toyota prius Archives – The Green Optimistic

Japan Prius Drivers Rewarded for Using EV Mode

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 21:43:28 +0000

Toyota is looking to reward Prius drivers in Japan with points for maximizing the use of full electric mode. The “game” is available to all new Prius plug-in users (aka Prius Prime for the rest of the world). Toyota has struck a deal with five important Japanese electricity providers to do this, and the points […]

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Do Electric Cars Have Gears? No. Here’s Why

Benji Jerew — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 07:43:14 +0000

Here’s a conversation that piqued my interest today: “Are electric vehicle transmissions necessary?”, or “Do electric cars have gears?”. Really, could multispeed gearing do anything for electric vehicle performance, acceleration, speed, efficiency, or otherwise? (For the purposes of this discussion, we’re leaving out heavy-duty applications, such as delivery trucks or tractor-trailers.) After decades of driving […]

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Tesla Motors vs Falling Gasoline Prices – This Won’t Hurt a Bit

Benji Jerew — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:27:25 +0000

We have a question for all buyers of Tesla Motors and Toyota Prius high-efficiency vehicles: “Why did you buy your electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle?” There seems to be two schools of thought on this. One might say that people buy these cars because they are better for the environment. Tesla Motors, for example, […]

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Does Cheap Gasoline Make Toyota Prius Less Attractive?

Benji Jerew — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:00:11 +0000

Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle, the most popular in the United States and just one of over six million Toyota hybrid vehicles sold around the world. There are two reasons to buy a hybrid vehicle, such as the Toyota Prius, which offers better fuel economy than just about everything else on the road […]

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Fourth-Generation Toyota Prius Delayed Until December 2015

Benji Jerew — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 17:22:53 +0000

Toyota Prius started the hybrid vehicle revolution alongside Honda Insight nearly twenty years ago, continuously improving power and fuel economy. The fourth-generation Toyota Prius, slated for Spring 2015 production, has been delayed six months, until December 2015, with the Prius Plug-In coming a year later. While Toyota itself hasn’t clarified the exact reasons, it’s most-likely […]

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Tesla Model S is Deceptively Slippery

Benji Jerew — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:32:03 +0000

One of the main factors that affects automobile fuel economy and emissions is aerodynamic drag. In a recent test between four fuel-efficient cars, the Tesla Model S beat them all. Automobile design changes drastically, depending on which ear you look at. Do you recall the sexy curves of the 1930s and 1940s, the jet-inspired designs […]

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Toyota Dealer’s Solar Power Backed Up By Toyota Prius Batteries

Benji Jerew — Mon, 12 May 2014 16:07:38 +0000

When it comes to hybrid electric vehicles, Toyota Prius has set the standard, improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. Building on the success of the Toyota Prius, almost all of Toyota’s lineup is available in a hybrid electric version, including some in the Lexus premium lineup, but Toyota Prius is still the world’s best-selling hybrid. […]

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Toyota Prius / Harley Davidson Abomination Found on eBay

Benji Jerew — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 14:57:23 +0000

There are Toyota Prius drivers who thumb their noses at Hummer H3 drivers, and there are Ford F750 Drivers who thumb their noses at Nissan Leaf drivers, but I don’t think it’s ever turned as violent as this… Imagine a perfectly-running Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle, and then throw all caution and common sense to […]

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Another Dismal Sales Year, Honda Insight to be Axed

Benji Jerew — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:19:05 +0000

In the Unites States, at least, the Honda Insight just hasn’t been that popular, in spite of the fact it actually had a head-start ahead of its main rival, Toyota Prius. Toyota Prius started production in 1997, in Japan, but wasn’t introduced in the United States until a couple of years later. Honda Insight was […]

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1.9 Million Toyota Prius Recalled for Software Glitch

Benji Jerew — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 16:39:35 +0000

No injuries or accidents have been reported at this time, but some 1.9 million Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicles are being recalled to address a software problem. The Toyota Prius that are covered by the recall were manufactured between March, 2009, and February, 2014, covering some 1.9 million vehicles around the world. The software glitch […]

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Toyota Prius Proves Its Worth In Power Outage

Benji Jerew — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:30:39 +0000

When the power goes out in the winter, most people break out cards, candles, flashlights, and extra blankets. How many people think to fire up the Toyota Prius? For the last couple of months, in North America, the winter has been particularly brutal, with associated snowfall, ice, and power outages. Further north you go, […]

