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Read the rest of this article2010 Toyota Prius may prove green cars aren’t wimpy
In a nod toward customers looking to continue the tradition of power and convenience afforded by stereotypical gasoline cars, the 2010 Toyota Prius has powered up its electric and gasoline engine. That means better acceleration in a pinch and happier road warriors overall, right?
Toyota is betting on it, because the competition is heating up in the hybrid space. GM’s Chevy Volt is on the horizon, which will be a major competitor assuming the company is able to exit bankruptcy with a functioning body of workers and leadership. Penske is purchasing GM’s Saturn brand, and plans to build out hybrid cars. Tesla has a luxurious all-electric offering and ZENN Motor Company has partnered with the elusive EEStor company to make fast charging electric cars a reality.
Prius comes with a new 1.8-liter inline-four cylinder engine which provides more horsepower and better efficiency than previous models. The combined horsepower for the vehicle is 134. The automobile responds fast when accelerating and braking is smooth. According to NewsOXY.
For now the Toyota Prius has an edge because it debuted at the right time, when consumers were seeking more value without the chokehold other electric cars impose with short battery life and short drive radiuses.
The 2010 Prius also has expanded in most dimensions, providing more room for passengers while offering a sleeker form factor on the outside. That means less wind drag and even better fuel efficiency.
When comparing the Toyota Prius to something like a Smart Fortwo some stark contrasts become apparent. It takes a very different driver to appreciate a vehicle half the size of a typical sedan with a stiff suspension and a tendency to roll during accidents. Toyota is trying to find a middle road that incorporates efficiency without sacrificing conveniences and safeties that consumers expect.
In the coming months we’ll see if a moderate approach like Toyota’s wins out or something more radical like the Chevy Volt takes the game. Then again, everyone may end up just borrowing a car whenever they need one and saving a bundle of cash in car maintenance and repair.
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You are right that the Prius has the advantage currently. I for one, wouldn't buy a hybrid car that used Li-Ion batteries. Their lifespan is to short and charging is cumbersome. Until a company like EEStor releases their product, I will continue to drive my ole fashioned ICE
Toyota's Parallel Hybrid design is way behind the game. this tech was burned out on their last gen Prius. the future is Series Hybrid like the Volt. and then on to Pure Electric after that tech dies. toyota is milking this PHEV to death, If they do not have a SHEV or Pure EV already in the works, Toyota will be left in the dust in about a year or so.
you will notice that no other auto manufacturer is serious about the PHEV, no one is willing to commit mass resources to a dying tech.
Fact is, PHEV is no more efficient than straight ICE propulsion. the old Ford Escort competes direct with Prius on fuel economy.
And how many Ford Escorts do you see out on the road? Toyota is nowhere near being left out in the dust, and until the Volt actually becomes a reality and not just a bunch of numbers on a sheet, I'll believe it when I see it.
Our 2004 Prius regularly gets 50mpg average per tank using ethanol blend. Show me any Escort that comes within 15 or 20 mpg of that and then I won't think you are just full of it. As for PHEV being behind the game, that is just pure nonsense. If it wasn't for the Prius, there wouldn't be any hybrids on the road. The original Honda Insight was like riding in a go-cart and that is why nobody bought them. The latest Insight looks exactly like a Prius and I call that a rip-off by Honda. Series vs Parallel will be an interesting contest but don't think that Toyota doesn't have all bases covered. We've had our Prius since the first month of 04' and it is hands down the best car that we've owned. If Eestor becomes a reality I'll be in line to go that route.
Prius is a Series-Parallel hybrid. It has a power splitter that goes two direction. One direction goes to work like the Volt and another direction goes to work like the Insight.
Prius has the advantage of both, low cost, EV capable and high MPG.
"I wouldn't buy a car that had a li ion battery - they're too short lived"
Actually the Prius now sports an li ion battery - their NiMH batteries had a shorter lifespan and way less power. GM's Volt has an li ion battery pack that is guaranteed to still retain 80% power at 10 years. The battery can easily be used for another 4 or 5 years after that. Apparently this guy keeps his cars for 20 years.
I didn't know about the lifespan of the Volt so that is informative. btw, do you work for GM?
You are correct that NiMH batteries have less power density but they have a long life as evidenced by the fact that Prius has never had a battery problem. Nowhere can you find articles about battery failures on Prius hybrids. Battery problems are only in the minds of non-hybrid car drivers. That has always been the question from the uninformed, "How much does it cost to replace that Prius battery?" The answer to that question is that no one to my knowledge has had a battery failure on a Prius. Besides, it is a battery pack made up of many individual NiMH batteries. An individual component battery within the battery pack might go but for the entire battery pack to go bad is highly unlikely. With 60,000+ miles on our 04' Prius we have not had any battery related problem and we still get 50+ mpg most every tank. An entire Prius NiMH battery pack costs $2500, which is I believe a $1000 less than it used to be.
The Prius does not have a li-on battery. The Plug-in Prius that will be leased out next year will have a lithium ion battery pack but the Gen 3 still has the NiMH battery pack.
I am that guy and I have had my current car for 8 years. Hoping to keep it for another 4...
Perphaps the most erroneous statement ever made was by a GM VP several years ago who said the Prius was "uneconomic." I waited 30 years for GM or Ford to build something like the Prius. Did not work. So 18 months ago I bought a Prius. Last 3 fill-ups I averaged 54.3 MPG. I am reaching my break even point.
Even so recently visited a Ford dealer and test drove a Ford Fusion Hybrid. Really nice car and 40MPG. If it had been available 18 months ago I am not sure which car I would have purchased. Looking forward to the plug version of the Prius.