The Toyota Prius (/pris/) is a hybrid vehicle that Toyota manufactures. Its drivetrain combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. It was first made available as a four-door sedan, but has only ever been made as a five-door liftback.
According to smog-forming emissions, the Prius was classified as one of the cleanest cars sold in the United States in 2007 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[1] Following the Hyundai Ioniq Blue hybrid, the Prius Eco for the 2018 model year was the second-most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicle offered in the US during that year. [2] [3]
The Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid car, and it first went on sale in Japan in 1997. It was offered at all four Toyota Japan dealership chains.
In 2000, it was subsequently made available everywhere [4].
[5] Toyota sells the Prius in more than 90 countries, with the United States and Japan being its two biggest export markets.
[6] The milestone number of Prius liftback vehicles sold globally was one million in May 2008, two million in September 2010, and three million in June 2013.
[9] The United States surpassed a cumulative sales milestone of one million by early April 2011[10], while Japan did the same in August 2011.
[11] With nearly 4 million units sold as of January 2017[update], the Prius liftback was the most popular hybrid vehicle worldwide. [12]
In 2011, Toyota added the Prius v, an extended hatchback, and the Prius c, a small hatchback, to the Prius family. The Prius plug-in hybrid’s production model was unveiled in 2012. In November 2016, the Prius Prime, the second generation of the plug-in model, was made available in the United States. [13] Of all the vehicles certified by the EPA with internal combustion engines, the Prime achieved the greatest miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) rating while operating entirely on electricity. [14] [15] During the first half of 2015, the Prius c variant’s global sales surpassed one million units. [16] In January 2017, the Prius family had cumulative global sales of 6.1 million units, or 61% of the 10 million hybrids Toyota had sold globally since 1997. [12]
In This Article...
How does the hybrid Prius operate?
The Toyota Prius, the most well-known hybrid vehicle in the world, combines an internal combustion engine with a battery-powered drive system to improve fuel efficiency and lower pollution. The car’s electric motor uses energy from the battery to start moving after coming to a halt.
Is the hybrid Toyota Prius a decent vehicle?
The Toyota Prius is a reliable vehicle, yes. It offers a spacious load hold and outperforms practically all other hybrid vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency. A long number of features and plenty of comfy seating are also present. Its poor driving qualities, though, include slow steering response and subpar acceleration.
A Prius hybrid uses gas, right?
Your Toyota Prius may have been a fuel-saving investment. The 2017 Toyota Prius ranged from 52 to 56 MPG, while the typical 2017 light-duty passenger car gets 39.4 MPG.
If petrol costs $3 per gallon and you travel 12,000 miles annually, your cost would be $642.86 as opposed to $913.71 for a regular automobile.
Typically, hybrid engines are available in parallel or series. In a series hybrid, the car’s gasoline engine fuels the electric motor by charging the battery. The wheels are not directly propelled by the gas. The vehicle may be powered by the gasoline engine, the electric motor, or both in parallel hybrid engines.
Series engine hybrids cost more to produce since they feature larger batteries, motors, and generators. However, compared to parallel ones, they perform better in stop-and-go traffic. On the highway, parallel hybrids are more efficient.
The Toyota Prius is a series-parallel hybrid because it combines the best elements of parallel and series engines.
The Prius contains a power split component that connects the generator, gas engine, and electric motor through a transmission. The first vehicle with this feature was the Prius Gen 2.
The final drive’s reduction gear receives power from the electric motor through a ring gear that is attached to the motor. A planetary gear set with sun and planet gears is part of the power splitter.
The automobile and generator are propelled by the gears. The solar gear rotates swiftly, and the highest speed it can reach restricts the car’s electric prowess. The car activates the internal combustion engine to burn gasoline if it requires more power than the planetary gears can supply.
Larger engines produce more horsepower, which allows the car to move more quickly. Because the generator serves as the battery’s constant power source, a Prius does not require charging.
What are the drawbacks of a hybrid vehicle?
Hybrids are less heavily built, more financially advantageous, and have a greater resale value. They also charge themselves through regenerative braking. Although they have drawbacks, their benefits sometimes outweigh them.
Eco-friendly: Because hybrids have both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, they utilize less fossil fuel and emit less greenhouse gases as a result. Additionally, they get better gas mileage than regular cars do.
Financial advantages: Tax credits and incentives for hybrid vehicle owners and buyers have been implemented by numerous governments throughout the world. Additionally, they are not subject to environmental fees.
Higher resale value: People are becoming more inclined to switch to hybrids as they become weary of gas price swings and care about the environment. As a result, these automobiles’ resale value keeps rising.
Lighter cars: Because hybrids are made of lightweight materials, they use less energy to operate. Their lighter weight and smaller engines also aid in energy conservation.
