One of the most popular Hybrid cars on the market is the Toyota Prius. It is both compact and economical, with a starting price of just $22,400. This price puts the Prius within the realms of reality for the average, although environmentally-conscious, individual.

The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 miles per gallon in the city, and 49 miles per gallon on the highway. That’s pretty good even for a hybrid, and it's a step up from earlier Toyota Prius models.

But a new pricing structure is planned up for this hybrid; and the Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.

The most economical model is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.

It gets better though. A solar powered roof package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – but not for the V.

The solar roof system costs between $3,600 and $4,500, and uses solar panels to supplement the vehicle's power and get even better mileage. This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control air conditioning ... for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?

With the combination of hybrid technology and solar power, a whole new range of fuel efficiency may be feasible. The solar powered hybrid is said to make mileages of up to 70 miles per gallon possible, under the right circumstances.

If you live in or often drive through a sunny climate, the solar roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and pollution emissions.

Under some (although somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.

But at the very least, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s "eco" settings and follows basic speed guidelines can expect to fill up on gas far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.

Source: Toyota Prius Goes Solar