Prius

Photocredit:labadieauto Good news! As of Thursday, we have Green Building Codes in California -- on a voluntary basis till 2010, when they become mandatory. The two step-process to mandatory green building codes probably looks like a politically necessity today. Many...

Criada pela BBDO de San José, Costa Rica, com direção de criação de Tito Araya e direção de arte de Sandro Rojas, essa campanha foi veiculada em junho de 2008 para a versão híbrida do Prius da Toyota. clique nas imagens para ampliar Dica do Yuri Lima do Yalp Leia também:Instituto Akatu | Global Warming ActionNu LuxeAnúncios interativos [...]

Toyota's got some changes and rearranges underway with its North American facilities to better serve the demands of the market. The biggest news is that Prius production will be coming Stateside, which will help unkink the supply pipeline, if not also lower costs. A new facility in Blue Springs, Mississippi is being readied for the battery-pack-mobile, though the location was initially meant to t

In order to meet customer demands, Toyota has recently altered production and will start building the Prius in the U.S. In late 2010, the model will begin production at a plant currently under construction in Blue Springs, Mississippi. The manufacturer...

The Toyota Prius has sold more than all other hybrids combined—and for good reason. Since the debut of the second generation Prius in 2003 (as a 2004 model), the midsize hatchback sedan has racked up award after award. Years later, the Prius continues to be a red-hot seller.The Prius inspires a cult-like devotion from its drivers. Satisfaction rates, consistently at 98 percent, are unparalleled.

In the continuing saga of automakers revising their product line as fuel-efficient cars and hybrids loom in popularity over gas-guzzling trucks, Toyota admits its own chinks with a plan to revamp what it builds where. The big news: it will start building the Prius in the U.S. in late 2010 at its new plant under construction in Blue Springs, Mississippi. Currently all Prius production is in Japa

Toyota Motors announced plans Thursday to begin manufacturing its popular Prius hybrid model in the U.S. and to cut its production of its Tundra pickup truck. As demand for its fuel-efficient vehicles continue to increase, Toyota is merely reacting to market pressures.

Toyota is currently in the process of building a new vehicle construction plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi. This plant was originally designed for the manufacture of their Highlander SUV line. However, increasing oil prices and decreasing SUV sales have convinced Toyota to use the plant for their Prius hybrid instead. Currently, the only other Toyota hybrid manufactured in the U.S. is the Camry

Toyota to Build Prius in the US 2010 - Toyota is responding to changes in consumer demand and improving the production efficiency and stability of its North American operations by adjusting production mix at three plants. The changes include the addition of the Prius hybrid sedan to its North American lineup.

In uncertain times, the multitudes need a hero. In a year when the spot price of light, sweet crude is an hourly news event, the Toyota Prius seems a likely candidate. A new Prius hybrid arrives in 2009 to fight the forces of OPEC and the evil oil empire. If the price of gasoline hits $5 at the pump, buyers are sure to give it a very big Howdy Doody welcome. Toyota, a ship so buttoned down it make

Everyone talks about the Prius, everyone wants a Prius and everyone apparently knows someone who owns one. At least that’s what the media will tell you. Japan got a nice jump start (big shocker) on us selling the Prius back in 1997 while we were still busy mucking up the environment. The rest of the world jumped [...]

via CNET Toyota plans to install solar panels on the roof of the next generation of Prius hybrid cars, according to a report in Monday’s edition of the Nikkei newspaper. The panels, which are... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Ever since the Volt concept was first introduced in January 2007 a lot of people have voiced the opinion that solar panels on the roof would be a good idea.  Those who understand the current costs of solar panels and their energy output usually determine that the amount of energy which could be contributed to [...]

Overview of Toyota Hybrid CarsThe Toyota Prius was the first hybrid to be prepared for mass marketing in 1997, and so when looking at hybrid cars, it's always a good idea to look at those who did it first. Granted, while ever single manufacturer is trying to add a hybrid to their line-up, you'll want to do the actual research yourself. While thinking about getting a Toyota, here is something to th

Performance vs economics?The Prius is the darling of auto-buyers at the moment for its hybrid technology and huge miles per gallon return.But the BMW M3 is made for performance. How do these two cars perform when going on the Top Gear test track?The only issue is that this is a very one sided test.The BMW was drafting the Pruis through the test track drive.The performance driving aspect yields les

With gas prices hitting the roof, threatening to hit P60 per liter, along with it the skyrocketing prices of basic goods, Congressman Ronald Singson, Ilocos Sur’s first district representative, formulates a bill aiming to lessen the sting of escalating gas prices.House Bill No. 2084 seeks to grant tax incentives to importers and manufacturers of hybrid cars in the Philippines. These cars that op

Toyota showcased a prototype plug-in Prius hybrid at Legislative Plaza on today, June 16, during a field hearing on electric drive vehicles entitled for by the Congressional TVA Caucus.According to news, the prototype Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) enhances the high fuel economy and ultra-low emissions of the well-liked Toyota Prius production hybrid model with a developed Nickel-Metal-Hyd

The prototype Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) enhances the high fuel economy and ultra-low emissions of the popular Toyota Prius production hybrid model with an expanded Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery pack that can be charged by plugging into a standard household electrical outlet.Read more...

Plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius + solar panel attached to the roof + a bigger battery in the trunk - rhetoric = a versatile car that gets 100 mpg.I doubt that anyone who criticizes a Toyota Prius drives a 1994 Geo Metro XFi. The arguments against the Toyota Prius have always been dubious and sometimes bluntly wrong (like the study that claimed the Hummer does less environmental damage than the Toyota

All you Toyota Prius owners might have this to look forward to.Dear Tom and Ray: I was driving home in my beloved 2003 Toyota Prius recently. I turned right a few blocks from my house, and the wheel froze in the turned position. I had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a parked truck. After a few minutes of freaking out, I realized that with all my might, I could force the wheels straight enou

The Toyota PriusOne of the main goals of the Toyota Prius is to improve emissions in urban driving. To accomplish this, Toyota has designed a parallel hybrid powertrain, called the Toyota Hybrid System (THS), that adds some of the benefits of a series hybrid. Unlike Honda, Toyota has focused primarily on the powertrain to achieve its emissions and mileage goals. The Prius weighs 2,765 pounds (1,25

The Toyota Prius has sold more than all other hybrids combined—and for good reason. Since the debut of the second generation Prius in 2003 (as a 2004 model), the midsize hatchback sedan has racked up award after award. Years later, the Prius continues to be a red-hot seller.The Prius inspires a cult-like devotion from its drivers. Satisfaction rates, consistently at 98 percent, are unparalleled.

Driving the PriusWhen you accelerate, initially the electric motor and batteries provide all of the power. The ring gear of the power split device is connected to the electric motor, so it starts to spin with the motor. The planet carrier, which is connected to the engine, is stationary because the engine is not running. Since the ring gear is spinning, the planets have to spin, which causes the s

The second-generation Toyota Prius became an instant hit when it was introduced to the U.S. market in 2003. The vehicle continues to dominate the hybrid market, making up more than half of all hybrid sales. The quintessential hybrid is past due for a redesign and technology upgrade. The first hints about the third-generation Prius are starting to emerge. After speaking with a “well-placed Toyota

With gas prices at record levels, many are looking for ways to conserve. That’s why WDSU compared the gas mileage of two hybrid automobiles The day started with a trip to Enterprise Rent-A-Car. After a quick conversation with the clerk, station personnel picked up two hybrid vehicles. Anchor Rachel Wulff drove a Toyota Prius and producer Stephanie Moffet drove a Ford Escape SUV. The car was

Chevy Volt Concept - Has The Toyota Prius Met its Match?For a while, it seemed like the Japanese, and especially Toyota, had a monopoly on the green car crown. But it appears that the General is intent on taking it away in the not-too-distant future. Take a look at the Chevy Volt hybrid concept. The vehicle is theoretically capable of 150 miles per gallon. Impossible you say? Well, with concept ca

Toyota announced yesterday that sales of the world’s first mass produced gas/electric hybrid car has reached one million sales worldwide.The Toyota Prius brand is sold in 40 countries worldwide with actual sales of 1,028,000 as of April 30th of this year.Most of the sales come from Japan and North America however Toyota is actively moving into emerging markets all over the world. Plus with gas p

The demand for hybrid cars are increasing worldwide and with the Toyota Prius gasoline/hybrid car hitting sales of over I million worldwide this surely has to ease global warming. The Toyota Prius Hybrid is definitely a winner and we can see sales keep on going, Toyota have said the figure of Prius sales so far is 1,028,000 last month when their sales rocked 67 percent amid record gas prices and t

Prius: As Obnoxious as a Hummer? a dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast, I find superficial excess repulsive in whatever form it takes. Yes, I think heavy-duty trucks and SUVs are a garish display of vehicular excess unless they’re towing, hauling, or otherwise justifying their gluttonous existence. But it wasn’t until the second-generation Toyota Prius became the darling of the Hollywood left and the

The 42PFL5603D is the new energy-efficiency champ.(Credit: Philips) It's official: The Philips 42PFL5603D consumes less power than any HDTV we've tested, regardless of screen size. The so-called Eco TV earned our nod for Best in Show at CES by hugging trees harder than any flat-panel HDTV yet. We based that decision partly on a Watts Up!

The demand for hybrid cars are increasing worldwide and with the Toyota Prius gasoline/hybrid car hitting sales of over I million worldwide this surely has to ease global warming. The Toyota Prius Hybrid is definitely a winner and we can see sales keep on going, Toyota have said the figure of Prius sales so far [...]

