Mashing three thoughts together.
1. The idea of a paintable photovoltaic has been around for awhile; Tomeka Witherspoon reports solar ink is maybe five years from being commercially viable.
2. The third generation Prius has an optional solar roof (it doesn't charge the battery, though, it just cools the car interior).
3. Current thinking is that the plug-in or electric vehicle can buffer the grid (be a place to temporarily store power generated by the grid, to be given back when the grid needs it during peak demand periods).
What if the vehicle isn't just a holding tank for electrical power, but becomes a power plant in its own right? Paint cars to be power plants that chip in a little electricity when it's needed most.
Photo: Toyota Prius on facebook
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