Toyota plugs solar flowers in Boston
(All photos: Clifford Atiyeh/Boston.com)
As part of a national marketing effort for its new Prius, Toyota yesterday planted five solar-powered charging stations in front of the Prudential mall. The solar panels are mounted on pedals of giant metal daisies up to 18 feet tall, and the generated electricity runs through a molded plastic green bench with 110-volt outlets and free wireless Internet.
With June's heavy rain and thick clouds continuing into July, Toyota's stunt is a bit ill-timed to advertise the company's optional solar roof panels on its Prius, which are supposed to power the air conditioner when the car is parked on a hot day. MBTA riders can feel the cool at five solar-powered bus shelters, which feature integrated fans, at City Hall Plaza, the Aquarium, Boylston and Clarendon Street, the Mass. Ave Orange Line station, and Huntington Avenue and Ruggles Street.
Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi and cool breeze will burn out July 19, when Bostonians can again remind themselves of increasing MBTA fares and brick-hard bus seats.
Check back for a review of the 2010 Prius and a special hybrid comparison test coming soon right here.
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about boston overdrive
Boston.com reports the latest trends, auto shows and wrings out the newest cars in our city's hellish maze - and across the great roads of New England.In the garage: 2008 MBTA Zone 1A monthly pass, 1995 21-speed Iron Horse. Bill Griffith is an automotive correspondent for The Boston Globe and has reviewed cars for 10 years. He was also the Globe's assistant sports editor for 25 years and the paper's sports media columnist.
In the garage (over the years): 1956 T-Bird, 1959 Nash Metropolitan, 1980 El Camino, 1997 supercharged Camry TRD.
