For nearly 20 years it is on the market and is available in the fourth generation from 2016 (image below). If you compare its data with those of the Prius II you will find no significanl differences. Nevertheless, it is said, the Prius has changed the automotive industry. Approximately 8 million also the following hybrid models from Toyota were sold worldwide, 3.5 million Prius, thereof 1.9 million solely in USA.
Actually, the Toyota engineers are indeed particularly strongly committed newer technologies, such as one sees on fuel cell car Mirai, but at the same time must be stated that they persue once taken paths with incredible determination.
This is especially true for one of its stars, the Prius. Many observers had thought that would develop over PlugIn technology slowly to the electric car, but it doesn't. Its battery, combustion engine and its drive technology have remained basically the same.
Yet the engineers have driven a value to the top, the consumption. In this case you have to take it directly from the manufacturer, because the CO 2 sub> value to the hybrids is diluted. But even with all possible additions to manufacturer's specification of 3.0 liters gasoline per 100 km for a fully grown up touring sedan is an almost incredible value.
Striking over the years is the almost maintained, really low battery capacity, but this lowers the curb weight in the region of normal cars with combustion engines. Even the jump to LiIo-technique was not done in this model. The relatively low maximum speed of 180 km/h and the very good drag cefficient of 0.24 are conspicuous.
Actually a hybrid applies to be unsuitable to save over the long distance. The Prius is always said to be an exception, the new more. In the center this, as already more often mentioned, sluggish combustion engine, not a direct injection engine, but otherwise with optimized efficiency forth in all directions.
Slowly the other manufacturers adapt the Atkinson/Miller cycle, but Toyota is already the fourth generation of the Prius. No, we do not want to describe it and the optimization of the transmission with the electric motors here again . You can read all about it here and on the following pages.
It's true: A reduction in fuel consumption of 0.1 liters per 100 km counts 3.33 percent in a three-liter car. And the further you approache absolute zero, the higher the percentage. That derives from a little more sophisticated engine management, less internal friction as in transmission, rigidity of the tire side walls and of course better aerodynamics.
The Prius may reach the Diesel's fuel consumption on country roads and not to fast highway passages. 02/16
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