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Toyota Hybrids

Learn more about the toyota hybrids.

Q: Passing Emissions for the new Toyota Hybrids?
My friend was telling me that the toyota hybrids(prius) new after a couple of years can’t pass emissions. Why is that?

A: There is no truth to that rumor, pure urban myth being passed around by hybrid bashers (I’m not saying your friend is one, they may have just picked up the rumor).

The Prius gas engine is so efficient it isn’t tuned up until 100,000 miles and you never touch the hybrid system, including the nickel metal hydride battery bank.

And I thought I had finally found a report of a nickel metal hydride Prius battery that had to be replaced because of failure, but it turned out to not be true. There has yet to be a Prius battery replaced because it failed. Replaced when a Prius gets in an accident, yes, but not from failures.

The current record for a Prius is well over 360,000 miles with the original system and battery. Many Prius are used for taxis and other types of transport, and that is by people who make thier living off their vehicles. They would not buy a Prius unless they knew it would last.

Check the internet for Prius taxis for info on those. And go ask a Toyota mechanic if you want to know how they hold up.

There is no basis for this rumor.

Q: 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrids performance, how does it compare to a Toyota Camry V6?
In order to be ecological friendly, my firm bought five 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrids for each senior partners. In performance, how does it compare to a Toyota Camry V6?

A: The 2.4L I-4 Camry produces 158hp. 0-60mph 10.1 seconds.

The Camry Hybrid with the 2.4L engine and electrical motor produces a combined 187hp. 0-60mph 8.6 seconds.

The 3.5L V6 Camry produces 268hp. 0-60mph 6.10 seconds

The Camry Hybrid is a pretty good compromise in performance between the base I-4 and the V6, while beating both in fuel economy and maintenance costs.

Not sure why the guy below thinks the Hybrid Synergy Drive is “complex,” considering that it is actually mechanically simpler than a regular car: http://www.eahart.com/prius/psd

Unlike a regular car, the PSD transmission in the Camry has just 22 moving parts, no hot-running torque converter, no clutch, no gear-shifting wear-and-tear. And it has no timing belt, starter, or alternator either. That’s why it’s lower-maintenance than a regular car.

Hope this helps.

Q: Is it true that 2008 Toyota hybrids are not eligible for fed tax credits?

A: I do not know… I did not know either that was such thing.

I think there is one…. Click on the link below.

The other poster says exactly what I keep saying. The TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of a Hybrid is higher right now than a Diesel power vehicle.

Q: Do the new Toyota Hybrids have the same lifetime expectancy as the prior vehicles?

A: Yes, and possibly longer. The gasoline engines do not have to run as long per mile, so the mileage does not reflect the actual running of the engine as non-hybrids do. The hybrid transmissions have a fraction of the moving parts that a standard automatic has, so they should last much longer. And as far as all the hype over the traction batteries is concerned, I have worked for the dealer since well before the hybrids hit the shores, and I have never seen a customer have to pay for a big battery, even though I have seen 01-03 Prii with over 150,000 miles on them. As a matter of fact, I asked a Toyota representative if any customer had had to pay for one in the Southeast region (five states), and was told, “No, never.” so for my money they ought to last longer.
Hope this helps. God Bless!

Q: Questions about the Toyota Prius and hybrids?
I’m looking to trade in my car for a hybrid, and I have a few questions.. I drive mostly in the city, and I find the Prius gets the best mileage, and I really like the interior. I’m open to other suggestions and would love to hear your ACTUAL EXPERIENCES with them. And would you suggest getting one now or waiting on till next year’s? (and how long would that be?)
And what edition would you suggest?
And what edition would you suggest?

A: My Prius is an ‘07 Package #2 and it serves me very well. I get 42mpg in the winter, 50mpg in the summer (since the engine is not running all the time, in hot weather it’s easier to keep the gasoline engine warmed up).

I got the Package #2 because I figure I didn’t need the fancy things like on-board GPS, bluetooth or the Bose speaker system. I kind of regretted not getting the package (#3) with the bluetooth option though now that I got a cell phone that will work with it, but I’m still very happy with mine.

Before the inevitable idiot starts blabbing how the battery needs to be replaced every 2 years for thousands of dollars, here’s the real scoop: The Prius battery carries an 8-year / 100,000-mile warranty. If it fails before then, Toyota will replace it for you free, so don’t let that scare you.

The only problem is that you probably won’t be able to find a Prius to buy. Right now the waiting list at dealerships is like 3-6 months depending on where you are.

Q: What is the safety ratings on the Toyota Priyus Hybrids that are older than 2008?

A: The page below will give you the information you need. It’s a European site but the Prius is the same in Europe and the USA so the tests are still valid.

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/toyota/prius.aspx

Q: Has anyone had problems with Salvaged Toyota Prius Hybrids?

A: The main issue is that a salvaged title Prius will no longer have any Toyota warranties. (any service campaigns, except for federally-mandated safety ones, may be at your expense) Depending on age/mileage of the vehicle or the price asked on the vehicle, this may not be an issue.