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Next-Generation Toyota Prius Plug-In Without the Plug, Inductive Charging, That Is

Benji Jerew — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 20:11:13 +0000

Toyota was the first to introduce the hybrid electric vehicle as a mass-production model, the Toyota Prius, but Toyota didn’t stop there [of course Toyota wouldn’t stop there!]. Kaizen, a Japanese term for “improvement,” has been turned into a successful business practice for many world-class companies. Toyota Motor Manufacturing is one of the great success […]

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Kaizen, 2015 Toyota Prius Slated for 55MPG

Benji Jerew — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 19:15:56 +0000

A long time ago, in automotive terms, anyways, in a factory not so far away, the first Toyota Prius came off the line. The first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle hit the market in 1997, the Toyota Prius. The combination of nickel-metal hydride [NiMH] backup battery power, electric motors, and gasoline engine, gave the Prius something […]

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Tesla Motors API Vulnerable to Hacking, Too?

Benji Jerew — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 19:21:54 +0000

One of the great things about modern hardware and software is its accessibility. For example, I may be writing this from an internet cafe in the Peruvian Highlands but, with an internet connection, I can access the world. If I had access to Tesla Motors’ API [Application Programming Interface] and the right software, I could […]

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Tesla Model S Regenerative Braking and Brake Lights, Intrusive or Responsible?

Benji Jerew — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:47:29 +0000

A Tesla Model S tester at Edmunds.com was recently testing the adjustable regenerative braking system and its relationship with the brake lights, bringing up what could be a valid point. Apparently Senior Editor Jacquot and myself see brake lights in the same way. If you decelerate using your brakes, the brake lights come on as […]

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Ford C-Max Hybrid Fuel Economy, “Not Our Fault,” says Ford

Benji Jerew — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 18:14:07 +0000

When the growing number of Ford C-Max Hybrid owners started to complain that they weren’t getting the promised fuel economy, the blame had to fall somewhere. Of course, that means press and lawsuits and now federal involvement. Last week, we reported on the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] considering changes to its fuel economy measurements with […]

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Electric Vehicle Sales Exploding, 500% over 2012 Numbers

Benji Jerew — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 19:20:19 +0000

Expanding public adoption of electric vehicles appears to be in full swing, but can the market keep up this trend? According to the most recent sales numbers of electric vehicles, they’re selling like hotcakes, if hotcakes were powered by lithium-ion and were available at an automobile dealership. It’s not just electric vehicles, such as the […]

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Tesla Model S vs Toyota Prius Interests, Datamining Shows Some Interesting Differences

Benji Jerew — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 19:00:56 +0000

“Every step you take, every click you make, I’ll be watching you…” Well, not me, but datamining companies like Gravity can look at the interests of people and then classify them, such as the differing interests of people who have an affinity for the Tesla Model S and the Toyota Prius. Granted, the Tesla Model […]

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Tanks Run Over Priuses, Lately – Help Save One!

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:52:17 +0000

I’m so pissed off after what I’ve seen today. I’ve been blogging about alternative energy, clean cars and environmental awareness in the last 5 years, and still never had the money to buy an actual Prius – the most environmentally-friendly car just a few years ago. This has been a dream to me for the […]

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Electrified Vehicle Sales Rising, Toyota Prius Still King of the Hill

Benji Jerew — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 12:52:05 +0000

Toyota Prius may have been the first electrified vehicle to become a smashing success in the automobile market, but it merely paved the way for other automakers to introduce their own hybrid and electric vehicles. Electrified vehicles are by no means relegated to the class of hypermilers and minicars of yesteryear, which sacrificed weight, safety […]

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Nissan Leaf Marketing Scheme “Dumps” Toyota Prius and Others (in London)

Benji Jerew — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:09:22 +0000

In order to improve air quality in the London downtown district, legislators “encourage” drivers to choose cleaner transportation by imposing a daily Congestion Charge for any vehicles driven downtown that exceed 100g/km CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions. Vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Vauxhall Ampera [Chevy Volt] easily beat that requirement. Even other low-emissions models, like […]

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Toyota Prius Plug-In MPG Challenge Makes Environmental Awareness Fun?