Regenerative braking: Hybrid vehicles use a mechanism known as regenerative braking that allows the battery to somewhat recharge whenever the driver applies the brakes. The method extends the amount of time between manual recharges for the driver.
Less power: Hybrid vehicles combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine, with the gasoline engine acting as the primary source of power. As a result, neither the gasoline engine nor the electric motor operate as effectively as they do in standard gasoline or electric cars. But regular drivers who often navigate the city do just fine with hybrid vehicles.
Hybrids are generally more expensive to purchase than regular vehicles at first.
Higher operating costs: Due to their engine and the constant advancement of technology, it may be difficult to locate a technician with the necessary skills. Additionally, they might charge you a little bit more for upkeep and repairs. Moreover, replacing the battery has the highest running cost.
Poor handling: Compared to normal vehicles, hybrids have additional machinery, which adds weight and lowers fuel economy. In order to save weight, hybrid car makers had to create smaller engines and batteries. However, the vehicle’s power and body and suspension support are reduced as a result.
Risk of electrocution: Because hybrid batteries have a high voltage, there is a higher chance that accident victims and first responders will be electrocuted.
A hybrid vehicle combines an electric motor with a gas or diesel engine. When the car is moving at a slower pace, the electric motor drives the wheels. As the speed of the car increases, the gas engine takes over. The batteries are also charged by the motor, and each time the driver applies the brakes, regenerative braking charges the batteries.
Do Prius hybrids require charging?
A typical drive cycle is used to charge the Prius Hybrid battery. Because the Prius controls the battery charge automatically and keeps it topped off using power from the gasoline engine and/or electricity recovered when braking or decelerating, the hybrid version never needs to be plugged in to recharge the battery.
Nevertheless, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, like the new Prius Prime, can be connected into a Level 1 or Level 2 charging station and also recovers energy while driving utilizing its integrated regenerative braking system. Regenerative braking slows down the electric car by transforming its kinetic energy into a form that may either be used right away or saved for later use.
Recycled power is where the Prius’ true genius lies. Regenerative power is exemplified by the Prius, whose innovative regenerative braking system is the pinnacle of the idea.
What drawbacks come with owning a Toyota Prius?
1. Riding Comfort
The 2018 Toyota Prius features a firm ride quality, which is perhaps its major flaw. The tires are undoubtedly made to provide decent mileage rather than to cushion every bump on the road. Even the Prius c hatchback is a little more pleasant than the standard Prius, which can be very bumpy when driving over even the slightest amount of bad road topography.
2. Slow Accumulation
The Prius is not particularly good at accelerating. Although the Prius can accelerate reasonably well compared to other cars in its class, it is designed for fuel efficiency rather than cruising at high speeds. You may need to think about purchasing a totally new vehicle if you want something with a little more oomph.
3. Subpar interior components
The Toyota Prius has this drawback with some of Toyota’s other contemporary models. The inside has the appearance of being made with inferior materials. The cloth upholstery and several of the knobs and buttons appear to be prone to wear and tear with time, even though nothing appears to be about to break at any second.
4. Loud Cabin While Highway Speeds
There is no mistaking it: this car is not silent! When trying to get the Toyota Prius to travel beyond 55 miles per hour on the highway, you will have to put up with a lot of road, wind, and engine noise in addition to its stiff ride quality. The engine frequently complains when the car is pressed to move fast, and the cabin appears to lack the necessary insulation to keep part of the outside noise out.
How it compares to the opposition:
With its 58 mpg fuel efficiency, which is unquestionably best-in-class for this year, the 2018 Hyundai Inoiq Hybrid is a top-tier rival for the Prius. The Ioniq, on the other hand, is less roomy and has a smaller plug-in range.
Despite having a lower fuel economy than previous models, the 2018 Honda Civic Hybrid performs well on highways and in cities. The Civic is quite roomy and has a ton of safety equipment.
Overall, the 2018 Toyota Prius is a roomy, very fuel-efficient vehicle. The Prius is still one of the top hybrid sales performers due to its focus on fuel efficiency, even if it will need to step it up in 2019 to compete with newer hybrid models from other automakers.
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How long is the Prius battery good for?
If you drive your hybrid vehicle for extended periods of time, you might need to replace the battery about every five years on average. However, if you don’t, the battery would most likely only last 100,000150,000 miles, or eightten years, instead.
What issues are there with Toyota Prius?
The top complaints for various model years are listed below:
- Crack-Prone Windshield. One of the most prevalent issues with the 2016 Toyota Prius is windshield cracking.
- excessive use of oil.
- Engine issues.
- Inadequate headlights
- Accessory problems inside.
- Fuel gauge reading that is incorrect.