No one can make the case that the Toyota (TM) Prius is just a car for tree-hugging environmentalists. The vehicle has now sold one million units worldwide. The... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The third-generation Toyota Prius hybrid is getting the finishing touches before its debut at the Detroit motor show next January. It will go on sale in the UK late next year.Sources say that the new hybrid will be larger than today’s car but still be recognisable as a Toyota Prius. Crucially, though, it will be greener and better to drive than today’s globally successful model. The hatchback will be about 10cm longer and 3cm wider than today’s car and, to cope with the bigger size, the engine will move up from 1.5 to 1.8 litres. Power should increase to 100bhp.Toyota says it can achieve this higher output while still improving economy and lowering emissions. Sources in Japan claim that Toyota is aiming for a 12 per cent improvement in fuel consumption, leading to a combined economy

Toyota has announced that they are to increase the price of their ever popular Prius by $400 as well as some of their other vehicles; this is so that the Japanese automaker can prop up their profits. This seems a stupid idea, ok I agree that if they need to increase profits increase the price [...]

Newport Convertible Engineering have put together a bespoke Toyota Prius Convertible for an unnamed client. The prius is one of the best known hybrid cars on the market bringing in excellent fuel economy for a car of it's size. Perhaps the owner was looking for a guilt free open top cruiser without the wait for any of the electric offerings currently in the pipeline.The California firm have been producing convertible versions of fixed roof cars for over 25 yearsIt's interesting that none of the mass manufacturers have yet to realise that people may want a car that is both kind to the environment AND fun. Perhaps this convertible will give some inspiration.

Toyota plans to go full-bore with third-generation Prius, bigger, faster and more fuel efficient.When someone tosses around the word "hybrid", one vehicle typically first comes to mind: the Toyota Prius. The first generation model was introduced in ‘00 as a '01 model while the second generation model came out in '03 as an '04 model.The original Prius got Americans talking about hybrid vehicles, but it was the second generation model that really set things in motion for Toyota and its aim to equip the bulk of its lineup with hybrid technology.The second generation Prius -- classified as a mid-size sedan -- manages to achieve EPA ratings of 48 MPG/45 MPG city/highway thanks to its 1.5-liter gasoline engine and its hybrid-electric system.Toyota is looking to boost the appeal and size of the

Rumors have been circulating for some time that the Prius, the best-selling hybrid vehicles from Toyota, to become a brand in itself. Toyota envisions the Prius marquee to encompass a whole lineup of hybrid vehicles. They will use a distinctive styling that will make these vehicles stand out from the rest by “yelling” loudly about [...]

TOKYO - Toyota says it got no Japanese government money to develop the Prius gas-electric hybrid vehicle. Chrysler says it did — or at least got a lot of support. Japanese government officials said Thursday that Toyota Motor Corp. received support only in government rebates for Prius buyers, but zero funding for developing the popular model. The trans-Pacific controversy started with a March 24 Business Week report that quoted Jim Press, vice chairman and president of Chrysler LLC and a former board member at Toyota, as saying, “The Japanese government paid for 100 percent of the development of the battery and hybrid system that went into the Toyota Prius.” Toyota denied the report - and the Japanese government backs Toyota’s account. Sosuke Tanaka, an official at t

Could use a redesign 2009 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid - First Drive - Tokyo Motor Show - Popular Mechanics — Supposedly will get 80 MPG CITY!! We’ll see. At least it plugs into the wall which means you can visit friends and casually use their power to fill your car. Until they catch on, that is. [...]

I promise, I’ll get back to the political posts today. Terrorism isn’t funny and we shouldn’t take it lightly. There are real people out there that want to kill us. And our cats… Bookmark to:

My dad travels a lot for work and his company as begun paying for car rentals to cover the driving, which was really great of them. Well, I guess they ran out of the mid-sized sedans he had ordered and they asked if he’d be interested in driving a Prius. Well, my dad [...]

With the price of oil and gasoline hitting record highs, it's time to wake up and face the crude truth on how you can save money on energy costs.As commodity traders push oil prices ever higher as the dollar recedes, there's little, if any, relief in sight at the fuel pump or from soaring utility bills.Yet the deer-in-the-headlights attitude that most investors, vehicle owners and homeowners adopt is misguided. There are quite a few actions you can take to beat the escalating cost of energy.The most-common response to high gasoline prices is to go out and purchase a high-mileage vehicle. This reaction certainly hasn't hurt the sales of companies such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., which offer several fuel-stingy cars, trucks and vans.If you have a long commute or simply drive a

Seeking for the most fuel-efficient vehicle as the high cost of gas price? you're in luck to find here that we had found the best sedan by Edmunds, rating by the using the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) miles-per-gallon ratings for city and highway travel. That's the Toyota Prius.Also, Edmunds gives the rankings of the top 10 most fuel-efficient sedans of 2008 in the US. market. They utilized the EPA's combined fuel economy formula: 55 percent of city mpg rating plus 45 percent of highway mpg rating. The rating for each vehicle below is expressed in mpg as a city/highway ratio. All ratings apply to base models equipped with a manual transmission, except where indicated otherwise with an asterisk. Toyota Prius — 48/45*On the market since 2001, the noble Prius has come to be defin

