February 5, 2012

Toyota Debuts Plug-In Prius Hybrid

September 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Toyota has long been in talks regarding debuting a plug-in version for the Prius that would allow the driver to plug the car in
 at home and charge the batteries allowing the car to drive for at least a short distance on battery power alone. And now all that talk is a reality, as Toyota has now officially announced the plug-in Prius and hopes to sell 50,000 of the fuel-efficient vehicles globally once it hits the market.

There are several hybrids to choose from. That being said, the Toyota Prius hybrid has been the most popular hybrid model on the market for quite some time now. The main reasons it is the most popular hybrid are simple; it was one of the first available, and the price is not to out of reach for individuals who really want to save on gas.

There are a couple of differences with the new Toyota Prius hybrids that make it much better than the older hybrid models. Of these differences, the most useful one is the difference in batteries. The Prius hybrids that are on the market today have used NiMh battery packs. Compared to the newer battery technology the NiMH battery doesn’t have the range lithium-ion batteries offer. The new Prius will now use NiMH batteries. The new cells will give the plug-in Prius a driving range on the battery only of 14.3 miles at 53 mph.

Once those batteries run out of power the traditional hybrid system kicks in to propel the vehicle. The best thing about the battery pack in the Prius plug-in is that Toyota claims the packs can be charged fully in only an hour on a standard AC outlet.

That means no expensive charger or associated costs. The car is far from performance oriented with a 0-60 mph time said to be 10.7-seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. The new plug-in tech and battery packs add 110 pounds to the old vehicle weight. Sales of the plug-in Prius will start early in 2012. There is no pricing information offered at this time.

Some information gathered via Daily Tech.

For more information regarding the new Prius hybrid please visit the Toyota Prius Hybrid Website.

Filed Under: Hybrid Cars Tagged With: , ,

Smart Cars Coming to the US of A!!

October 17, 2006 By Leave a Comment

I’m happy to report a positive step in the movement to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Starting in 2008, America will be the newest market for Smart cars.

While the hybrid Prius has been my ideal choice for a future car, Prius has been officially replaced by the Smart car. I’m completely hooked and let me tell you why.

1. 60 mpg (miles per gallon)…nice! PLUS, they are developing hybrid and electric models to go along with the small, efficient design so don’t be surprised to hear about an unprecedented 100 mpg in the future.

2. Perfect for commuting to work and moderate shopping trips to the grocery store, etc. (trunk holds “approx. 8 gallons of milk”….plus there’s always the passenger side if you are riding solo)

3. Incredibly efficient for parking and city driving (the car is a mere 9 feet long!)

4. Price range for the brand will be $12,000 to $20,000

5. Yes, it’s safe. 4 of 5 stars on Europe’s car safety rating system. This is very impressive considering the weight and size of these cars. The brilliance of the design is that almost all of the strength of the car’s frame is focused to form a cage around the driver and passenger.

To compare how your current car performs in European tests (if it’s sold in Europe), click here for the section “How Safe Is Your Car?” The Smart car results are in the Supermini category on the sidebar.

6. Built for people up to 6′ 5” (At 6′ 2” myself, I was relieved to hear this)

7. The Smart brand started as a joint venture between the Swatch watch company and Mercedes-Benz, so you can count on a quality product.

8. 60 mpg

8. Oh, did I mention the fuel mileage on these cool little cars?…..60 mpg!!!

For more info, check out the United States portal for smart cars. http://www.smartusa.com/

For international readers, head to http://www.smart.com/

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Posted by Tim Roth, author of the political blog Think Anew and Act Anew

Filed Under: Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

Rise of the Green Machine

June 8, 2006 By Leave a Comment

Check out this article that appeared in Wired Magazine about hybrid cars. Very interesting discussion about how Toyota has truly embraced the fascinating technology that powers hybrid cars. I smiled when they mentioned a few famous Toyota Prius owners: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, and former CIA director James Woolsey. Yes, that’s right, a former CIA directer is a hybrid owner. There was a special called “We Were Warned” that aired on CNN about high gas prices a couple months ago (still replays from time to time, highly recommended). In the special, Mr. Woolsey was interviewed while cruising around in his Toyota Prius and they showed his compelling bumper sticker: “Osama Hates This Car” – a reference to how Osama bin Laden uses the politics of oil to promote radical Islam. (Stay tuned for future articles that subject)

Enough about Mr. Woolsey’s bumper sticker, here’s the article:

“Rise of the Green Machine” by Brendan I. Koerner, a fellow at the New America Foundation – article was published in Wired Magazine

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Posted by Tim Roth, author of the political blog Think Anew and Act Anew

Filed Under: Hybrid Cars