Benji Jerew — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 16:21:49 +0000

Learning doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Even learning about caring for the environment can be fun if it’s structured properly and you’re driving a brand new 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. Recently, we covered an online game being run by Siemens, the Power Matrix Game, that helps players to understand how […]

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How Hybrid Cars Became Such a Success

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 09:28:26 +0000

Whilst the hybrid may seem a recent modern innovation, the concept of electrically charged automobiles is something that was toyed with well over 100 years ago. As the world felt the full force of the industrial revolution, the turn of the century saw the birth of the motor car. The Industrial Revolution As early as […]

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Toyota Prius c is Rated Best Life-Cycle Performance, Automotive Science Group Study

Benji Jerew — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:04:30 +0000

The Toyota Prius c is the smallest hybrid electric vehicle Toyota makes, out of over five million Toyota hybrids sold globally. Recently, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy [ACEEE] rated the Toyota Prius c Greenest Vehicle. This is an impressive accolade, but addresses only the vehicle’s greenness. Sure, the ACEEE study included things […]

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An Owner’s Review of a Toyota Prius, Twelve Years Later

Benji Jerew — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:14:10 +0000

When you have to replace the battery in your mobile phone or portable electronic device every couple of years or so, it’s no surprise that people are skeptical of battery life in electric- and hybrid-electric vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles aren’t exactly new. The Toyota Prius first appeared in 1997 as a compact car, but has […]

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Toyota Recalls 242,000 Prius and Lexus HS250h for Braking Issues

Benji Jerew — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:46:39 +0000

Toyota has topped global markets in the hybrid vehicle category, selling over five million since the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997. Toyota recalls are probably just as well-known. Perhaps the most famous Toyota recall was in regards to the unintended acceleration problem. Toyota has always stood behind its product, and judging by its […]

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Toyota Hybrid Vehicles Selling Better Than Plug-Ins in the UK

Benji Jerew — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:47:32 +0000

As automakers strive to decrease emissions, thousands of hybrid vehicles are making their way into people’s garages. Hybrid vehicles aren’t the only choice in low-emissions, low-fuel-consumption vehicles. Drivers can also choose plug-in hybrid vehicles or pure electric vehicles. Apparently these other choices haven’t been all that popular, in spite of the fuel savings and emissions […]

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Toyota Prius Backup Power – An Aftermarket Solution

Benji Jerew — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:50:41 +0000

Modern society depends on electricity, and without it, most everything ceases to function, including heating and cooling, refrigerators, mobile phones, computers, and the list goes on. In emergencies, such as Hurricane Sandy knocking out power for millions of people, some for weeks, backup power generators make all kinds of sense to have on hand. Backup […]

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Toyota Prius C is Greenest – Ford F-350 XL is Meanest

Benji Jerew — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:09:28 +0000

If you were to consider, what is the greenest form of transportation, that is, the least environmental impact, you might answer, “Sneakers.” That’s not far off, but have you considered what goes into the manufacture of a pair of sneakers? It requires a significant amount of energy [read: greenhouse gas emissions] to produce a single […]

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Toyota Announces Prius Price Cuts by December 3

Benji Jerew — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 20:45:26 +0000

Synonymous with ‘hybrid,’ Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle [HEV] is the most popular HEV in the US, and according to global sales numbers, the third-most-popular vehicle in the world for the first quarter 2012. Having sold nearly 10,000 Prii in October alone, Toyota isn’t resting on its laurels. Prius’ newest neighbor in the hybrid segment […]

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Your Prius Unlikely to Get Stolen in US, Report Says

Benji Jerew — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:18:22 +0000

Prius drivers often have one thing on their minds when they’re signing the papers and taking their new keys in hand, that is, reducing fuel consumption. Reduced fuel consumption, of course, is better for your wallet as well as for the environment. Every gallon saved is another twenty pounds of carbon-dioxide eliminated from the atmosphere. […]

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Toyota Prius to Get a New Look and All-Wheel Drive by 2015

Benji Jerew — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:07:33 +0000

Toyota Prius, although not the first hybrid, is certainly the most well-known and best-selling hybrid in the US. While sporting class-leading fuel economy, some people are still a little put off by its appearance and lack of all-wheel drive, especially in the northeast US, where the winters are harsh, and the fuel is expensive. A […]

