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Toyota has chosen Kyocera to supply photovoltaic modules for the carmaker's new solar ventilation system option now offered on its Prius hybrids for the Japanese market. The system ventilates the air inside of the car by using the electricity generated by the rooftop module to drive the fans and moderate inside temperatures while the car is parked during the daytime.

Kyocera says it has set up a dedicated production line for the Prius-bound modules at its Ise plant in  Mie Prefecture, where it has implemented strict quality control evaluations, done through rigorous testing to confirm heat resistance, vibration resistance, shock resistance, and other aspects, in order to ensure that the quality meets the standards required for onboard components in the car.

The modules, comprised of dark navy-blue crystalline-silicon solar cells fabricated at the company's Yohkaichi plant in Shiga Prefecture, will have cell conversion efficiencies of 16.5% and an average output of 56 W.