Gasoline Engine
Displacement 1.5 liters (1497 cc)
Power output 76 hp @ 5000 rpm (57 kW @ 5000 rpm)
Torque 82 lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm (111 Nm @ 4200 rpm)
Emission ratings Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV)
Electric Motor
Motor type Permanent magnet AC synchronous motor
Power output 67 hp @ 1200-1540 rpm (50 kW @ 1200-1540 rpm)
Torque 295 lb.-ft. @ 0-1200 rpm (400 Nm @ 0-1200 rpm)
Voltage 500V maximum
Traction Battery
Type Sealed Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) [2]
Power output 28 hp (21 kW)
Hybrid System Net Power 110 hp (82 kW)
Puntiki: Now I guess that Pablo does not like all the engine info about these cars, but this is a special one, and anyone who wears a bucket on his head doesn't deserve to be listened too anyway :-)
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid vehicle which produces nearly zero emmissions from the petrol / electric engine.
Now originally when these odd looking vehicles were released, I thought that they would be for the left wing tree hugging greenies only. But surprisingly enough, other than being popular with those large bearded no deoderant wearing creatures, they are popular with celebs, business people, familys, and even the City of West Hollywood.
These little beasts are commanding a sales price over the MSRP and people are lining up to get them.
They grow on you and I though I'd never say this about a slow weird hybrid vehicle, I actually quite like them. In Los Angeles at least with all the smog and pollution in the air, the Toyota Prius is a compliment to anyones garage.
Pablo: Here is a car that intrigues me. I think the Prius represents a significant leap ahead in environmentally friendly design, and is a car that is also commercially viable. I have only seen a few around Auckland, one belonging to the ARC (proudly advertising its ultra-low emissions record), and I have to admit, the car is fairly easy on the eyes too.
Its a shame they are a little too expensive still, as I would like to see city councils be able to adopt these as fleet cars, plus other large organisations like health boards and the like.
The Prius is not for everyone. It is a small car, which rules out families, and the lack of power means that its not really a long-haul vehicle either. But bravo on Toyota for leading the field in environmentally sensitive production cars. It's about time that nearly-zero emission cars stopped being concepts and became available to those who want to find the right balance between a town car and making an environmentally friendly statement.
12 comments:
I'd be quite interested in how this car fares in running costs (i.e., repairs) after the warranty runs out, since Kiwis can only afford these cars at least five years from the day it drives out of the showroom. A friend was quoted brand new original eqpt alternator for a Nissan Maxima at $2700, I wonder how much one of those much larger drive motors on the Prius costs. And this has a battery, which is costly to replace and has a finite life span.
Motto: Never buy a used japamese import hybrid which was never designed to be run in NZ. The technology has rapidly increased over the last 5 years. Buy NZ new or caveat emptor...
Cant get many diesel cars in Los Angeles where I live. The Prius is just under $25,000 if you dont pay over sticker for it. Diesel Polo would be a good car to have here in Southern California.
Closest diesel you could get would be the VW Jetta or Golf, but build quality of the Nth American ones (built in Mexico) is pretty bad. Check carsurvey.org, you'll notice that almost all negative VW reviews with very specific common problems are from North America.
No diesel vehicles available in California. Only trucks and the odd Mercedes Benz. No BMW no VW, no Audi, no Toyota. The VW build quality here is not as good as NZ as MOST of teh cars here are assembles in Mexico. having said that ALL New Beetles are assembles in Mexico and they turned out alright.
I was talking about quality.
Unfortunately, emissions requirements dictate high-efficiency engines, and air-cooling may not have allowed adequate control of exhaust gases, regardless of electronics. You'd have expected Porsche would've found a way to stick to the faithful air-cooled boxer motor, but couldn't.
I think that it was more cost rather than couldn't. The new Beetle is designed to be efficient and if it had a rear engined boxer engine then it would have been more inline with a sportscar these days than the car it is.
The sad thing about this is that while it is far better for the natural environment it is very similar in that fashion to eating heathily, it costs more and the only thing your truly paying for is good peace of mind that your doing your part for the environment. If you can afford not only the price tag and the reparis and maintenance you have to be living near where ever your going and/or not be in a hurry to get anywhere, so it'll be great for the city and sitting in traffic
I'll first say, love the technology. BUT, I seem to recall that manufacturing batteries is incredibly bad for the environment. That is to say that this car isn't as environmentally friendly as you think. And I also seem to recall that Toyota lose money on every one they build - they are a marketing exercise. The equivalent Honda's are similarly so.
On the Volkswagons, the reason the Beetle is water cooled is because it is built entirely on a Golf platform. In fact, I remember seeing in the work car park a Beetle, an Audi TT, and a Golf. (No A3, but that would be even better). Three cars all on the same platform, only one of them useful, the rest pure marketing.
Diesel in California, there are some issues with high-sulfur diesel (common in US), and emissions that are light sensitive. Seem to recall that, despite being more friendly to the environment, the sulfur-based emissions are a large contributor to the unsightly smog that hangs around California.
Sounds like the sulphur problem is mandated to be fixed by 2007.
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