The Toyota Prius Prime in the United States and Prius PHV in Japan[88] are the names of the second-generation plug-in hybrid versions of the Prius. They were developed concurrently with the fourth-generation Prius model (XW50), which was released in December 2015. The model was made available to retail customers in the United States in November 2016[13], and then in Japan in February 2017. [84] In contrast to the first-generation model, the Prius Prime will be sold in all 50 states in the American market. [89] [90] At the end of January 2017, combined global sales of both Prius plug-in models reached 79,300 vehicles. [12] With 46,133 units sold since launch until January 2017, the U.S. has the highest sales volume, 3,788 of which were second-generation Prius Prime vehicles. [85] [86]
The Prime’s 25 mi (40 km) all-electric range is more than twice as long as that of the first-generation model, and its EPA-rated fuel economy in all-electric mode (EV mode) is 133 mpge (25.9 kWh/100 mi), the highest MPGe rating in EV mode of any vehicle that has been assessed by the EPA and has an internal combustion engine.
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[14] Only the Hyundai Ioniq Electric has a greater energy efficiency rating among all-electric vehicles, with a rating of 136 mpge (25.3 kWh/100 mi; 15.7 kWh/100 km). [14] [15]
The Prime, in contrast to its predecessor, operates only on electricity when in charge-depleting mode (EV mode).
[92] Toyota set a goal for the hybrid mode’s fuel efficiency to be on par with or greater than that of the fourth generation Prius liftbacks. The Prius Prime’s combined fuel efficiency in hybrid mode is assessed by the EPA at 54 mpgUS (4.4 L/100 km; 65 mpgimp), 55 mpgUS (4.3 L/100 km; 66 mpgimp), and 53 mpgUS (4.4 L/100 km; 64 mpgimp) for highway travel. The only hybrid vehicle with a higher EPA fuel economy rating is the Prius Eco. [91] The appearance of the 2017 model year Prime is distinct from that of the fourth generation Prius. Also unusual is the internal architecture. [89] The Prime only had four seats until the 2020 model year because Toyota couldn’t achieve efficiency goals with a fifth passenger. [90] [93]
In This Article...
Why has Prius lost its appeal?
Why would Toyota discontinue the Prius given its enormous success? Why would the car manufacturer stop making it? One is that the Prius is selling a lot less than it did at its height. Compared to 236,655 units sold in 2012, Toyota only sold 43,525 Prius models in 2020.
The Prius is currently overshadowed by other hybrid vehicles, notably those from the Toyota brand. With the introduction of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, speculation about the Prius being discontinued became even stronger. The Corolla Hybrid, another compact hybrid vehicle offered by Toyota, may render the Prius obsolete.
Electric vehicles are another factor that might make the Prius irreverent. Today’s consumers have a lot more environmentally friendly options with EVs, so hybrids like the Prius might not be as desirable. Toyota has waited a while to produce an electric car, but the carmaker just said that it will make a significant push for electric cars in the future, starting with the introduction of the Toyota bZ4X crossover EV in 2022.
In 2021, how many hybrids did Toyota sell?
In 2021, Toyota sold over 2.5 million hybrid electric vehicles worldwide. Since the late 1990s, Toyota has been a major proponent of the adoption of hybrid vehicles. As of 2020, its Prius brand of hybrid vehicles was the most popular worldwide. One of the strongest and fastest-growing markets for hybrid automobiles is the one found within Japan. In Japan, fuel cell electric vehicles also perform rather well.
What hybrid vehicle is the most popular?
With total sales of 5.4 million units through December 2019, the hybrid electric vehicle market in the United States is the second largest in the world after Japan[3].
[18] Through April 2016, sales of hybrid electric vehicles in America made up around 36% of the total stock sold globally. [3] The United States is now the second-largest hybrid market in the world, behind Japan, thanks to cumulative hybrid car sales that have reached 1 million units in 2007, 2 million units in May 2011, 3 million units in October 2013, and 4 million units in April 2016. [3]
After the financial crisis of 20072008, hybrid car sales in the United States started to drop. After a brief recovery, they started to decline once more in 2014 due to low fuel costs, and they had a slight return in 2019.
