Hybrid Car Rental: Toyota Prius
Hybrid cars are designed to make use of two different fuel sources: petrol and electricity. Former Central Intelligence Agency chief R. James Woolsey, Jr. drives a Prius, the most popular hybrid model, because of its low fuel consumption. “I have a bumper sticker on the back of my Prius that reads, ‘Bin Laden hates this car.’ Woolsey alludes to the on going American schemes in minimizing the flow of Petro dollars to Middle East from U.S.A. Many celebrities have also gone the hybrid way, with purchase of the Prius. Julia Roberts and Leonardo Dicaprio are said to be proud owners of the Prius. Prius has also won many awards and recognition from high profile magazines on engineering and consumer groups as well.
Hybrid cars have become the top draw on a significant cross section of the motorists: those who wish to help reduce foreign oil-dependence; green environment enthusiasts; technology buffs who envision a bridge to fuel cell vehicles; hardcore city drivers who drive several dozens of miles of tough urban congestion day after day.
The hybrid car models that have entered the arena of automobile sales competition today are Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Honda Civic hybrid, Ford Fusion hybrid, Toyota Camry hybrid, Nissan Altima hybrid, Hyundai Sonata hybrid, Kia Optima hybrid, Ford Escape hybrid and Honda CR-Z hybrid.
Toyota Prius, first appeared in the automobile market in the year 1997. Although the sales weren’t on the level expected by Toyota, plans were laid to launch Prius in U.S. markets. Then again sales weren?t upto the expectations in USA. However there was always a waiting list of six months for Toyota Prius,. Following the redesign in the year 2004, the sales started to pick up at a steady rate: 500,000 cars by 2005; 1 million by 2008; 2 million by 2010. Toyota Prius, has been a very successful car for Toyota, in the marketing standpoint as well as in the technical standpoint. At present, Toyota Prius, are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, the major markets being Japan and North America. Toyota is the most successful hybrid vehicle manufacturer in the world today with Honda being the distant second.
Toyota Prius ‘Full Hybrid’ is a benchmark for cars of the future
Unlike most other hybrid vehicles available, Prius has been a “full” hybrid since introduction. This allows it to run on engine alone, battery alone, or a combination of both. The system blends the best of parallel hybrid and series hybrid designs to achieve the ability to operate on the electric mode alone, and to charge the batteries while the car is running. The Toyota Prius makes up 75% of all the hybrid cars sold in the US.
Celebrated as the benchmark for cars of the future, the Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car, delivers superior fuel economy and ultra-low emissions to more than two million owners worldwide. On 4th September 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation announced that global cumulative sales of its hybrid vehicles have sold 2.01 million units worldwide as of August 31, 2009.
Toyota Prius Fuel Economy and Environmental Performance
Prius produces over 70 percent fewer smog-forming emissions-pollutants and greenhouse gases- than the conventional vehicles. The Prius has been certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) in California and those states adopting California standards. In California and states adopting the California rules, Prius is certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). The AT-PZEV certification requires the SULEV exhaust standard linked with the ability to meet a zero-fuel-evaporative standard, a 150,000-mile durability demonstration, extended emissions system warranty, and technology deemed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to advance future fuel cell vehicles.
Lakpura Hybrid Toyota Prius Red
Lakpura Hybrid Toyota Prius 3D View
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