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Toyota Prius Forum
The Electrocuted Automobile
It looks as if there will be newer cars coming out soon which have a 42 volt electrical system. Actually it will be a 36-volt electrical system with three 12-volt batteries in series. The good part is that it will create lower emissions because power steering pumps and air conditioning units can be mechanical in the future. The bad part for us is if the electrical system has a short to the frame you could be electrified like a hot dog while washing. Some car washes are a little concerned that their employees might g ...
Author: Lance Winslow
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The Hybrid Car
A hybrid car has a small engine
that is fuel efficient, which is combined with an electric motor
that aids the engine when additional power is needed during
acceleration. The electric motor gets its power from battery banks
which continuously charge while you are driving.
Energy is conserved when you stop because the engine is shut off
automatically. Then, when you apply gas, it automatically restarts.
The hybrid car also uses a more advanced aerodynamic lightweight
body, and combines it with low roll resistant tires that are stiffer
and narrower to help reduce drag.
In 2004, out of the 17 million vehicles sold there were around
80,000 hybrid vehicles sold. By 2005 that number had increased by
1.2% to 200,000, and it's estimated that by 2007 more than 400,000
hybrids will be sold.
There are several hybrids currently available in North America. They
include the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Honda Insight, Toyota Prius,
and the Mercury Mariner. There are also Hybrid SUVs available - the
Ford Escape, the Lexus 400H and the Toyota Highlander, and many new
models are on the way.
The Toyota Prius holds 52% of the hybrid market with just under
108,000 vehicles. The Honda Civic is the next most popular with
25,000 vehicles.
Now that consumer support for the hybrids has arrived, auto
manufacturers are increasing the pace at which they introduce hybrid
models. Just starting to come out are the Honda CR V SUV, Saturn Vue,
Hyundai Accent, and Kia Rio are being introduced as hybrid models.
In 2007 we will see the Toyota Camry, Honda Fit, Mazda Tribute,
Chevrolet Malibu, and Nissan Altima; and 2008 will see the Ford
Fusion and Mercury Millan available as hybrids.
And as an added bonus in the United States, consumers that purchase
a hybrid will get a tax break. Those purchasing fuel-cell vehicles
will get up to $8000 in tax breaks, and those purchasing alternative
fuel vehicles that weigh less than 8,500 pounds get a $2500 tax
break. It's a nice pleasant surprise!
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Article of the
Day:
2007 Lexus GS 450h: Full Hybrid Technology Revs Up With Superior Toyota Aftermarket Parts
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid uses both gasoline engine and electric motor, which gives a 50% increase in driving efficiency with a much lower emission. All this is achieved by the use of 6 powertrain components, which work in perfect unison. Ford motor has 40 patents in hybrid engine technology and 70 pending. "The greatest appeal of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid is that it satisfies both your environmental conscience and sense of style. Mariner Hybrid retains the clean, tailored appearanc ...
Author: Jenny McLane
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Toyota Prius Forum: 2006 Toyota Prius
2006 Toyota Prius.... -- Download (654 KB)
Service shop recomendations - PriusChat - Toyota Prius Forums
I just posted this to PriusChat: [We] just purchased a Super White 2001 Prius with 107,000 miles on it… I’m now looking for a good shop that I can rely on to take care of my new Hybrid baby. Any thoughts or recommendations? Amy’s 1984 Honda Accord gave up the ghost after 350,000 miles. After a [...]
Toyota Recalls 75,000 Prius Hybrids (AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mostviewed/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051013/ap_on_bi_ge/prius_recall"><img src="http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/afp/20051014/capt.sge.rbr44.141005044516.photo00.photo.default-384x218.jpg?x=130&y=73&sig=GBZbmFkRaf65UE05VVZs1w--" align="left" height="73" width="130" alt="Toyota's gasoline-electric powered Prius (L). Toyota Motor has issued a recall for about 160,000 Prius cars sold mainly in the United States and Japan due to a potential software glitch that may cause sales of the hybrid to stall(AFP/File/Kazuhiro Nogi)" border="0" /></a>AP - Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it is recalling 75,000 Prius gas-electric hybrid cars because their engines can stall due to an electrical problem.</p><br clear=all>
2006 Toyota Prius
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Toyota Eyes California for Prius Production
News "industry news" toyota prius hybrid production california Quick, if you were Toyota, where in the US would you build your Prius hybrid -- along with, maybe, a hybrid version of your Corolla? Damn straight it's California, or it could be if a report in the Wall Street Journal is accurate. Still, the company already announced, earlier this year that it would build a hybrid version of its next-generation, 2007 Camry at its Georgetown, Kentucky plant. If Toyota does pick California to produce US-bound Prii, it'll likely be at the Fremont plant it shares with GM, which produces the Pontiac Vibe as well as Toyota Corollas and Tacomas, as part of the companies' joint-production venture, New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI). Related: Toyota to Build Camry Hybrid in the US; Toyota to GM: Hello, Partner; We Must Break You [internal]
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