HYBRID 2000

2009-Toyota Prius-Hybrid

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, unveiled the third-generation Prius hybrid vehicle at the 2009 North American International Auto show.
The new version of the world’s top-selling hybrid vehicle offers better mileage ratings and enhanced performance, as well as new design features.
The Prius has been a smash success for Toyota. It is by far the least-expensive, highest-performing hybrid car on the market, and it has helped establish Toyota as a hybrid innovator while most of the rest of the field struggles to catch up.
The 3rd Generation Prius will grow in size, and engine displacement will be bumped to 1.8 liters four-cylinder engine powers to increase performance, faster and 10 - 20 percent more fuel efficient than the second generation Prius.
The 3rd Generation Prius will move from a 1.5-liter inline 4 to a 1.8 inline 4 engine that adds 25 extra horsepower for a total of 100 hp. Combined with a new, advanced electric motor that new Prius will offer as much as 160 hp compared to today’s 110 hp. And the 1.8-liter engine is the first Toyota power plant that requires no belts under the hood for better fuel economy and less potential maintenance. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the larger engine actually helps improve highway mileage. By making more torque, the new engine can run at lower average revolutions per minute on the highway. When operating at lower RPM, the new engine uses less fuel. Despite the increase in size and sprightliness, weight will reportedly hold steady.
The standard 2010 Toyota 3rd Generation Prius also will not be a plug-in hybrid. However, Toyota will begin selling a NiMH-powered plug-in Prius for fleet sales starting in late 2010. Sometime in 2010, the plug-in Prius might also become available for individual sales.
The first-generation Prius, which was EPA rated at 41 mpg US combined city/highway, was replaced by the current model, which is EPA rated at 46 mpg US, combined. Using a combination of technologies, fuel efficiency was increased to an estimated 50 mpg US combined for the new Prius.
The Hybrid components like the inverter, motor, and generator are now smaller and lighter. An exhaust heat recovery system, exhaust gas recirculation, and an electric water pump contribute to a more efficient hybrid system with a net horsepower rating of 134.
The battery module carries over from the tried-and-true technology from the current Prius. Engineers applied enhancements throughout the entire vehicle to achieve 50 miles-per-gallon, more consistent efficiency in real-world driving, and further reductions in CO2 emissions.
The 3rd Generation Prius also features what Toyota is calling a “Solar Moonroof”. A small array of photovoltaic cells automatically powers a ventilation system on hot days. The system allows fresh air to circulate into the vehicle while the vehicle is parked, cooling down the cabin so that the air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard, thereby conserving power.
Also new is a multi-information display panel that monitors fuel and energy consumption. It provides feedback on the Prius’s efficiency using three different displays to help the driver acquire economical driving habits.
The 3rd Generation Prius received more wind tunnel hours of testing than any other Toyota vehicle yet. By focusing on the shape of the body, underfloor, wheelhouse liner and shape of the wheels, the designers of the new Prius were able to reduce the coefficient of drag (Cd) value to 0.25, compared to 0.26 for the previous model. The airflow under the car was studied extensively. Engineers made changes to the shape of the fender liner, front surface of the underfloor, and added a fin at the rear floor cover to increase linear stability.
LED lamps are used for low beams and also in the tail and stop lamps to curb power consumption. The air conditioning, a major energy drain, has been re-engineered to increase efficiency and cool-down performance. In addition, an exhaust-heat recirculation system reduces heat waste by warming engine coolant during cold startup for improved performance.
The 3rd Generation Prius is built on a new platform, which Toyota says enables improved handling stability, quieter operation and collision safety. The suspension consists of front struts and a rear intermediate beam design, as before, but handling stability is advanced by improving the stabilizer layout, higher caster angle and tuning the bushing characteristics.
Also, disc brakes are now used on all four corners, replacing the front disc/rear drum brakes in the current model.
Toyota will use plant-derived, carbon-neutral plastics in the 2010 Prius. The newly-developed plastics, known as “ecological plastic,” will be used in the seat cushion foam, cowl side trim, inner and outer scuff plates, and deck trim cover. Ecological plastic emits less CO2 during a product lifecycle (from manufacturing to disposal) than plastic made solely from petroleum; it also helps reduce petroleum use
Better-performing sound insulation, in conjunction with improved vibration damping, has been installed in various locations to reduce road noise.
Sales of the 2010 Prius will start simultaneously in both the US and Japan in late spring, followed shortly by Canada and other countries. Toyota forecasts first full calendar year sales in the US will be around 180,000 units.
Toyota sources claimed the third generation hybrid technology, “will cut prices for eco-friendly vehicles, reduce fuel costs and slash production expenses.”
If things go according to Toyota’s plan for world domination, the Prius will become one of the pillars upon which the marque is built, next to the Corolla and Camry institutions.