Toyota Prius Technology
Although the word ‘hybrid’ in cars simply mean two sources of energy, often gasoline and electricity, propelling the car, that is where the simplicity ends as the technology under the metal is simply breakthrough after breakthrough. This is most definitely the case in the Toyota Prius, a car which is a technological breakthrough of its own, the one which started it all and the one which still stands tall among the rest.
Some hybrid vehicles, most commonly those in the form of SUVs and MPVs, are hybrids by name only. These cars exist for the sake of sales and trying to cope with the market and consumers’ desires. Being too heavy and powered by ridiculously large engines, hybrid SUVs only experience miniscule drops in fuel consumption when an electric motor is fitted. The Toyota Prius however is not only hybrid by name but hybrid by nature. Its electric motor, a magnetic AC one consisting of Ni-MH batteries, churns out 67bhp, almost half of the total 143bhp the car is able to produce with both power plants running. Although not the only car of its kind to produce an electric to gasoline power output ratio as good as this, its 1.5 litre VVT-i engine gives it the edge over its closest Japanese rivals which usually run on 1.3 litre engines which are slightly less efficient.
Like most hybrids of its class, the Toyota Prius has regenerative braking, a braking system which converts the kinetic energy formed when the brakes are hit into useable electricity. An electricity generating method that is only true to the Prius and not other hybrid vehicles however is the use of High Solar Energy Absorbing glass. Like the name suggests, its windscreen and windows have the ability to absorb solar energy from sunlight and effectively converts it into small amounts of electricity capable of pushing the car a little here and there. Another electricity-related fuel saving technique the car possesses is the ability to run solely on electricity at low speeds. This causes the engine to shut down which results in the ride being so silent as though nothing mechanical seems to be working. Toyota’s version of this is known as the EV mode and while other manufacturers have this feature in their hybrid vehicles, most American SUV hybrids do not as their electric motor is insufficient to move the weight of the car to cruising speeds.
Another great technology feature is Hybrid Synergy Drive, (HSD) which is a set of hybrid car technologies developed by Toyota and used in that company’s Prius, Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, Lexus GS 450h, Lexus RX 400h, and Lexus LS 600h/LS 600hL automobiles. It combines an electric drive and a continuously variable transmission. The Synergy Drive is a drive-by-wire system with no direct mechanical connection between the engine and the engine controls: both the gas pedal/accelerator and the gearshift lever in an HSD car merely send electrical signals to a control computer.
Where hybrid vehicles are concerned, the Prius earns an undisputed first place when it comes to simply being a hybrid car. It has all the technology needed for a car to be classified a hybrid and a lot more. No matter how other manufacturers try to get themselves running in this sector of automobiles, the hybrid still remains the top choice. It is safe to say that it will continue that way as Toyota have already confirmed that a new Prius which offers better mileage and performance probably thanks to a bigger variety of technological enhancements is on its way into the market in 2009. How one copes with such technological greatness and success is simply a huge wonder and since the situation does not seem like changing any time soon, the Prius really is the true hybrid vehicle.
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