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2012 Prius C Rated Most Reliable Vehicle

Leigh Hutchens — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:10:55 +0000

This year, the Consumer Reports’ list of reliable 2012 vehicles is led by the Toyota Prius C compact hybrid. In fact, Toyota-made automobiles dominated the top of the list. This list is compiled from subscriber input and experience with 1.2 million vehicles, however, Consumer Reports did acknowledge that some results may have been affected by […]

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Toyota Prius is Now an Emergency Backup Generator

Benji Jerew — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:00:38 +0000

Power inverters have been available for years now, and they make it possible to provide power to equipment and devices on a regular 120 volt circuit. In a typical vehicle, the inverter takes 12 V DC current input, and provides 120 V AC current. Laptops, radios, and even televisions can run off this kind of […]

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Toyota to Launch 2012 Facelifted Prius in Europe

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:05:15 +0000

Toyota’s flagship hybrid, Prius, has received a new facelift at the beginning of 2012. What has once been world’s first commercially-available hybrid car now received new multimedia systems, but the performance figures stay the same. The front bumper has been revised, the air intake is now bigger, and the headlights feature daylight-visible LEDs. The rear […]

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Hybrid Cars Safer Than Gas-Only Siblings Due to Weight, Study Finds

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:30:16 +0000

Hybrid cars may have lots of advantages related to fuel economy, but a recent study performed by the Highway Loss Data Institute found out they’re even safer in a case of crash than their non-hybrid counterparts, MSNBC reports. The analysis took into account only hybrids that have a gas-only powered sibling, like the Toyota Highlander […]

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Toyota to Launch Hydrogen-Powered Car in Europe by 2015

Mike Sandru — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:17:10 +0000

We all know that the Toyota Prius is certainly the best-selling hybrid so far. After Toyota, the next giant carmaker, Honda, launched the Insight but could not beat the Prius in sales. With emission regulations getting tougher, Toyota is looking for ways to build “greener cars”. Thus he company has decided to launch a new […]

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New 2012 Prius V Plug-In Hybrid Features Neat EV-Only Mode and Much More

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:36:25 +0000

Toyota has been keeping people waiting for their new plug-in Prius for a long time now. Consumesearch drove a prototype of the Prius V set to enter the market in 2012 and made a list of the enhancements it will feature compared to a present-day non-plug-in Prius.

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Prius V Wagon Demand Higher Than Expected, Toyota Ramps Up Production

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:50:24 +0000

I know it may sound strange, but Priuses have been from the beginning designed for family guys, and the fact that now Toyota is about to release the Prius V wagon is no wonder.

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Toyota Recalling 106,000 First Gen Priuses Worldwide for Steering Issues

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:54:08 +0000

After the faulty braking pedal, Toyota is recalling yet another Prius model, the first version ever built and sold in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world - 2001 to 2003. A total of 106,000 Priuses will be recalled world wide for a steering issue, this time.

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Why This Is Not The Best Time To Trade Your Gas-Guzzler For a Hybrid

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:26:51 +0000

A couple of years ago I was mad about getting a Toyota Prius, by then the only hybrid car on the market. A few years later I changed my mind to the gorgeous design and good fuel consumption of Honda Civic's 2007 hatchback. But that's not the only reason I did not go for a hybrid... yet.

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Plug-In EVs and Hybrids Could Help Reduce Health-Damaging Ozone, Study Says

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:39:36 +0000

A recent study performed by University of Texas researchers shows the advantages of using plug-in hybrid vehicles such as the upcoming Prius over the ozone. The scenario in which the ozone layer is badly affected by pollution is already well documented, but the basics fact is that the gas is formed when hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight. For humans, though, breathing ozone in high quantities can be damaging for health by causing respiratory problems.

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Detroit Auto Show: Toyota Presenting Their New Prius-C Concept

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:09:31 +0000

The Detroit auto show is the main stage for Toyota's rebirth after a rather compromising period. The Japanese company has big plans for the next couple of years: introducing seven new hybrid cars, updating four existing versions and a fully electric vehicle. Also, a hydrogen fuel cell powered car is expected by 2015.

