Three generations go by so fast. The new 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid is the third generation Prius and it is better than ever. The annoying commercials don’t do the car justice – even I want to turn it off.
My opinion is that the 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid is the car of 2010! Toyota has magnificently combined science fiction technology with modern functionality.
2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid
I know that allot of people are hesitant on getting the first electric car on the market. New technology, something unforeseeable is bound to go wrong.
Well knowing the consumers hesitancy Toyota has developed the Prius Hybrid that uses the electric and gas engines in tandem most of the time. The electric engine is more of an assist to help maximize the efficiency of the engine. The engine can then return the favour by recharging the battery through regenerative braking.
The Prius Hybrid will come with three power options Electric, Eco & Power. In electric mode only the electric motor functions. This mode is only good for 1/2 a mile. Where can you go in just half a mile? Well the mode is more practical for use when in the thick of traffic, waiting for a train to pass, or inching your way through the drive-through (I like the idea of that, no more wasting gas for 10 minutes waiting for a burger). In eco mode the gas pedal is not very responsive. in this way the car avoids quick accelerations and thus reduces fuel. In power mode as you can imagine, the gas pedal is very responsive and will give you all the power available from the 1.8L engine.
The switch between the electric and gas motors are simple. When cruising the gas and electric motors work in tandem. When going uphill the gas engine takes the brunt of the work while the electric motor works alone when going down-hill. In this way the Prius Hybrid gets an impressive 51 mpg on the highway and 48 mpg in the city.
Another cool feature that they have been showcasing is the solar powered fan. The fan is powered independently from a panel integrated into the sun roof. The fan simply circulates the outside air into the cabin to avoid an oven effect inside the car (no matter what it’s still not a great idea to leave your pets in the car). What they don’t tell you in the commercial is that the Prius Hybrid can come with a remote AC activator integrated on the remote car key. The Prius Hybrid also has UV protected windshield and windows to help block out harmful UV rays that would otherwise raise the temperature in the cabin or fade the interior.
The 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid comes available in five different models. The price of the models range from $22,000 to $27,270. Check out the 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid website for more information.
From by Jule Dupuis /everyjoe