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[18] In 2013, hybrid sales in the American market attained their highest market share ever, accounting for 3.19 percent of new car sales. [5] [3] The hybrid take rate declined to 2.21 percent at the end of 2015, to 1.99 percent in 2016, and to 2.4 percent in 2019. [3] [9][18]
Through the end of December 2019, 5,374,000 hybrid electric cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) were sold nationwide.
Sales are dominated by the Toyota Prius, which has sold 1,643,000 units since 2000 through April 2016 and exceeded the 1 million unit barrier in April 2011[21]. This represents a 40.8 percent market share of all hybrids sold in the U.S. since its introduction in 1999.
[3] The Toyota Prius family dominates the market with 1,932,805 units sold through April 2016, accounting for 48.0% of all hybrid vehicle sales in the United States.
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[10] The United States accounted for 44.7% of Toyota Motor Company’s global hybrid sales, which totaled 9.0145 million units through April 2016. [3] [22]
More than 1.6 million Toyota Prius vehicles have been sold in the United States since 2000, making it the most popular hybrid vehicle there.
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In 2012, 26 percent of all Prius family vehicle sales in the United States were made in California. With 60,688 units sold this year, the Prius overtook the Honda Civic (57,124 units), which had previously held the top spot, as well as the Toyota Camry, which came in third place (50,250 units). [23] With 69,728 units sold in the state of California, the Prius brand once again outsold the Honda Civic (66,982) and the Honda Accord in terms of popularity (63,194). [24] [25] The Ford F-Series truck, which has been the best-selling vehicle for more than three decades, was the most popular car nationwide in 2013. [26]
The Toyota Camry Hybrid, which has sold 345,640 units since 2006, the Honda Civic Hybrid, which has sold a total of 234,610 vehicles since 2002, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, with 166,341 units since 2009, and the Toyota Prius c, with 165,075 units since 2012, are the next best-selling hybrid vehicles as of April 2016[update].
[3] The Ford Escape Hybrid and its sibling, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, come in second with combined sales of 130,803 vehicles between 2004 and 2012, when the hybrid lineup was discontinued. The siblings Lincoln MKZ/Mercury Milan/Fusion Hybrids come in first among hybrids made by American manufacturers, with combined sales of 200,899 units since 2009 through 2015. Following in order are the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid with 38,204 units sold since 2008 and the Ford C-Max Hybrid with 72,330 units produced between 2012 and 2015. [6] [7] [8] [4] [5] [10]
In all, 434,498 hybrid electric vehicles were sold in 2012; this represents a 3.0 percent market share of all new car sales nationwide, up from 2.1 percent in 2011.
[8] The Toyota Prius liftback (147,503), the second-generation Camry Hybrid (45,626), the Prius v (1,669), the Prius c (35,733), and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid were the top five hybrids sold in 2012. (20,754). [8] Toyota sold 223,905 Priuses in the U.S. in 2012, accounting for a combined market share of 51.5 percent of all hybrid vehicles sold in the nation that year. [8]
Sales of hybrid vehicles reached 495,685 units in 2013, an increase of 14.1% from 2012 and a market share of 3.19 percent of new car sales.
[4] The conventional Prius (145,172), second-generation Camry Hybrid (44,448), Prius c (41,979), second-generation Fusion Hybrid (37,270), and Prius v were the top five selling hybrids during this time (34,989).
[4] The total number of Prius family vehicles sold was 222,140, or 44.8 percent of the market, down from 51.5 percent in 2012[8].
[4] While the market share held by Ford Motor Company in the conventional hybrid segment rose from 7.5 percent in 2012 to 14.7 percent in 2013.
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Where are the most Priuses located?
In SeaTac and Tukwila, the number one for Prius ownership is 98188. According to the data, there are 414 Priuses for every 10,000 households with cars, easily outpacing Seattle’s 98115, which contains the Ravenna area, as the second-highest ZIP code.
About the Prius
Toyota’s Prius, which was half electric and half gas-powered, transformed the green sector when it was released in 2000. Since then, practically all auto manufacturers have released a gas-saving vehicle to compete in the green market. Given that their tanks only hold fuel for approximately to 50 mpg, these cars are relatively affordable to buy (beginning at $24,000). These vehicles have 121 horsepower and an 11.3-gallon tank. Most buyers of hybrid vehicles are often middle-class to rich, youthful to middle-aged men. Particularly in bigger American cities, Prius continues to have strong sales. However, after Prius vehicles began to circulate, its drivers have come under heavy criticism for how they handled their vehicles.
