Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Toyota Prius shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Toyota Prius offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Toyota Prius at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Toyota Prius? Wrong! If the Toyota Prius is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Toyota Prius then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Toyota Prius? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Toyota Prius and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Toyota Prius wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Toyota Prius then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Toyota Prius site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Toyota Prius, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Toyota Prius, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.



{{Infobox Automobile|name=Toyota Prius|image=|manufacturer=Toyota, [Japan|class=[Hybrid car|production=1997–present-->

{{Infobox Automobile generation|name=NHW10|production=1997–2001|image=|class=[Compact car|competitor=[Honda Civic Hybrid
Gasoline: 1.5 L [DOHC Straight-4
13.5:1 compression ratio
43 Watt (58 horsepower#hp (SAE)) @ 4000 rpm
102 Newton metre (75 Torque) @ 4000 rpm
Electric: 288 volt motor
30 kW (40 hp) @ 940 rpm
305 N·m (225 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm|length=4275 mm (168.3 in)|width=1694 mm (66.7 in)|height=1491 mm (58.7 in)|wheelbase=2550 mm (100.4 in)-->{{Infobox Automobile generation|name=NHW11|image=|production=2000–2003|class=Compact car|engine=[Toyota Hybrid System
Gasoline: 1.5 L DOHC Straight-4 VVT-i
13.0:1 compression ratio
52 kW (70 hp) @ 4500 rpm
110 N·m (82 ft·lbf) @ 4200 rpm
Electric: 273.6 volt motor
33 kW (44 hp) @ 1040 rpm
350 N·m (258 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm
SULEV-->{{Infobox Automobile generation|name=NHW20|production=2004–present|image=|class=[Midsize car|engine=[Hybrid Synergy Drive
Gasoline: 1.5 L DOHC Straight-4 VVT-i
57 kW (76 hp) @ 5000 rpm
115 N·m (85 ft·lbf) @ 4200 rpm
Electric: 500 volt
50 kW (67 hp) @ 1200 rpm
400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm
AT-PZEV
Hybrid System Net Power: 110 hp (82 kW)|length=4450 mm (175.33 in)|width=1725 mm (67.97 in)|height=1490 mm (58.71 in)|weight=1325 kg (2921 lb)|transmission=Continuously variable transmission|wheelbase=2700 mm (106.3 in)-->

The Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation, and one of the first such vehicles to be mass-produced and marketed. The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, and worldwide in 2001. By the end of 2003, nearly 160,000 units had been produced for sale in Japan, Europe, and North America. The Prius has won several awards, including the Car of the Year Japan (1997-98), the North American Car of the Year (2004), and the European Car of the Year (2005).

Under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recently revised testing procedures, the 2007 Prius is the most fuel efficient car sold in the U.S.,{{cite web] of {{cite web|title=2007 Toyota Prius|url=http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/compx2008f.jsp?year=2007&make=Toyota&model=Prius&hiddenField=Findacar|publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency and United States Department of Energy|accessdate=2007-08-20-->

Under the Department for Transport "Best on rankings" scheme, the Prius is ranked as equal second, alongside the diesel MINI (BMW), and behind the diesel Volkswagen Polo, out of all the cars ranked.{{cite web|title=Best on rankings|publisher=UK Department for Transport|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/ActOnCO2/index.php?q=best_on_co2_rankings-->

Dual-Drive System This is how the powerplant operates: The electric motor, which is an electromagnet, powers the vehicle in this mode. An electromagnet works like this: there are magnets around a central core. The central core is attracted to one magnet, because the magnet is charged with electricity. Then the core is attracted to the next magnet, turning the core in that direction. (The core is charged to be attracted to the magnets), then the core is attracted to the third and last magnet. In this way the core has made one full revolution. This process is repeated at a rapid rate, which gives the result: a rotating motion of the core. Such a rotating motion can be used for many purposes. In this case it powers a system which drives wheels of a car to propel the car forward.

There is also a standard internal combustion engine system. This system is linked in with the drivetrain as well, so that it powers the wheels also, when needed. When it is not needed (no extra power is needed), it shuts off and disconnects from the drivetrain, while the electromagnet-powered engine (electric engine) continues to provide power through the drivetrain. This is how the Dual-Drive System works.