However, if you are technically/mechanically minded, and can get the salvaged vehicle at a low enough price, this may not bother you. I have seen a few owners go the salvaged route – usually they hang out/ask questions at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Prius_Technical_Stuff/ or http://www.priuschat.com/ – they may not have any problems, or only a few small repairs to make to fix it, all the way to having to frankenstein parts from several accident/salvage vehicles to make one work (chalked up to learning or a specialty business).

What is the condition of the salvaged Toyota Prius that you are looking at? (running/looks fine, running but with cosmetic damage, looks fine but not running, has some error lights, or non-functional?) Why was it salvaged? (accident (and if so, what/where is the damage? who and where repaired it?), flood (salt or fresh water?), fire, declared a lost/stolen vehicle?)

(BTW: all Toyota Prius are hybrids, so no need to repeat yourself.)

Q: Why do hybrids such as the Toyota Prius get better gas mileage in the city than on the highway?
It seems weird to me. If you can let me know why I’d appreciate it.

A: 1) Stop and go traffic allows the hybrid system to use only batteries, which is more efficient than the gas engine. Remember, electrical motor gives you full torque, even at ZERO RPM.

2) In normal cars stopping is done via brakes, which converts movement to heat only. In hybrid cars with regenerative braking, brakes convert movement back into electricity to be reused later. And there’s a LOT of stop and go in the city.

3) On the freeway, you need a ever increasing amount of power to accelerate you to cruising speed, and then a fixed amount to stay cruising. Most of the power at highway cruising goes to counter wind resistance, and no amount of power design will make that more efficient. Normal engines can be designed to shut down some of the cylinders to save fuel at cruising speeds. Indeed, some Cadillacs and Lincolns already have this feature. But fuel savings is far less than what can be recycled in the city with a hybrid car.

Q: Why are some Toyota Camry Hybrids made in Kentucky and some in Japan?
so, is there any difference between the cars camry hybrids that come out of kentucky as opposed to japan??

A: The cars are identical, except for market differences. By that, I mean, if the market requires a right-hand drive (Japan, England, Australia, for instance) then that will be different. The available options are different, also, from the research that I have been able to do – the Japanese are into really serious options that we have never even heard of over here! The Camry is sold world-wide, though the U.S. is the biggest market. From what I can tell, the ones that are made for the U.S. market are now produced in Kentucky, and the ones produced for the rest of the world are manufactured in Japan. I think that originally, for the first production run, they were all made in Japan for QA and proof of principle purposes. The differences, other than available options, are safety features, bumpers, tires, etc. The U.S. requirements are almost draconian compared to the rest of the world. The comment about the different engines is, of course, silly and indicates a lack of knowledge of the Toyota HSD system. Another point to remember is that it is easier and much cheaper to ship assemblies (battery boxes, for instance) in crates over here than it is to ship finished automobiles. Shipping crates that can hold many assemblies (engines, battery boxes, etc.) can only hold one car. It is both cheaper and easier to ship the assemblies over here and let U.S. labor put them together.

Two points to make here. One, you should never forget that it makes really big political points to allow Americans to get a piece of that pie in salaries, rather than every dime going back to the Japanese economy. Two, the Japanese must be doing something right, because the Americans that assemble the Japanese cars here in the USA have repeatedly voted down allowing any union activity in their workplace. They seem to be very happy with the benefits they receive and the way they are treated by the Japanese companies. Something to think about.

You may or may not be aware that the Prius is still only made in Japan, though there have been noises about expanding that, too. The Prius was initially made on a Camry production line in Japan, before it became popular enough that they couldn’t make enough of them. Now it is made in three shifts on its own line, but still in Japan.

Hope that this answers your question.

Q: What cars are hybrids? The Toyota Prius is a hybrid but that’s all I know. Are there others?
88 in 2010 Chris- THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

A: It is not really enough to have a list of hybrids. This assumes that all hybrids are the same thing which is far from reality. When we “only” know the name “hybrid” and “Toyota Prius” it we might need to ask a few more questions.

“Hybrid” is not a description of a car or a fuel but a drivetrain. The Prius might be referred to as a gas/electric hybrid. But these fuels are only a convient way to describe the type of engine. It would be possible to put an electric motor into a big truck and then have a diesel/electric hybrid. If you were to put a compressed air engine into a vehicle you might have a gas/compressed air hybrid. A hybrid does not necessarily use two fuel sources. All the electricity for the Prius is generated from the gasoline through the power of the engine. A “plug in hybrid” would have 2 fuel sources for at least part of its journey: (Grid generated electricity and the gasoline)

The first major division is between parallel hybrids and series hybrids. Parallel hybrids are represented very well by the popular Toyota Prius which holds about 80% of the hybrid market. In this configuration a petrol engine and an electric motor both drive the wheels through the transmission and drivetrain. The two engines work in parallel. In this configuration the very efficient electric motor (over 90%) may be used to partially take over the most inefficient aspects of the relatively inefficient gasoline engine (about 15%.) Some parallel hybrids will get up to twice the fuel mileage of a similar gasoline vehicle.

