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...
Last year, how many Priuses were sold?
Similar to how the brand name “Band-Aid” is commonly used to refer to just about any sticky bandage, the word “Prius” is commonly used to refer to hybrid vehicles in general. But it seems that, for what it’s worth, the Toyota Prius’s reign over hybrid culture is coming to an end. This is due to the fact that Toyota has just released its sales data for 2019, and the Prius is no longer the company’s best-selling hybrid. What then?
Why, the gas-electric RAV4 hybrid, a tiny SUV from Toyota. Perhaps it’s not surprising that sales of the hybrid RAV4 have surpassed those of the Prius. Even if the hybrid model only accounted for a small portion of its overall sales, the RAV4 brand is the best-selling non-truck in America, so we’re still talking about a sizable sum. Sorry Prius, but when you consider that the RAV4 was recently completely remodeled for 2019, the Prius only received a minor upgrade (and now offers optional all-wheel drive), and the RAV4’s not-weird styling, well, you know the rest.
92,595 RAV4 hybrids were sold last year, according to Toyota, compared to 69,718 Priuses. (In 2019, a record 448,071 standard RAV4s were purchased as residences.) Sales of the Prius are down from 87,590 in 2018, despite the fact that sales of the RAV4 hybrid are up. Blame low gas prices and consumers’ hasty adoption of crossovers and SUVs, a trend that appears to have an impact on hybrids just as much as it does the rest of the automobile sector. Another reason for the RAV4 hybrid’s spike in sales? that EPA ratings for the most recent model range from 40 mpg combined to 32 mpg combined, a significant gain. It is probably safe to suppose that many purchasers compare the RAV4 hybrid’s 40 mpg rating to the Prius’s 5056 mpg, depending on trim, and conclude that the Prius is more economical while the remainder of the RAV4’s taller, roomier package better matches their needs. The larger and better-to-drive Honda Accord Hybrid (48 mpg combined), as well as the comparably sized but more upscale Honda Insight, have all recently been released hybrids that have started to approach or match the Prius’s fuel economy (52 mpg combined). The Ioniq hybrid, Hyundai’s answer to the Prius, even outperforms the Toyota with a combined rating of 58 mpg (despite having far less sales than the Prius).
till the price of gas soars
Given the day’s geopolitical developments over Iran, it’s not impossible, but the Prius is expected to continue declining as more alluring, equally efficient hybrid options push their way to the head of the sales line. Though we doubt people will start referring to hybrids as “RAV4s,” sales be damned, one thing is almost certain.
Toyota sold how many hybrids in 2020?
337,036 hybrid vehicles were sold in total in 2020, a 22.7 percent increase. Nearly 16 percent of TMNA’s 2020 sales were hybrid sales. With the brand-new Sienna, Venza, and Mirai, TMNA’s inventory now includes 14 hybrid, electric, and fuel cell vehicles.
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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Do people still drive Priuses?
Most likely, when people hear the word “hybrid,” they picture a Prius.
Whether or not automobile enthusiasts enjoy the outward design, the Toyota Prius has become a phenomenon in the hybrid vehicle industry. Its success is aided by its fuel efficiency, safety ratings, affordable pricing, and roomy legroom. Most likely, when people hear the word “hybrid,” they picture this highly lauded vehicle.
The Prius has achieved success since it was first introduced in 1997 in Japan, and its sales are still very strong. Even after 20 years, there is a reason why the Prius is still so well-liked in the US. Toyota released the automobile when the price of gas hit an all-time high, therefore there are more advantages than disadvantages. Because the hybrid Prius was more affordable than other vehicles and guaranteed passenger comfort, Americans adored the vehicle.
We’re demonstrating how the Prius’s success was influenced by both the state of the American economy and its dependability.
Toyota: Will the Prius be discontinued?
Fans of the venerable hybrid can exhale in relief despite rumors that Toyota may stop making the Prius. This is because, as Autocar noted, Toyota recently hinted that it might introduce a new Prius model.
