Toyota Prius Specifications
Standard equipment includes ABS brakes, thermostat-controlled air conditioning, power windows, door locks and mirrors, an cassette stereo, an eight-year/100,000-mile battery and hybrid-related component warranty, roadside assistance and three-year basic maintenance programs.
Prius’ primary power is provided by an all-aluminum 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a peak 70 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and peak torque of 82 lb./ft. at 4,200 rpm. Variable valve timing maximizes efficiency. The gas tank has a plastic bladder which reduces gasoline vapors. The American also has a more powerful, more compact, and lighter main battery pack. The pack is 30 percent lighter in weight than the units in the first-generation Prius. The new lighter batteries reduce battery pack volume by 60 percent and allow for more cargo area in the trunk.
The electric drive motor is a permanent-magnet design that requires little maintenance as its internal componentry never wears. It produces its maximum power of 33 kW (44 horsepower) from 1,040-5,600 rpm, and maximum torque of 350 N-m (258 lb./ft.) from 0-400 rpm.
In addition to increased horsepower, the U.S. model Prius is equipped with a Toyota hydrocarbon (HC) absorber and catalyst (HCAC) system for reduced exhaust emissions.
The engine can only rev to 4,000 rpm, so that the internal parts can be smaller and lighter, and to reduce friction loss.
EPA fuel economy: 52 city, 45 highway (that is not a misprint)
SULEV certification
Gas engine: Inline 4-cylinder DOHC, Displacement: 1,497 cc, Compression Ratio: 13.0:1
Peak Horsepower: 70 hp at 4,500 rpm
Peak Torque: 82 lb.-ft. at 4,200 rpm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 11.9 Gal.
ELECTRIC MOTOR – Permanent Magnet, Capacity: 6.5 amperes
Peak Torque: 258 lb./ft. (350.0 Nm) 0-400 rpm
BATTERY PACK
Peak Horsepower: 25 kW (34 hp)
Nominal Voltage: 274 volts
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Length: 169.6 in.
Width: 66.7 in.
Height: 57.6 in.
Wheelbase: 100.4 in.
Weight 2,765 lb.
Seating Capacity: 5
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Headroom (front/rear): 38.8 / 37.1 in.
Legroom (front/rear): 41.2 / 35.4 in.
Shoulder room (front/rear): 52.8 / 52.2 in.
Hip room (front/rear): 50.7 / 51.9 in.
Passenger volume: 88.6 cu. ft.
Cargo volume: 11.8 cu. ft.
Total interior volume: 100.4 cu. ft.
EPA class: Compact
Transmission: Electrically Controlled CVT
Braking: Front ventilated disc/Rear drum (Hydraulic, with Power Assist)
with Integrated Regenerative Brake System
Steering: Rack and Pinion
Suspension (front/rear): MacPherson strut / Torsion beam
Government Incentives on Hybrid Vehicles (Toyota Prius)
There has been government incentives that were targeted to encourage the use of hybrid cars as they are much environmentally friendly compared to conventional gasoline engines.
A General Overview:
The national government of Belgium offers subsidies and therefore reductions in the purchase price of any cars that have lower CO2 exhaust emissions. The reductions could reduce up to 15% of the total purchase price.
In Canada, the federal government offers rebate for hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius. It is known as the ECOAUTO Rebate Program which gives rebate from $1000 to $3000 for any purchase and also long-term leasing for any fuel-efficient vehicle. These rebates vary from different provinces to another.
In the Netherlands, class A cars such as the Toyota Prius received tax reductions of 14% and the government continued to raise the tax imposed on other class cars from 22 to 25%. This quickly resulted in having more than 1800 class A cars sold. Thus, the importer indicated that he will not be able to meet the demands for the year of 2008.
Subsidies program in Sweden have also been pretty successful, where the government offers subsidies of up to US$2000 for environmentally friendly cars (in this case such as Toyota Prius).
In the United States, the federal government provides tax credit (tax returns) to purchasers until the quota (a specific figure) has been exhausted by the manufacturer. And non-monetary benefits are also provided such as certain states allow hybrid engine automobiles to be exempted from restrictions on high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and also some designated or free parking areas for hybrid cars.