Technology The Prius is a hybrid vehicle drivetrain configuration hybrid, a vehicle that can run on just the combustion engine, just the electric motor, or a combination of both. Toyota's design goals are to reduce the amount of pollution and to maximise fuel efficiency. To do this, it uses a gasoline(petrol)/electric hybrid powertrain, incorporating large batteries that are charged by the gas (petrol) engine directly or by regenerative braking. Either the engine or the battery (or both) can power the vehicle, depending on conditions. This gives it the acceleration and power of a standard car having a much larger internal combustion engine. Specifically, the Prius incorporates:
  • More efficient use of the internal combustion engine (ICE), reducing fuel consumption. The Toyota NZ engine uses the more efficient Atkinson cycle instead of the more common Four-stroke cycle;
  • Two electric motor/electrical generator, MG1 and MG2 are in the transaxle. The MG2 provides 50 kW (67 hp) @ 1,200 to 1,540 rpm and 400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) torque from 0 to 1,200 rpm, which significantly contributes to performance and economy. The MG1, with rpm from -10,000 to +10,000 rpm, provides the engine starter and counter torque for the electronic Continuously Variable Transmission;
  • 50 kW IGBT inverter (electrical) controlled by a 32-bit microprocessor, which efficiently converts power between the batteries and the motor/generators.
  • Lower Drag coefficient at 0.26 (0.29 for 2000 model), with a Kammback design reducing air resistance, especially at higher speeds;
  • Lower rolling-resistance tires on the 2000 model, reducing road friction;
  • Regenerative braking, a process for recovering kinetic energy when braking or travelling down a slope and storing it as chemical potential energy in the Battery (electricity)#Traction batteries for later use while reducing wear and tear on the brake pads;
  • Sealed 168-cell nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery providing 201.6 volts; supplied by Panasonic EV Energy Co
  • Continuously variable transmission — the Prius uses a computer-managed (rather than a mechanical) CVT; Toyota calls it the Power Split Device. The electric motors and gasoline engine are connected to a planetary gear set which is always engaged, and there is no shifting.
  • Flexible resin gasoline tank, reducing the amount of hydrocarbon emissions in the form of escaped gasoline vapor; (US model only)
  • Vacuum flask coolant storage system that stores hot engine coolant when the vehicle is powered off, then reuses it to reduce warm-up time. (US model only)
  • Toyota Prius#EV mode (Europe and Asian markets only, aftermarket option in the U.S.) allows the driver to select electric-only mode in low-power conditions. The vehicle can only be driven a couple of kilometers (depending on conditions) on battery power alone before the gas engine is needed.
  • Weight reduction — for example the hatch and hood/bonnet are made of aluminium instead of steel.
    • One reason that the Prius gets such good fuel consumption is that the Internal combustion engine is smaller than in most cars this size. The ICE usually shuts off at stop lights and when backing up and descending long hills. The Prius performance remains very good because the battery/electric motor booster automatically provides adequate extra power for moderate acceleration and hill climbing. This means it drives like a traditional ICE automobile, with the on-board computer taking care of shifting power to and from the engine and motors, and automatically determining when to charge the battery, as well as the most efficient use of the engine or the electric motors (or both) based on driving conditions. This also means that one cannot use electricity from external sources. Advocates of 'plug-in' hybrids consider this to be a missed opportunity. The Prius also uses its electric motor to recharge the battery during braking, with kinetic energy normally wasted as heat being recaptured. This also significantly reduces brake wear.

    The engine can shut down once it has warmed up and the catalytic converter in the exhaust system has reached operating temperature. The Prius can then operate solely on electric power under low energy loads. This is sometimes referred to as "stealth mode" due to the lack of engine noise. While this further reduces fuel consumption and engine wear, the Prius is so quiet it can be hazardous to blind pedestrians and others accustomed to engine noise to warn of a nearby vehicle. When driving conditions demand additional power, the engine starts up automatically.

    The on-board computer ensures that the engine runs under the most efficient conditions. Typically, a petrol/gasoline engine runs inefficiently at half-throttle, creating a choking condition. This effect, called pumping loss, is a major reason for the inefficiency of gasoline engines compared to diesel engines. The Prius minimises pumping loss by running the gasoline engine at a high torque range with the throttle fully open. Drive-by-wire throttle control technology and Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (a torque combiner, electric drive, and computer control) are essential to this engine control.In addition to the immediate benefit of reducing fuel consumption and emissions, stopping the combustion engine also improves the performance of the catalytic converter. In a non-hybrid vehicle the exhaust gases from an idling engine tend to cool the catalysts below their optimal temperature.The frequent starting and stopping of the engine does not cause additional wear and tear or emission problems because the drive motors have enough power to quickly spin the engine to optimal Revolutions per minute (around 1,000) before the engine fires up. This avoids the wear that would occur if the engine were to run (with fuel and spark) at very low rpm.

