Toyots’s eco standard-bearer : The Prius Hybrid

The Toyota Prius is not only one of the most practical hybrid vehicles you can buy but it also enjoys a cult status in Hollywood, thanks to superstars like Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz owning the eco­friendly car.

A plan to launch the Prius in India is in the pipeline and the green machine is undergoing ho­mologation. This car is popular around the globe because of its fuel economy, uncompromising driving and acceleration characteristics.

The next generation Prius, the Plug-In, can be recharged from a 110 volt household outlet. It now also has a small switch to the left of the steering wheel. This activates the electric-only mode and switches the petrol off at any time during a drive, allowing the hybrid to run just on electricity. Solely powered by electricity, the Plug-In can traverse 13 km on a full charge.

The hybrid’s power train fea­tures a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which powers the car in con­ junction with an electric motor that generates 50kW. Though the engine is puny, it is combined with a more powerful pack than that of the regular Prius because of the larger NiMH battery pack. The downside is that the larger battery pack occupies the spare tyre slot. This additional electric power takes the hybrid to speeds of 100kmph. The Plug-In also gets a special gear set that functions as a continuously variable transmission.

The petrol engine produces 76bhp at 5000rpm, while the electric motors generate the equivalent of 67bhp at 1200 rpm. Thus, the Toyota generates over 130bhp. Not much power to rave about but then the Prius is all about economy and clean air not raw power to make other hapless cars tremble.

When the battery discharges, it takes three to four hours to be fully recharged from a household outlet. If you use 220 volts, it’s only an hour or an hour-and-a­ half to total recharge. Under full acceleration, both power sources work together to provide maxi­ mum vroom. But during stop­ and-go traffic, the Prius alternates between the two, often running on battery power alone.

The Prius is a distinctive vehicle boasting a fresh look as compared to other cars, thanks to the upright headlights and smooth bonnet and bumpers. It gets a large glass area and when viewed from the side, appears sleek and hatch-like because of the rakish roof angle.

The Prius comes standard with enough goodies like 15-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, full power accessories, tilt steering wheel, touch screen controls, a hybrid system display and a CD player to pamper you.

The interiors comfortable for four adults and comes standard with most features. On the dash, there’s an information display that can be used to show the operational status of the hybrid system. The Toyota Prius comes standard with anti-lock brakes with brake assist, airbags in the international market. We will have to wait and see if Toyota makes all these standard in India also.