Unlike pure electric vehicles, explains Nakatani, Prius never needs to be plugged in. "Instead, the battery is charged by the gasoline engine and a unique onboard regenerative braking system. When the vehicle is braking or coasting, the electric motor becomes a generator, turning energy, that would normally be lost, into electricity to recharge the batteries. This system is particularly efficient in stop-and-go city driving, making Prius one of the first vehicles to be more efficient in city than in highway driving."
Nakatani says he's proud "that from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia, Toyota now offers Prius, the true clean air choice, to Canadians."
The gasoline/electric hybrid technology that powers Prius "is an important intermediate step towards the completely clean transportation that is our ultimate goal," Nakatani says. "While we're getting there, we must take all the steps we can to reduce the impact cars have on the environment right now, building cars that produce fewer and fewer harmful emissions, use less gas, and give car owners the chance to consider more environmentally friendly vehicles and practices."
Nakatani says Prius was recently named Clean Air Choice of Earth Day Canada and is the only hybrid vehicle that has met the strict California standards for certification as a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle.
Prius is 90 per cent cleaner than conventionally powered cars, Nakatani says, and it produces about 50 per cent less nitrous oxide and about 80 per cent less of other greenhouse gases, and fuel consumption is rated at 4.5 litres/100 km by Natural Resources Canada.
Nakatani says he's proud "that from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia, Toyota now offers Prius, the true clean air choice, to Canadians."
The gasoline/electric hybrid technology that powers Prius "is an important intermediate step towards the completely clean transportation that is our ultimate goal," Nakatani says. "While we're getting there, we must take all the steps we can to reduce the impact cars have on the environment right now, building cars that produce fewer and fewer harmful emissions, use less gas, and give car owners the chance to consider more environmentally friendly vehicles and practices."
Nakatani says Prius was recently named Clean Air Choice of Earth Day Canada and is the only hybrid vehicle that has met the strict California standards for certification as a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle.
Prius is 90 per cent cleaner than conventionally powered cars, Nakatani says, and it produces about 50 per cent less nitrous oxide and about 80 per cent less of other greenhouse gases, and fuel consumption is rated at 4.5 litres/100 km by Natural Resources Canada.