For most of their brief history, hybrid cars—especially the Toyota Prius, which is attaining near ubiquity in Bushenfreude territory—have been seen as luxury goods. Hybrid car buyers have generally been yuppies willing to pay more for the double satisfaction of saving a little money on gas and flaunting conspicuous, earth-saving virtue. As such, the hybrid was generally dismissed by lunch-pail American automakers as a niche product. But the rising cost of oil and the current recession, which started among subprime consumers and is steadily eating its way up the economic ladder, may combine to change the hybrid vehicle’s image from a white-collar status symbol to a blue-collar money-saver. Given that consumers—even well-off consumers who shop at places such as Starbucks and Nord

By Karey Wutkowski DETROIT (Reuters) - When Tom Weatherbee swapped his minivan for a Toyota Prius hybrid two years ago, he was mostly hoping to save money at the gas pump. But he was pleasantly surprised by both the requests from ...

A Toyota Prius hybrid compact car is exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, in this Oct. 19, 2005, file photo. Toyota Motor Corp. on Wednesday April 2, 2008, denied it had received any funding from the Japanese government to develop its hit Prius gas-electric hybrid car. Japan's top automaker rejected a March 24 Business Week report that quoted Jim Press, vice chairman and president of Chrysler LLC and a former board member at Toyota, as saying, "The Japanese government paid for 100 percent of the development of the battery and hybrid system that went into the Toyota Prius." (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, FILE)read the press rilis : here

Green Car: Toyota Prius The fuel – stingy, gas/ electric Prius hybrid provides reasonable performance in addition to excellent fuel economy. Its 44 mpg overall is the best measured in any five passenger vehicle. The interior is roomy enough to make it a viable alternative to a family sedan. A good alternative is the 37 mpg Honda Civic Hybrid.

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. denied on Wednesday it had received any funding from the Japanese government to develop its hit Prius gas-electric hybrid car. Japan’s top automaker rejected a March 24 Business Week report that quoted Jim Press, vice chairman and president of Chrysler LLC and a former board member at Toyota, as saying, “The [...]

If I tell you, BMW 5 Series victory over the Toyota Prius, it also nothing worth mentioning.But if the fuel is actually regard 520d win, which deserves to Dear reader is how you look at the matter. This is even true? Prius ？ A force-oriented vehicles how to beat for the purpose of fuel-efficient Prius ?According to two London Sunday Times (Sunday Times London) - test results, diesel per litre version of the 520d will be 17.8 km, and can be per litre Prius travelling 17 km (measured by this data than the official data Prius higher), testing method is a direct from London to Geneva (a total of 545 miles).London Sunday Times two reporters, initially only heard of readers said that the fuel-efficient Prius than the official data released by the even better that we intend to personally test.T

Wait. There must be some mistake. How can an autobahn-inspired performance machine beat one of the most fuel-efficient cars ever made? It looks like that is exactly what happened on a 545-mile London-Geneva run, when a diesel-powered BMW 5-series posted better MPG stats than a petrol-based Toyota Prius hybrid. The BMW 520d with a 2.0-liter diesel [...]

  Is this a case of man bites dog? A mid-size BMW sedan equipped with a diesel engine returned better fuel economy on a 545-mile, London-to-Geneva, run than a gasoline-powered Toyota Prius. A BMW 520d with a 2.0-liter diesel engine and regenerative braking (but no heavy duty hybrid features) got 41.9 mpg while the full-hybrid Prius, 500 pounds lighter, got 40.1 mpg. Two writers for the Sunday Times (London) wondered if official mpg ratings were accurate after hearing from their readers who said the Prius ratings were high by 15 (U.K.) mpg. “If our readers are right and the official figure is wrong it has important implications, not least of which is that people driving frugal diesels are getting a raw deal,” the paper said, since hybrids get some tax and roadway access benefit

"The 8 most fuel-efficient cars" overview: As the fuel prices going through the roof, these fuel-efficient cars will squeeze the most miles out of your fuel cost dollars.The #2 fuel-efficient car: Toyota PriusOverall mpg: 46Est. annual fuel cost: $1019Lowest base price: $21,100The Toyota Prius has gone from a cult favorite to a real mass-market hit for Toyota. Although usually thought of as a small car, the it qualifies as a mid-sized sedan based on its copious interior space.Toyota has sold more Priuses than all other hybrids combined—and for good reason. Since the debut of the second generation Prius in 2003 (as a 2004 model), the midsize hatchback sedan has racked up award after award. Years later, it continues to be a red-hot seller.

My latest post is up at Kango. This week I was asked to write about how Angelenos might celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Is this a holiday? I've always figured that if it didn't have its own, two-aisle special section at Target it wasn't worth celebrating. But come to find that there is plenty of Irish revelry scheduled for March 17 here in Los Angeles, and a lot of it centers around beer. Not

Summary: "Ignore the great job painting, and glances 2005 Toyota Prius - and orders - like any other passenger vehicle hybrid years on the road. Type That's the point." ; Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Has tinkered with a Prius so that it burns hydrogen instead of gasoline. But you can not beast lost too far from the mother ship in him, at least not yet. The hydrogen infrastructure is still in the embryonic stage, and its viability is far from assured. One possibility that seems hydrogen electrolysis is attractive by solar energy, which could be adapted for use at home. Using cells from hydrogen fuel instead of burning hydrogen in the internal combustion engine still lead to higher returns and lower emissions, too - but many say that the technology is up to 20 years in the manufacture.

