UPDATE: This story was changed to reflect updated EPA mileage estimates.
Toyota’s newest hybrid is almost here. Last week, the car company invited a group of journalists and bloggers to the third generation Prius preview in Napa, Calif. The deal was we could road test the 2010 model to our heart’s content, but we needed to stay mum about our impressions of the car and mileage readings until the end of March. Sigh.
So I have been figuratively bound and gagged, but the Toyota folks did provide more detailed technical specs than those announced in January at the Detroit Auto Show. Green features of note:
Mileage: In January, the figure Toyota touted was 50 mpg, which is confirmed by EPA roadtests (51 city/48 highway/50 combined). Counterintuitively, the larger 1.8 liter engine in the 2010 Prius is responsible for more efficient highway mileage. Chris Risdon, Toyota’s senior product education and development administrator, explained that the larger engine creates more torque so it can turn at a lower rpm at higher speeds and consequently use less fuel.
Solar panel: The promise of the rooftop solar panel doesn’t live up to January’s expectations.
Solar panel with moonroof Photo courtesy of Toyota.For starters, it’s only an “available package” as opposed to a standard feature. But here’s the real punchline: the panels only power the ventilation system when the car is turned off. So when parked in the direct sunlight, the ventilation system draws on solar power to circulate cool air through the car. Otherwise, the power generated from solar panel goes to waste because it’s not wired to the main battery.
Prius chief engineer Akihiko Otsuka hinted that Toyota may try to do more with linking solar generation to the car’s power system in the future, but at present, ignoring the aftermarket potential, the new solar panel is more symbolic than functional.
Driving modes: Unlike the second generation Prius, there are three alternative driving modes in the 2010 Prius: EV, Eco, and PWR. Subject to the charge of the battery, EV mode runs purely off the battery for about 1/2 mile under 25 mph. Eco mode smooths out the electronic throttle control (for car nerds, it sets the throttle opening to a max of 11.6 percent) and reduces the air conditioning to maximize fuel efficiency. And the least green option, PWR mode throws more juice at the engine when you want pull-out from a stop or haul a hummer.
Hybrid system indicatorPhoto courtesy of Toyota.Multi-information Display: Toyota overhauled the driver information display and pulled it out of the Navigation panel (thank goodness) and up onto the dash. Coming standard in every 2010 Prius, there’s now a five-inch wide digital display that toggles between the energy monitor, hybrid system indicator, fuel consumption record, and trip information. The driver can always see mileage, average speed, and distance traveled, and when driving most efficiently, a little green “eco flag” pops up to reward green driving behavior.
Ecological plastics: The driver’s seat and some of the scuffs and trims are made from castor-oil derived plastics from Canada, according to Otsuka. A Toyota Lifecycle Assessment pegs that the use of this plastics emits 20 percent less CO2 then their petroleum-derived brethren, but there was no word as to exactly what factors were weighed when determining that statistic.
Battery: Otsuka referred to the 2010 Prius powertrain as “90 percent new, and 10 percent the same,” but it’s worth noting that the 10 percent that stayed the same is essentially just the battery. Toyota upgraded the cooling system so it runs more efficiently, but it’s the same Nickel Metal-Hydride battery that’s in the second generation Prius.
Emissions: For all you Californians, the 2010 Prius will be certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle and an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle.
So when my gag order is finally lifted later this month, watch for my 2010 Prius video tour and review of my road test (including hard-to-believe mileage). And for those of you who can’t wait until the end of the month for more Prius coverage, the full specs are listed in the press release [PDF].
Capturing the massive social benefits of fuel efficiency requires regulation
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Duggles Posted 3:05 pm
06 Mar 2009
Personally, I think that the way in which they are doing it is actually a good idea. Or, if not strictly a "good idea", at the very least it's an innovative idea. When you actually want the ventilation system running to cool down your car in the parking lot, it's probably because the sun is beating down on it. And if the sun is beating down on it, then you've definitely got some juice coming out of your solar panel to actually run the ventilation system. So it sounds like an idea which should reduce the load on your air conditioner (and your batteries, too) when you start up your car in mid-July.
With regards to the power being wasted because it's not going into the main battery, that gets to the heart of why we will never be driving solar-powered cars. Think about it: you're charging your solar panels into a battery. When the battery is not full, this is all well and good. When the battery IS full, however, the solar panels are not going to be making themselves useful. If you compare the kWh produced by the solar panels on a car with the kWh produced by the same panels in a stationary application, the stationary application will win because it doesn't have any periods where the energy produced is wasted. Thus, using a solar panel on a car is not the best investment of your money on a strict "HOW CAN I SAVE ENERGY?" basis. The use of solar panels on cars requires some other justification, such as the desire for an emergency-backup power source to charge your car, or the desire to lower the stress on your batteries.
In short, I agree that the panel on the Prius will waste power most of the time, but I think that putting solar panels on a car is a waste to begin with.
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Delay And Deny Posted 5:14 am
08 Mar 2009
AUSTIN, TX - Ronn Motor Company, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: RNNM) announced today the Company has entered into an Investment Banking Advisory Agreement with Pepperwood Partners of Dallas, Texas in order to enhance the Company's growth plans and seek a best efforts capital infusion of $25 million, for ongoing development of their hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cell, electric and alternative environmentally clean automobile systems.
http://ronnmotors.com/cms/
Also, Washington State moves into the 21st Century with a Hydrogen (Plus) Highway Proposal:
Governors envision eco-friendly fuels at I-5 rest stops
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/200882715 ...
As the plan stands, motorists eventually would be able to pull off at I-5 rest stops for more than a cup of coffee and roadside relief: They also would be able to charge, or swap out, their electric-vehicle batteries or fill their tanks with biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen or compressed natural gas.
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raevynn Posted 4:08 am
09 Mar 2009
The solar panel makes perfect sense, if you live somewhere (like Arizona, for instance) where the engine would otherwise have to run extensively to cool the car down. Since the solar panel runs the ventilation system, and pre-cools the car, the engine can run LESS, which SAVES GAS.
Also, the Gen III Prius is more comfortable, with more seat adjustments, telescoping steering adjustment, and more rear head room. The larger engine gets better fuel economy at highway speeds, which is the key to the increased MPG ratings.
While I did not have the opportunity to drive the car, I was able to crawl under the car, speak with the chief engineer, and also disassemble a few parts to get 'into the works' of the Gen III Prius.
Having important driving information now in the line-of-sight while driving is a major safety improvement! The Touch Tracer system is a unique innovation that makes an incredible amount of sense.
Now, we just wait for the plug-in version...
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drewtiss Posted 12:13 am
18 Jul 2009
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