With gas prices climbing for the summer, hybrid cars with their great mpg have never looked to good. Especially considering that hybrid-owners have a new eco-friendly option to push their fuel economy even higher: solar paneling.

Solar Electrical Vehicles offers an assortment of solar panels specifically designed to give hybrid cars an extra boost. The panels hook up to their car’s power system, charging a battery that can provide up to 20 extra miles of electric mode driving a day. While you’ll need a mechanic to help you install it, the panel itself requires no change in your driving habits. No outlet charging, no switching it on, just park in the sun and you’ll find yourself with some extra cheap miles in your commute. The panels themselves are weatherproof and very sturdy. Unless you inflict some serious abuse on them, you shouldn’t need to replace them for about thirty years.

And those extra miles add up. SEV says that adding a solar panel to your car can improve fuel economy by up to 29%, a very respectable amount. And if you decide to go all-out and add a solar system to your house as well, you can qualify for federal renewable energy tax credits of up to $2,000 or 30 percent, lowering the amount of time it takes to break even to around 2-3 years.

Is it a big investment? Sure. But considering the gas situation these days, it’s one that’ll pay off in the end. Check their website for more information on pricing and availability.

link: Solar Electrical Vehicles