Country by Areas With Most Hybrids
United States – California. As the state with the highest number of hybrids, California allows any hybrid vehicles of at least 45 mpg ratings and Super Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV) ratings to use HOVs with no constraints as to how many passengers are onboard.
In Los Angeles, SULEV rated vehicles such as the Toyota Prius 2 (2000-2003 make) are allowed free parking but this allowance is subjected to time restrictions and areas.
Rebates are given to any low emission vehicle owners during purchase which actually comes from pollution tax charges that were paid by high emission vehicle owners (as they purchase).
Canada – Ontario. The province of Ontario offers retail sales tax rebate incentives for the purchase of any new or used hybrid vehicles. As for existing conventional vehicle owners, they also get tax rebates if they were to convert their vehicle fuel use to alternatives or if they were to convert their vehicle to be electric based. In Vancouver, loans made to purchase hybrid vehicles are given prime rates – a few percentage points lower than normal rates.
Incentives for Toyota Prius
The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) of United States had specified the requirements needed in order for the Toyota Prius owner to qualify for the hybrid tax credit under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Owners must satisfy the standards below:
1. The Hybrid Vehicles must be new. Used vehicles do not qualify.
2. The Hybrid Vehicles must be purchased. Leased vehicles do not qualify.
3. The Hybrid Vehicles must be used predominantly in the United States.
To sum it up, a Toyota Prius owner can receive incentives ranging from $787 (minimum) to $3150 (maximum)
Other incentives are being considered for the time being, some even suggest lower insurance cost for vehicles.
Advantages of Buying a Hybrid
Fuel prices these days are very much like a rocket launched into space. As long as there is still fuel, the rocket, just as the price of fuel will continue soaring into unthinkable heights. Only when there is no more fuel, will the rocket lack power to continue upwards and in the case of fuel prices, you do not put a price on something that does not exist anymore. As the supply of petroleum shrinks, its prices go up, a simple equation. That is why the search for alternative fuel is one highly participated in and one of the creations spawned by this need to find another way to get engines running is the hybrid vehicle.
The concept of a hybrid vehicle is simple. The word hybrid simply refers to the fact that two sources of power propel the car. In most cases, these two sources are petroleum and electricity. Many companies are also putting lots of research into the exploitation of the energy available in hydrogen gas but while it has proven to work well, the gas is too difficult and impractical to obtain for everyday use.
With electric hybrids such as the renowned Toyota Prius available in the market, more and more people should lend a hand in creating a greener environment by trading their gas guzzlers for one of these hybrids. There is no reason not to as despite having great green credentials, a hybrid such as the Prius gives no compromise on practicality, comfort and performance as it is proven to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in an impressive 10.9 seconds. With just the addition of a large electric motor at the back of the car, it still is on the whole one very good automotive creation. It is like your everyday car, but even better. Unless you are an extreme speed junkie or an avid off-roader, this is just like your usual everyday car, even better. So why wouldn’t you want one?
Back to why hybrids exist in the first place; they literally sip on fuel as though the liquid which makes them run is like a slow killing poison. That is all thanks to the electric motor which contributes half the power in getting the car moving. In most cars including the Toyota Prius, the car runs solely on electricity at low speeds. This is especially a good feature for those who do a lot of town driving where driving fast is often not possible. It not only reduces the fuel consumption even more but also provides an almost silent ride since the engine is not running, another positive reason to buy a hybrid.
If you have any reason at all to maintain a good image among the hippies of your area, you can be rest assured that they are behind you if you have a hybrid car. This is because when environmental friendliness is concerned, no car is as friendly as the ones that run with an engine in its nose and a motor near its butt. It is evident in cars like the Prius which has an extremely low measure of carbon dioxide emission at 104g/km.
In a world where a car is sometimes a survival kit despite the depleting sources of fuel, the deterioration of the environment and the financial pinch which gets more painful as time goes by, you always come to wonder how to cope. Getting a hybrid, now that’s how.