Summary of cars "Which are the best value? According to the consumer reported estimates of depreciation, affordably several models had indicated the price - such as the hybrid Toyota Prius, the mini cooper, and models Youth - oriented Scion - keep their sports better than more expensive models of value and luxury. And while all 10 main models have the plates Japanese or European, nine of the 10 were lower household models. contribution to their depreciating high is the fact that many are older models, generally used by fleets and rental companies, and often heavily discounted. " ; Prius completes the list of ten best media value, and the Honda Civic anchors (including hybrid) that list. The domestic dogs as Buick wetter and the Crown Victoria Ford were among the worst. But look at the abov

We've previously reported that Lexus is planning to unveil its first hybrid-only model at next year's NAIAS in Detroit. Emerging reports now suggest that the Lexus hybrid will actually be a rebadged luxury version of the next-gen Prius. While it would be a little weird that the lightweight Prius will be loaded with Lexus-grade luxury equipments, we think the Hollywood people will love this new car so much.

What’s new, trim levels, optional equipment, and safety info for the 2008 Toyota Prius. Introduction Toyota wasn’t the first to bring a hybrid car to the U.S. market, but it’s been by far the most successful, prompting hybrid competition from just about every major carmaker, some of them using Toyota’s own system under license. The Prius continues [...]

What’s new, trim levels, optional equipment, and safety info for the 2008 Toyota Prius. Introduction Toyota wasn’t the first to bring a hybrid car to the U.S. market, but it’s been by far the most successful, prompting hybrid competition from just about every major carmaker, some of them using Toyota’s own system under license. The Prius continues [...]

Chernobyl is leaking radiation, the Forever Landfill will put your trash to rest for an eternity and a new reason to drive a Toyota Prius.Remember the radiation leak of the century? That's right, Chernobyl is a mess again and plans are in the works to encapsulate that puppy away from mankind for eternity. You can also have your trash put to rest with the comfort of knowing it has a good home and discover a new reason to make a Toyota Prius your ride.

  Leading Japanese automaker Toyota is likely to enter the Korean market in the first half of 2009 with its Prius hybrid. The hybrid car combines a battery and a combustion engine to increase fuel efficiency. A Toyota Korea source said Monday the company is considering releasing the third-generation Prius in Korea, Japan and the U.S. simultaneously on its scheduled release date in April 2009. Toyota Motor Global Sales Vice President Akio Toyoda, the fourth generation heir of the Japanese motor giant, met with Toyota Korea executives in Japan to discuss a model suitable for the Korean market. (more…) Share This Related posts Beat It! GM may drive in new Chevy Matiz M300 (0) Toyota Unveils All-New 2008 Sequoia At 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show (0) Toyota to launch small SUV in Europe in 2008 (0) 2008-2009 future models of Korean Auto Maker (0) 2008 GM Daewoo gentra X-T255 of Aveo badge in Korea (0)

Hybrids are one of the fastest-growing segments of the car market today. The benefits of buying a hybrid car are so extraordinary that every car manufacturer wants to get in on this particular segment of the car market. There are two particular manufacturers who stand out as leading the way: Honda and Toyota. This article is going to explain why you should look into buying a Toyota Prius. Toyota has done an amazing job of developing this car. Listen to some of the different awards which have been given for this hybrid: Motor Trends Car of the Year for 2004, 2004 International Engine of the Year, and 2004 North American Car of the Year. That is quite the prestigious list of awards given to Toyota. With recognition such as this, it is no surprise that the Toyota Prius stands as one of the top hybrids within this growing and competitive segment of the market. With such attention and publicity given to it, a very long waiting list has developed. Some of the developments include stripping a

It was only 5 days ago that I wrote about Prius drivers. I got some comments in response both off and online. Basically while some people admit that the Prius drivers were somewhat oblivious others bashed me for being subjective and having I quote a “confirmation bias”. So today I got more confirmation without a [...]

Ever since Toyota introduced its new hybrid car the Prius has been a subject of various debates. Its actual fuel economy was largely questioned. There has been rumors about its batteries not being environment friendly. Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear made a really harsh review of it that you can see below. But the subject [...]

Somebody with two much time on their hands has modified at Toyota Prius into a limousine. The makers say that the same fuel efficiency of 50 mpg is retained. Supposedly it seats 10, but I bet it would not be that comfortable. I wonder if green celebrities in California will show up on the red carpet with this one… Wouldn’t be cool if you saw more of these instead of Hummer limousines? Via Hippyshopper Share This

I know that the title of this post sounds bad - after all we should all do our bit for the environment and I do care about my own carbon footprint. There are many environmental benefits to hybrid cars, and we published an article about some of the ways in which the Toyota Prius can reduce [...]