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Toyota Undergoing Hybrid Coolant System Repairs on 650,000 Priuses Worldwide

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 11:05:15 +0000

After the floor mats that have been trapping accelerators, or the faulty gas pedals, defective braking systems and stalling engines, now the automaker has to perform repairs to the pumps that cool the hybrid system.

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Toyota's Hybrid Cars Attacked By New Pollution Figures: Scoring Higher Than Average

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:35:50 +0000

The Toyota Prius has been one of the most driven cars by Hollywood movie stars and green lovers. Even I would love to drive one, and I'm not much of star myself. The advertisements of low CO2 emissions and low fuel consumption are tempting enough to take you to the showroom and buy one.

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Transonic Combustion's New Ultra-Efficient Engine Gets Up to 98 MPG

Cristi — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:51:56 +0000

A California-based company called Transonic Combustion has recently developed a very efficient fuel-injection system that can put on hold the production of expensive gas-electric hybrids. With a cruising speed of 50 miles per hour, the test car was able to get 98 miles per gallon.

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GM Cancels the 53mpg Hybrid Chevrolet and Proceeds to PHEVs

Cristi — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:53:04 +0000

Even though electric vehicles seem to be the future, some car manufacturers do not rush into changing to green, alternative energy sources. There is some incertitude when it comes to changing so fast from fossil fuels and some automakers just take their time to see what is best for the market.

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Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) Present at Tokyo Motor Show

Cristi — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:02:05 +0000

A long time ago, Toyota Motor Corporation has started its green thinking trend with hybrid cars which revolutionized fuel consumption. Now they found a way to combine electric vehicles with hybrid ones and they presented their concept just days before the Tokyo Motor Show.

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ETV Motors to Launch Jet Turbine-Based Prius with Higher MPG

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:17:37 +0000

Israeli start-up ETV Motors, located in Tel Aviv has invested about $12 million in this technology that combines a car, electricity and a jet engine. The prototype of a modified Prius will be ready next year for testing.

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In My Prius: Funny Hip-Hop Video About Toyota's Car

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:56:45 +0000

It's time for some fun once in a while on The Green Optimistic. I wish I could do that a habit and, once a week, present some funny environmentally-related video. If there are lots of them, I'll even make a category.

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Toyota MR2 Coming Back With Style and a Hybrid Engine

Cristi — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:40:51 +0000

For almost two years, Toyota went quiet about their FT-HS Concept car which was first presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. All actions were stopped until now, when the need of a new car on the market has increased. FT-HS has a 3.5 litre V6 hybrid engine, and is an environmentally-friendlier sports car.

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First American GM Hybrid Sold in the US Cheaper than Prius

Florin — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:24:20 +0000

Saturn Aura is going to be the first hybrid GM is launching on the US market, as a direct competitor for Toyota Prius. Only in 2006, Toyota sold 107,000 Prius units, creating a big popularity of the hybrid.

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BMW's New 116D (Diesel) as Efficient as Today's Hybrids

Florin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:01:48 +0000

German vehicle constructor BMW is trying to show us that it can produce not only fast, luxury and fuel-greedy vehicles, but also very fuel-efficient cars.

BMW's 1 series is offering the greenest diesel experience from BMW. The 2 liters four-cylinder diesel...

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Prius PHEV Testing Started on French Roads

Ovidiu Sandru — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:43:03 +0000

They are testing their Toyota PHEVs with the help of their employees in a real urban environment. They have already built a charger infrastructure and a method for charging the users' pockets, incorporated in the vehicle's software.

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100 MPG Prius with Lead Acid Batteries

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:45:58 +0000

Plug-In Supply, Inc has just unveiled the "PbA10" Conversion System last week at the Plug-in 2008 conference in San Jose. Their system is based on the CalCars'Open Source design, and it turns a standard 2004-2008 Toyota Prius into a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) with an all-electric range of 10-15 miles and improved average mileage of up to 100 miles per gallon (plus 1 cent/mile of electricity).

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Toyota Prius Will Have Solar Panels by Next Year

Mike Sandru — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:58:32 +0000

Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it will introduce an air conditioning system based on solar energy to the new Prius models next year. General Motors (GM), on the other hand, will launch the small environment-friendly Chevrolet Beat.

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Toyota Prius Batteries: Not Enough of Them!

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:34:12 +0000

Toyota has announced they just don't have the necessary capacity to produce the batteries they're required to put in the already ordered Priuses.

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