The Toyota Prius, developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation first went on sale in Japan in 1997 and was introduced worldwide in 2001. Its worldwide sales passed 1 million in May 2008 and is now being sold in more than 40 countries and regions with Japan and North America as its largest markets. Being a hybrid electric midsize car, Prius is declared as 2008’s most fuel efficient car sold in the U.S according to United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The Toyota Prius has surpassed the sales performance of all other hybrids combined. Since the debut of the second generation Prius in 2003, the midsize hatchback sedan has been garnering different awards and has maintained to be a top seller years later.
Prius was created in an effort by Toyota executive Takeshi Uchiyamada to produce car which is both fuel efficient and environment friendly. With this vision, he gathered his engineering team quickly and settled immediately on having a hybrid engine design but the team has encountered many technical and engineering problems within the 3 year time given to the team to bring this envisioned car to the Japanese market. The longevity of the battery was the car’s main problem; it needed to last between 7 and 10years. The solution the team came up with was to keep the battery pack between 60% and 40% charged.
.The Prius, according to a Toyota spokesman is called such because it is the predecessor of cars to come. The word prius in Latin means "to go before."
Sometimes referred to as series – paralled, the Prius is considered a combined hybrid since the vehicle can be propelled by gasoline and/ or electric power. Components of the system include: Regenerative braking, A 1NZ-FXE internal combustion engine, Two electric motor/generators: MG1 and MG2. MG1, reversible and up to 10,000 rpm, a Hybrid Synergy Drive, A sealed 38-module nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack, vacuum flask, an EV mode and the use of the use of aluminum instead of steel for the engine bay hood and hatchback.
Prius drivers are very much happy with this innovative sedan. Proving this would be its satisfaction rates, consistently at 98 percent.
The vehicle is very safe due to its very stable control system. It has got bells and whistles, from keyless entry, a high-tech fuel use dash display, and a rear-view camera system to help one squeeze into a tight parking spot.
Toyota released the second generation Prius in 2003 and the newer model was faster, bigger, more efficient and more stylish that its predecessor. There is also another model coming this 2009, the third generation Prius. This car promises similar key metrics and will not use lithium – ion technology nor offer plug – in option. With these present and upcoming models, Prius is expected to maintain its position as the most fuel efficient vehicle.