A pesar de que ya hay en el mercado más vehículos híbridos, el pionero Toyota Prius sigue siendo el referente en energía limpia, diseño modernista, tecnología e innovación. Por eso ha sido elegido para ser el objeto de un trabajo para los alumnos de un master en diseño de vehículos en el Instituto Europeo del Diseño.    Tenían que crear concepts basados en lo que ellos imaginan como el Toyota Prius 2 creando un vehículo que, además de la excelencia tecnológica que se le da por descontada, consiga transmitir el elemento emocional, algo básico para conquistar el mercado europeo. La clase se organizo en 10 equipos, desarrollando cada uno su propio prototipo  en escala 4:1. Podéis ver los demás diseños en jalopnik.com

Toyota's Prius hybrid has become the bestselling car in Silicon Valley. That must be because of the high concentration of smart people living and working there. They are probably more aware of the dire consequences of global warming.At 94,503 sales, the Prius represents just 1 percent of U.S. car and truck sales so far this year. In Santa Clara County, Prius registrations represent 5.3 percent of the market.The best selling car in Sweden (where I come from) is Volvo V70. It emits more than twice as much CO2 than a hybrid.

I didn't. Maybe once Al Gore III takes care of his legal troubles, he can be a spokesperson for Toyota. Their new motto can be: "Prius. Drive really fast and save a lot of gas." But it may be a while before he can tout the speed of the Prius since he got popped going really, really fast (100 mph!?!) and had pot and pills in his possession. That was really stupid. He has already been in trouble for driving around and having pot in the car back in his Harvard days. Things like that make you wonder about Harvard's admission requirements. I guess that pothead got really stoned and forgot that you shouldn't drive around with drugs in your car. And maybe like the rest of us, he didn't realize that a Prius could go that fast. A Prius can go 100 mph? Really? It baffles the mind.tags: Al Gore III Toyota Prius hybrid car speeding drugs

As automotiveblogger.net posted, he really likes to rent a car he ever being curious about when going on vacation or another need to.Now, there will another ever-popular Toyota Prius hybrid be added to the rental fleets by Hertz and Avis. Both say they’ll initially add 1,000 units, with more coming into their fleet later in the year.Hertz plans to offer the Prius hybrid for rent in Manhattan and select airport locations around the country, and Avis is sticking to the west coast.All of this comes on the heels of a public relations initiative (pdf) from Enterprise Rent-A-Car last week touting its “unparalleled fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles ”.Enterprise claims that 47% of its fleet - almost 334,000 vehicles - average at least 28 miles per gallon and that 28% of its fleet - almost 200,000 vehicles - average 32 miles per gallon.Recent Posts:+ Can Hummer go green?+ Toyota Team SARD Returning to Tokachi With Supra HV-R Hybrid Racer+ 2008 Mazda6 Confirmed For Frankfurt Auto Show Debut

Toyota's hybrid technology combined with a carbon-offsetting programme is set to make Climatecars, London’s new eco-friendly taxi service, one of the greenest around. As its name indicates, Climatecars is taking a no-compromise stance on the environment. The company's operations are totally Carbon Neutral from the outset.FiveToyota Prius petrol-electric cars were delivered to Climatecars at the start of June, with three more due in July and further cars to be added in line with demand. The vehicles, a combination of T3 and T4 grade models, are finished in metallic grey and fitted with black leather seats.“We're aiming to serve the corporate market in central London who care about their carbon footprints, and by operating a superior service we're looking to grow quickly,” says Climatecars’ founder Nicko Williamson. The service was set to start in mid-June, following driver training on the new cars.For Nicko Williamson, a Bristol University history graduate, Climatecars is hi

For some time now the third generation Toyota Prius was expected to debut in the fall of 2008 carrying a lithium ion battery pack and and very possibly plug-in capability.In the past week it has been reported that neither the lithium energy storage or the plug-in capability would be there and now it looks the timeline has slipped as well.Of course, since Toyota never officially announced a launch date they are refusing to call the slip to a spring 2009 debut a program slip or even acknowledge the new or old date.By the time the new Prius hits the market there will be several new competitors available including the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan hybrids and the plug-in version of the two-mode Saturn Vue is due that same year.It looks like Toyota's decision to stick with their local supplier might have come back to haunt them. Panasonic currently supplies the NiMH hydride batteries that Toyota uses and they have been focusing on LiNiCoAlO2 cathodes which are considered to be the least therma

Every automaker suffers obstacles in their ambitions to bring something revolutionary to our market. Toyota seems to have suffered that with their development of the next-generation Prius. The new Prius will be equipped with lithium-ion battery technology, which replaces the previous nickel-metal hydride battery. The lithium-ion battery would cost less and save a lot of weight, in which will improve the performance of the car and reduce the price.We speculated that the next Prius would be out by late next year, but sources say that could be pushed further to 2009. Apparently, the company developing the new battery, Matsushita Industrial, needs to tweak the battery a bit for safety concerns as well as how it will react during an accident or a fire.[Source: Motor Authority]