Then there are the “series hybrids.” These are represented by the proposed “Volt” In a series hybrid the gas engine only produces electricity by driving a generator. There is no mechanical connection to the drivetrain. In a series hybrid the power of the gasoline engine is not as efficiently used as with a direct connection to the wheels but the motor is used most efficiently as it is optimized to act primarily as a range extender for the electric drivetrain. The power of the very efficient electric motor needs only a simple transmission or none at all.

All the electricity for the Volt could be generated from the engine (using gasoline) but you cold also plug it in and use that source of energy first. Because ultimately the electric aspects are what drive the car it is easier to simply add more batteries and drive the car further on electric power from a plug than with a parallel hybrid. The series hybrid configuration has potential for the highest mileage with the most range of any hybrid. A series hybrid may get up to 5 times the mileage of a similar gasoline powered car.

These two categories are sometimes sub divided. A mild hybrid (or mild parallel hybrid) is one that would have a smaller and less powerful electric motor system. Mileage gains would be correspondingly smaller. Some “mild” hybrids are almost a fools hybrid as the electric motor does next to nothing. They (and for that matter any parallel hybrid) may not be worth the additional expense depending upon your driving habits.

A mild series hybrid would have less of a range due to a smaller engine or a smaller gas tank. Here is a relative efficiency chart of these types of hybrids: http://serieshybrid.com/FreedomFormula/images/Drivetrain_Comparison.pdf

For a list of hybrids and references to pages of their specifications see my answer at: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100304052536AAMz5Az&r=w#OMxkB1PfWUqLu47tW6Qs

Q: Whats the difference between the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid?
Whats the difference between the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. The hybrid system, warranty, and performance. Do hybrids require special maintenance

A: One car is built by Toyota and the other one by Chevrolet

Q: Will there be a tax credit for the Toyota Prius in 2008?
The tax credit for the Toyota hybrids has expired and I am looking into buying one and I could not find out if Congress is going to offerer another credit or dedection.

A: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html
http://www.toyota.com/prius/tax.html
The US Federal income tax credit for Toyota hybrids ran out for vehicles purchased on/after Oct. 1, 2007. Amount for purchases of New (not used, nor leased) Toyota Prius before that date can be found at the above links. (The IRS hasn’t yet certified the amount for the 2008 Prius purchased before Oct. 1, 2007, as of my typing…)

It’s always possible that Congress may decide to extend the credit, implement a new one, or implement a new tax deduction… But I haven’t heard any rumblings about such yet. :(

Depending on where you live, you may qualify for a state income tax credit or deduction, or reduced sales tax, though.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/links/Financial_000963256550/

Q: if toyota hybrids run of electricity, why do they have a gas tank door?

A: iiiiiiiiiiiddddddddddddkkkkkkkk

Q: How does the Toyota. Prius compare to the Nissan Altima (both hybrids) in MPG, safety and value?
I’m not ‘fixed’ on a hybrid but need good MPG and safety features… any other suggestions for a new (or slightly used) car that would be a good long term value?

A: Don’t know much about the Nissan Altima, but the Toyota Prius has some amazing safety features for a car in it’s price range:

VCS-vehicle stability control. This prevents doughnuts in slippery conditions by adjusting both the braking and steering. On ice days (days where everything is covered by a layer of ice–no snow) where I live, it really allows the Prius to travel in safety if you’re going anything like a reasonable speed for conditions.

Radar cruise control–keeps the distance between you and the vehicle ahead large enough so that you won’t tailgate (yes, this means it will slow down if necessary).

Radar pre-collision–applies the brakes when a crash is immanent. Goes a long way toward reducing injury.

Lane keeper–helps keep you in your lane. It also requires you to signal before a lane change (or you will fight the steering wheel).

The last three are new options for 2010, VSC is standard from 2008 onwards and optional on earlier models from 2004.

Features that are in many cars:

Side airbags, side curtain air bags (front and rear), multi-level airbags, ABS, traction control, etc.

While not exactly a safety feature, the Prius can’t be jumped started because there is no starter motor, so it’s not a very attractive target for thieves.

My 2004 Prius has a lifetime average of 56 mpg over 104,000 miles (as taken from the logbook I keep). The highest month’s average has been 69 mpg so far. I also have a 2001 that my wife drives that doesn’t have quite as many miles on it.

Both cars have been trouble-free and maintenance has been minimal (just oil changes and such)–particularly when compared to the VW TDI (turbo diesel) that the 2004 Prius replaced. The TDI blew the engine at 80,000 miles and never had a service below $1000 (Though $2000 was the more typical service price–there was always something wrong. Even a Ford would have been better). And yes, even though it was a modern supposedly low polluting diesel, it still stank after a few thousand miles.

I’ve had Nissan’s and they’ve always been good cars (as long as you remember to replace the water pump before 50,000 miles–otherwise you’re buying an engine) but lately they have just had ho-hum engineering and styling.

Q: How many Toyota hybrids can I buy with a handful of ZuZu’s petals?

A: 23. There’s that damn number again.

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