Cultural Digs
Prius drivers have long been the target of jokes in popular culture, from Urban Dictionary to the South Park episode “Smug Alert.” Prius drivers are described in numerous online personal stories and articles as being excessively slow, excessively rapid, and constantly disregarding stop signs and traffic signals. They’ve also received criticism for acting like a hypocrite by driving an eco-friendly vehicle and lowering their carbon footprint. This is especially true in South Park, where a scene portrayed Prius owners as arrogant knaves who delighted in drawing attention to their green vehicles. Additionally, the animosity has gotten so bad that some irate commuters have taken to criticizing Prius owners’ dangerous driving in online letters.
Eco-Friendly Drivers
Some of these stereotypes might have some grain of truth to them. At least in California, a recent study by the Institute of Personality and Social Research at the University of California Berkeley found a link between affluence and poor driving. In order to determine whether drivers would stop for pedestrians, their study involved watching them at a crosswalk. Approximately 8 out of 10 drivers obeyed the law and let the pedestrians pass. However, researchers found that people who drove expensive or environmentally friendly vehicles were far less likely to stop. Given that Priuses are considered eco-friendly vehicles, the responsibility may statistically rest with these drivers. These vehicles are frequently a prestige symbol for people who care about the environment. Even though this particular group of people may assert that they are “helping the environment,” such drivers are nevertheless regarded as being among the worst types of drivers out there.
Prius Owners and the Quest for Great MPG
But why do Prius drivers behave in such a manner? Another factor contributing to a Prius driver’s propensity for slow driving and aggressive braking is the desire to achieve the highest MPG. Priuses have two engines: an electric motor and a gasoline motor. Getting these engines to cooperate in order to power the car is the overarching goal. Despite the gas waste, the reason they brake so frequently is that consumers enjoy seeing the battery fully charged. Greater fuel efficiency is made possible through coasting and braking, which reduce the amount of time the gas engine is used. Due to this movement, Prius drivers often begin their acceleration from a stop sign or traffic light by coasting slowly. Even those who never touch the brake attempt to stop naturally. Additionally, Prius drivers prefer not to start their gas engines when they accelerate from a stop. Slowing down ensures that the car’s electrical system is still functioning, which enrages many of the drivers in front of them. The ideal speed for using the electricity is about 55 mph on freeways. Prius owners want to avoid using petrol, so anything faster starts using it. They’ll probably be plodding along in the slow lane as everyone else passes them at a high speed. Other drivers may be irritated by you in large part because of your antics.
The Rage Over Carpool
Following the introduction of Prius vehicles, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger enacted some intriguing legislation to promote the use of hybrid vehicles. Even though there was only one person in the car, some models of Toyotas and Hondas with the greatest gas-saving ratings were permitted to use the carpool lane. Many drivers found it infuriating to witness a single individual in a Prius speed past while the others were snarled in gridlock. Regular non-hybrid car drivers who use the carpool lane without any passengers risk being stopped and fined up to $270. Given this logic, it becomes sense that Prius drivers have attracted some negative sentiment.
Prius Accident and Death Stats
Most fatalities from auto accidents, according to researchers, involve compact, light-weight vehicles. Even though the Prius is a tiny four-door vehicle, small-car collisions cause about 31 fatalities each year. Despite the fact that Prius drivers have a reputation for being slow and incompetent, accident records demonstrate that this has no statistically significant impact on accident rates. Several Prius cars were recalled in 2016 because the parking brake may have been faulty. Even though Prius drivers were concerned, this didn’t have a significant impact on accident rates. However, the Prius juggernaut doesn’t appear to be slowed down by this.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that Prius accidents and accompanying fatalities are very low when compared to other compact cars, Prius drivers haven’t changed their driving behaviors. Furthermore, it makes sense that many other people could find these Prius drivers to be more despised given the exclusive privilege of driving alone in the carpool lane. Additionally, there seems to be a lot of truth in the Prius stigma regarding modest speeds. It makes sense that Prius owners who do this want to achieve worse gas mileage; after all, why even buy a hybrid car if you’re not going to use its best feature? Given this justification, it appears that Prius drivers will continue to face criticism until Toyota finds a means to make the switch between gas and electric engines more appropriate for Prius operating speeds.
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