You're visiting a hybrid cars website and reading a review of the Toyota Prius. Of course, you'd expect a ton of praise to get heaped on the Prius, the quintessential hybrid gas-electric car. But that won't help you make a decision about whether or not to buy a Prius. So we'll make short work of the praise and try to point out a few reasons why the Prius might not be the right car for you.Deserving of PraiseToyota has sold more Priuses than all other hybrids combined—and for good reason. Since the debut of the second generation Prius in 2003 (as a 2004 model), the midsize hatchback sedan has racked up award after award. Years later, it continues to be a red-hot seller.The Prius inspires a cult-like devotion from its drivers. Satisfaction rates, consistently at 98 percent, are unparalleled. Prius owners are already looking 20 years ahead, when they can claim with great pride, "Yes. I drove one of the first Priuses."The Prius drives like a charm, humming along silently in all-elect

Metacool wrote this neat article about 10 things Toyota can do to and for the hybrid Prius model to make it even cooler! (Yes, it is possible!) They include ideas like reimbursing drivers who opt for eco-friendly vanity plates, designating parking spots for Prius drivers at Whole Foods stores, making the green color scheme free, and giving $1,000 discounts to buyers who agree to have a 75mph speed limiter installed in their cars. I’m not sure Toyota will go for them, but it’s a neat and thoughtful list I encourage you to check out! Auto, cars, color scheme, eco friendly, Green Transportation, neat article, prius, speed limiter, toyota, vanity plates, whole foods

In tema di soluzioni energetiche la Toyota ha deciso di fare un esperimento piazzando sul tetto di una Prius un pannello solare costituito da celle fotovoltaiche monocristalline collegate in moduli da 200-300 Watt. L’energia ricavata dall’irraggiamento solare viene accumulata in una apposita batteria da 3 kW, in grado di garantire fino a 32 chilometri di mobilità elettrica ogni giorno. (more…) solar electrical vehicles, Toyota, toyota prius

Is adding solar panels to the roof of your Prius being over green? Well the answer has to be no, for by adding these solar panels the company behind the project Solar Electric Vehicles has been able to improve the performance of the Prius by a Massive 29%. The cost of the solar unit would cost around $2000 to $4000, and with the savings made from the fuel etc, the time taken to recoup the money is about two to three years, it depends on how many miles you are doing etc. The Solar topped Prius can add up to 20 miles per day of free mileage, which by anyone’s standards is pretty good and a great saving. Source [Tree hugger] alternative energy, Auto, free mileage, Solar Power, solar electric vehicles, solar panels, solar unit, source tree

Forgive me for not knowing all the stats on these two cars. Especially yesterday. Tony wrote about our kayaking trip yesterday, but there was something he failed to mention. We were on our way back to put the boats in when we got to a stoplight that was red, we were next to a Toyota Prius. Most people in this town don't know where their accelerators are, so I figured, "This is going to be easy, getting out in front of everybody." (This was for no particular reason other than I have a really nice car and it has a pretty good accelerator.) So the light turned green and I kind of fumbled with my clutch and my accelerator and I was shocked when I noticed the Prius was way out in front of us. The next light was red too, and we both were in the front of the line (in different lanes). I managed not to screw up, but I had all I could do to keep up with that little car. 'Course I'm not very good at immediate acceleration, so that was part of the problem. Anyway, David was riding wi

A columnist for The Economist confirms what many of us thought was obvious. New is not necessarily better and it's good to keep your nose clean.Moving from London to Texas (what a shock that must have been), the writer needed a car, and wanted one of the (what was then) shiny new Priuses. But not even a bright green nature could persuade the frugal side to part with $30k.A little research turned up a previously-titled Honda Civic LX 5-speed for just under $11k. At first, the little Honda got 34 MPG, impressive, but not the 60 MPG claimed by the Prius. But after some basic maintenance (new air filter and an oil change) the Civic's highway numbers jumped to 40 MPG. Sweet. The writer's aunt boosted her hybrid Civic's numbers from 46 mpg to 50 mpg just by properly inflating her tires and setting the cruise control.So by forgoing the latest and greatest, the author saved almost $20k. By spending $25 on an oil change and $10 on an air filter, the Honda burns fewer gallons of gas. No, the

I have owned my Toyota Prius for a few years now.  Its a 2004 Prius Black and sexy as hell.  I still get a fair number of questions about it.  They are either 'How does it work?' type of questions or 'Do you still like it' types. First, I should mention that we are actually a multi Prius family.  I put my Prius on order and two weeks later my girlfriend at the time (now wife) put one on order for herself.  Little did we know that her parents had also ordered one.  A few months later all three Prius were delivered and we were happy as clams.  Me with my Black, Jen with her Red and Jens parents with their Silver. The photos of black prius always have tinted windows like that.  The car isn't that cool looking though without the tint.  I didn't tint them, but secretly I want to.  HOT. To date none of us have had any trouble with the cars.  They work exactly like they are supposed to.  I have only done basic maintenance.&nbs