Toyota has been mum about how the Prius will be impacted by its latest revelation regarding ambitions for electric vehicles. Andrea Carlucci, Toyota’s head of product and marketing, was contacted by Autocar and asked if the “Regardless of whether a new generation of the Prius is released, it remains a key vehicle in the Toyota lineup. He responded to the question with the following:
“The Toyota Prius has undoubtedly been a symbol for Toyota and continues to be the electrification pioneer. Our journey back more than 25 years began with it. We need to ensure that it will always be a leader in that kind of technology and maintain its role, so even if I can’t say much more, we don’t want to waste our icon now or in the future.
Why is there a Prius shortage?
You might have noticed that over the past few years, car costs have soared. It’s primarily due to a lack of supplies, especially computer chips.
Toyota has decreased the number of vehicles it produces. In fact, it has just stopped operations at two Japanese factories. This implies that fewer new vehicles, including the Prius, will be introduced.
Which Toyota hybrid vehicle is the most well-liked?
The Toyota Prius, one of the most well-liked hybrid vehicles in the United States, is the product of two decades of development. The leader in low emissions now has more versatility thanks to Toyota’s most recent model, even though the Prius is a little more expensive than some of its rivals.
Is the Prius successful?
On December 10th, 1997, the world’s most popular hybrid vehicle went on sale. Even though the majority of the models weren’t delivered until after the New Year, Toyota nevertheless managed to sell 323 of the bubble-shaped vehicles that year, earning it the title of “Japan Car of the Year.”
Toyota has sold 4.3 million units since its debut. The carmaker has sold 11 million hybrids overall, including 1.5 million this year. This total includes 36 other Toyota and Lexus vehicles that have been released during the past 20 years. 220,000 of these are Priuses.
No other hybrid car, including Toyota’s own, comes close. There isn’t a competitor in sight. Second-placed Honda has sold 2 million hybrid vehicles. An estimated 2 million deliveries have been made by the rest of the sector collectively.
Toyota is responsible for over two out of every three electric vehicles ever sold, including plug-in hybrids.
Analysts claim that the Prius is lucrative. That is a statement that no other carmaker can make regarding any of their electrified cars.
When Toyota introduced the Prius, hybrid technology was not new to the market. In Europe, they have existed since the turn of the 20th century. These early vehicles, along with others in the years that followed, were created to show that the technology functioned.
In the 1990s, the Partnership for New Generation Vehicles program under the Clinton Administration started to concentrate on hybrid vehicles. They were added to California’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program in 2001 as a workaround after the state failed to reach its sales goals for zero-emission or all-electric vehicles.
Ironically, before the turn of the century, California’s decision to back down from its mandate ultimately put an end to General Motors’ EV1 electric vehicle effort. The Prius was given life by the same judgment, which classified it as a “advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicle (AT-PZEV)”.
In a different chapter of their own tales, the EV1 and Prius encountered each other through a Michigan company called Ovonic Battery, which was at the time an entirely owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices. Stanford Ovshinsky, a renowned American inventor, is credited with developing ECD.
In their most basic form, hybrids use a gasoline engine plus an electric motor that is powered by a second battery to move the vehicle forward. The primary battery of the vehicle keeps running on its own to start the engine and power different electrical systems, such as the lighting, wipers, and steering. The backup battery can be recharged.
The hybrid built by Toyota was distinct from earlier hybrids because it divided the engine’s power and sent each portion separately to the wheels and a generator. In order to power the electric motor in the automobile or to recharge the battery while braking, the generator transforms its share of engine power into electricity.
When compared to ordinary cars, this energy-regeneration capability during braking can increase fuel efficiency by up to 50%. High-efficiency motors, power electronics, and Atkinson-cycle engines are other innovations that boost mileage.
The 1995 Tokyo auto show featured a Prius concept from Toyota. The carmaker described its hybrid technology at a press briefing in Tokyo in March 1997.
It was rumored that Toyota would use the technology in a brand-new vehicle called “Prius,” which is Latin for “first.” In actuality, the Prius would be the first hybrid vehicle to be mass-produced.
In an effort to capitalize on the publicity surrounding the Kyoto Conference on Climate Change, which was held during the first week of December 1997, Toyota hastened the car’s introduction by forming a team of about 2,000 engineers. For the first time, COP3, as the conference was called, established quantitative targets for lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
The agreement was signed by more than 170 nations on December 11, the day the Prius went on sale.