest new features on the 2018 Camry but look at the trim levels closely. It's all available on the Toyota site for you to read.
They are both TNGA but the Camry still has better handling as it doesn’t have a big battery high above the ground, has better wheels, and has wider tires. It’s also faster 0-60. Huge difference though is that the Camry will never plug in. So the choice is up to you. Entune 2.0 vs 3.0 are both garbage from everything I’ve seen.
Isn't one of the main "features" of Entune 3.0 that it upgrades the Safety Connect cell phone so that Entune media apps can use it, instead of them relying on the user's smart phone's Internet service? And creates a WiFi hotspot. In the current version, the Safety Connect cell phone is used only for telematics like remote A/C, charge management, car locator, and emergency response in case of an accident. Same old apps with Entune 3.0 (no Apple Play or Android Play).
Thanks everyone for the responses about '18 Camry vs. Prime. We stopped at the dealer this weekend, and while I really really wanted the Prime, it's just not for us, primarily (pun) due to the smaller trunk space compared to the Prius, which is to be expected - they have to put the extra batteries somewhere.
Perhaps not the AC, but at least the fan, with "flow through" set so it doesn't accumulate an excess of heat. The car can set the "flow through" already. I believe the solar panels on an earlier (US) Prius did exactly that unless I am mistaken.
I'm hoping for LED interior light. Even my 6-yo vehicle without LED headlights has LED interior light to give a focused, brighter light that's easier for reading and less distracting for driver. I really don't know why Toyota decided to not use LED for interior lights ...
For less than $9 including shipping you can buy a kit on eBay that includes LED replacements Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Do you have a link and/or Youtube video? It sounds like one has to buy some pry tool too? I'd like to follow some clear instructions closely to avoid breaking covers etc. I've seen some for Prius dome light replacement but not for Prime. Also my older car has two dome lights one for each side, Prime has only one, which means it can't be focused light even after replacement. It's a small thing but Toyota should've thought of it.