Japanese automaker Toyota had showcased their hybrid car Prius at the International Engineering Trade Fair in New Delhi. The company has now said that they are considering the possibility of launching Prius in the Indian market.However, the car would have to be imported to the Indian market which would practically double the cost of selling the car in the Indian market. A Toyoshima, managing director, Toyota Kirloskar has said in a statement that the company is studying the Indian market to introduce the hybrid vehicle. He added: “But at current levels of duty, it could cost anywhere between Rs 20-25 lakh.”The car sells for around Rs. 10 lakh in the US market where it is pretty popular due to its environment friendly status. The company is also considering asking the Indian government to relax duties on such hybrid cars to promote them in the Indian market.

How can this be. I mean the Hummer is the most vile thing ever invented according to the Environmentalist Wackos. Well, a new study says that the Hummer is better for the environment htan a Prius. Prius Outdoes Hummer in...

Toyota's Ceo confirmed it: lithium batteries in the the next version of the Prius. With the goal of reducing the cost of the hybrid drive train, Toyota is changing the batteries to longer lasting lithium batteries. Will this give us the the breakthrough on gas mileage? No mention about if it will be the plug-in version I keep hearing about. Check out the full story and more pictures on

The Toyota Prius gets high ratings for its protection of occupants in crash tests. It gets the highest rating, Good, in frontal offset and a Good for side impact when equipped with side-curtain air bags. Check out this video

UK Minicab firm greentomotacars has started a pilot program to expand into the West London area with its Prius fleet. The service, which currently uses five of the well-known hybrids, plans to increase its numbers to fifty when they extend service across all of London by the end of June. Even using hybrids is not enough for greentomatocars, since even hybrids release CO2. The firm also plants trees and engages in other "eco-projects" to minimize its vehicles' impact on the environment. And while the service has considered all-electric vehicles, they are currently not viable according to founder Tom Pakenham. http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/10/environment-conscious-cab-service-expands-prius-coverage/   Related EntriesLondon Black Cab.Com. The perfect man Barclaycard displays wave-and-pay in cab About the London Taxi Directory SAVED!

Japanese automaker Toyota had showcased their hybrid car Prius at the International Engineering Trade Fair in New Delhi. The company has now said that they are considering the possibility of launching Prius in the Indian market.However, the car would have to be imported to the Indian market which would practically double the cost of selling the car in the Indian market.  A Toyoshima, managing director, Toyota Kirloskar has said in a statement that the company is studying the Indian market to introduce the hybrid vehicle. He added: "But at current levels of duty, it could cost anywhere between Rs 20-25 lakh."The car sells for around Rs. 10 lakh in the US market where it is pretty popular due to its environment friendly status. The company is also considering asking the Indian government to relax duties on such hybrid cars to promote them in the Indian market.

TORRANCE, Calif. — Consumers who waited for months to get their hands on a Toyota Pruis in the past and suffered through dealer markups of $1,000 or more on the gas/electric hybrid should be thrilled to hear that the Japanese automaker is now offering incentives on the car.Toyota is offering interest-free loans for 24 months and three-year leases for as low as $219 a month on the Prius. The new tactic is in response to the phasing out of federal tax breaks that began last October and put a crimp in Prius sales. The incentives roll out as Toyota brings more Prius capacity online in Japan. The automaker aims to increase U.S. sales to approximately 150,000 cars this year from 107,000 in 2006.The base 2007 Prius starts at $22,795, including a $620 destination charge. The gas/electric hybrid gets 60 mpg in city driving and 51 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. It is equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric drive motor. ~Source: Edmunds: Inside Line~

We repeat: the Toyota Prius is the official car of the intellectually superior. According to InsideBayArea.com, after trailing Camry, Corolla, Accord, and Civic in Santa Clara County in California's Silicon Valley last year, Prius has outsold all four through May of this year. Ron Diridon, executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University and himself a Prius militant owner, shows no lack of hubris in his assessment of the situation: "The intellectual capacity within Silicon Valley is amazing. That higher level of education reflects a higher level of understanding of the terrible consequences of global warming." Intellectual superiority aside, the free pass to the carpool lane that was available for Prius drivers, the outrageous price of gas in California and the fact you can now buy a Prius for less than sticker had a bit to do with it as well.

Toyota is delaying introducing lithium-ion battery-powered hybrids because of safety concerns. Forbes reports that the Japanese automaker is hanging fire (so to speak) due to worries that the cells might overheat or explode. Toyota doesn't expect to have hybrids with Li-Ion batteries until 2011. They've also delayed plans for Tundra and Sequoia hybrids. Whether or not this will affect GM's hopes of lithium-ion powered Volt is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, commenting on an earlier TTAC post, Tesla spinmeister Darryl Siry claims their Roadster's Li-ion battery pack passed UN and DOT protocols for safety "when shipping" which which "can actually be harsher than safety when in a car."