Next-generation Toyota Prius has solar electric drive

The next-generation Prius plug-in hybrid gets a little greener with a the rooftop solar panel for recharging the batteries. While Toyota already produces a Prius with a rooftop solar system, that panel was only used to drive the air conditioning system as apparently Toyota found it to risky to integrate this new technology into the drive system.

Sun power only amplifies the eco-car cred of one of the most efficient vehicles. The cells charge the car even when it is parked and can boost fuel efficiency by as much as 10 percent by allowing longer electric-only driving times.
Unfortunately for U.S. fans of all things green, the technology will only be offered in the Japan and European versions of the car -- at least initially. But Koji Toyoshima, chief engineer of the Prius plug-in and its standard Prius hybrid sibling, says Toyota aims to introduce the panels Stateside too. The problem: The Japan market solar panels are laid on reinforced glass sheeting that doesn’t pass America’s more stringent rollover crash tests.
Toyota doesn’t have the technology to laminate the photo-voltaic cells in a resin that won’t shatter dangerously during a rollover, Toyoshima said. But the company is working on a solution so that it can introduce the solar panels to the U.S. version of the car during its life-cycle.
In Japan, the plug-in Prius will be called the Prius PHV. Toyota has not announced whether the solar panels will be standard or optioned here.
Various uses
Aside from recharging the batteries during a standstill, the solar panels also supply electricity to accessories such as lamps, power windows and air conditioning when the car is running, Toyota says. As Toyota whittles down their cost, Toyoshima said the company hopes to introduce the solar-powered technology to other hybrids across the lineup.

Advancements in solar technology have made solar ready to be used as an additional power source for cars.
Tesla recently made a bid to purchase SolarCity - a hint that Tesla may have similar plans.

Tesla + SolarCity = Solar electric vehicle

When Elon Musk announced Tesla's takeover bid for SolarCity he talked about synergy: using solar power to charge up your Powerwall home battery. And then using that electricity to charge your Tesla car. This deal has been criticized by many because there seems to be very little synergy between his car making business and selling rooftop solar panels.
When Tesla announced construction of its own Li-ion battery factory it made sense to people: you use the batteries in cars and you can sell the same batteries for storage at home. Now the thing is: it's no different with solar panels. It has already been shown that solar panels can be used to extend the range of electric vehicles. This bid is an indication that Tesla may be considering offering solar roofs on its cars.

Hydrogen car feeding electrical grid

For the first time in Europe and possibly worldwide a hydrogen vehicle supplied electricity to the power grid. At the Green Village at the Delft University of Technology a Hyundai ix35 was connected to the electrical grid to feed it with electricity. The Green Village site is used to demonstrate new technology. The demonstration marks a step towards a hydrogen economy where excess renewable energy is converted to hydrogen and where hydrogen vehicles can supply backup power at times when there is insufficient (renewable) electricity available. This means that no conventional electric plants will be required as backup.