Fulfilling Promises to Perfect the Family Car
The next generation of Hybrid-Electric technology premiered recently at the New York Auto Show. "When the 2004 Prius arrives in dealerships this fall it will exceed all expectations, marking the arrival of hybrid technology into the mainstream consumer mindset," said Don Esmond, senior vice president and general manager, Toyota Division. "Furthermore, the debut of the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system will represent a major breakthrough in global-friendly powertrain technology."
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| The 2004 Prius "will exceed all expectations, marking the arrival of hybrid technology into the mainstream consumer mindset," said Don Esmond, senior vice president and general manager, Toyota Division. (Photo: Toyota) |
The Hybrid Synergy Drive is defined as a "full hybrid system". Unlike competitive systems currently on the market, the full hybrid system is capable of operating in either gas or electric modes, as well as a mode in which both the gas engine and electric motor are in operation simultaneously - heady news for me as a green auto writer. This means that the 2004 Prius will have 30% fewer emissions than the previous model. This equals nearly 90% fewer tailpipe pollutants than a conventional internal combustion engine! It also means that CO2 emissions, a major contributor to the greenhouse gas problems we have, are reduced from 120 to 100 mg per kilometer.
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| The new Prius will increase fuel efficiency by 15% compared to the current model. (Photo: Toyota) |
Fuel efficiency is also expected to increase in the new Prius by a further 15 percent over the current Prius EnerGuide-winning rate of 4.5L/100km (63 mpg) in the city and 4.7L/100km highway (60 mpg). This will enable Prius to have the best fuel efficiency rating of any midsize vehicle sold in North America, delivering twice the combined distance rating of its closest competitor.
Advantages to this full hybrid system are numerous. But a major, and noticeable difference between the Hybrid Synergy Drive concept and the current THS system centers on the duration of electric-mode driving and the peak power delivered electrically. With a 50 percent more powerful 50-kilowatt drive-motor operating at up to 500 volts, the low-end torque from the drive motor will offer a significant boost in acceleration performance.