    For any car, aerodynamic losses due to Drag (physics) are much greater on the highway than in low speed city driving. A non-hybrid car nonetheless gets worse fuel consumption in city driving because its engine is far less efficient at low power, such as when stopped in traffic, and because it must frequently dump its kinetic energy into the brakes during stop-and-go driving. The Prius gets better fuel efficiency in city dynamometer cycles because the engine can shut down instead of running at low power, and run solely off the battery at low speeds and when stopped (including the cabin air heating/cooling system and the power steering). Also, the car's kinetic energy is captured when braking and stored in the battery. According to the revised EPA tests, the Prius gets in the city dynamometer tests, compared with on the highway, and Natural Resources Canada estimates in the city and on the highway. (Owing to peculiarities of these tests, few drivers obtain these fuel consumption values in typical suburban circumstances, but "real world" performance with careful driving can come close. Typical real-world drivers get about - , hypermilers can get up . This means the greatest advantages of a hybrid are mainly in city driving, though factors including driving style, air conditioning use, and short trips may offset some of this advantage. The hybrid has less of an advantage in higher speed open road driving typical of intercity driving, yet obtains improved fuel consumption under these circumstances since it can use a smaller and more efficient engine than would otherwise be required (because the battery and electric motor can provide the extra peak power needed for passing and limited hill climbing).

    Versions The first Prius model, NHW10, was sold only in Japan, though grey import have been made to the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand. Subsequent versions have seen wider sales, increased power and reduced battery weight.

    {| class="wikitable"|-!colspan="2" rowspan="2"| Feature!colspan="3"| Model code|-! NHW10! NHW11! NHW20|-|colspan="2"| Body style|align="center"| 4 Door
    Sedan|-|colspan="2"| First sales|align="right"| 1997|align="right"| 2000|align="right"| 2003|-|rowspan="8"|Battery|Modules|align="right"| 40|align="right"| 38|align="right"| 28|-|Cells per module|align="right"| 6|align="right"| 6|align="right"| 6|-|Total cells|align="right"| 240|align="right"| 228|align="right"| 168|-|Volts per cell|align="right"| 1.2|align="right"| 1.2|align="right"| 1.2|-|Total volts (nominal)|align="right"| 288|align="right"| 273.6|align="right"| 201.6|-|Capacity amp hours|align="right"| 6.0|align="right"| 6.5|align="right"| 6.5|-|Capacity Watt hours|align="right"| 1728|align="right"| 1778.4|align="right"| 1310.4|-|Weight kg|align="right"| 57|align="right"| 50|align="right"| 45|-|rowspan="2"|Petrol Engine|Power kW|align="right"| 43|align="right"| 52|align="right"| 57|-|Max rpm|align="right"| 4000|align="right"| 4500|align="right"| 5000|-|rowspan="2"|Electric Motor|Operating Voltage|align="right"| 288|align="right"| 273|align="right"| 500|-|Power kW|align="right"| 30|align="right"| 33|align="right"| 50|-|Combined|Power kW|align="right"| ?|align="right"| 73|align="right"| 82|}

    Production of the Prius for the [China market began in December 2005 by Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor, a joint venture with First Automobile Works.

    2001 to 2003 Prius (NHW11) This is a compact sedan with a distinctive front hood (bonnet). In common with the first generation Prius, it used the engine to run the air conditioning compressor - while idling, the engine would need to start every minute or so if the air conditioning was running.

    It was the first Prius sold in the U.S., where it slotted between the Toyota Vitz and Toyota Corolla in the company's North American lineup, and is certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

    It sold in relatively small numbers, it nevertheless gained wide attention and proved the market existed for a sensible hybrid vehicle as a family car.

    2004 to 2007 Prius (NHW20) The Prius 2004 model was a complete redesign of the previous generations of Prius. The new model is larger inside and out, now a mid-size vehicle, gets even better fuel consumption, and is a hatchback.

    In the U.S. market it slotted between the Corolla and Toyota Camry.

    It is based on the new (second generation) Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD or also known as THSII), replacing the earlier Toyota Hybrid System (THS) technology. In contrast to earlier generations, the 2004 model introduced an all-electric compressor for cooling, this not only allowed the use of air conditioning without the engine starting from time to time when the car was completely still, it also allowed more extensive use of the "wikt:stealth mode" (operation on electric motor only).

    Its drag coefficient of 0.26 was then the second-lowest in the industry, after the Honda Insight at 0.25.

    Regenerative braking was greatly improved, relying so little upon the friction-type brakes (except for panic stops) that some Toyota technicians quipped that the original brake pads might well last for the life of the car.

    In general, the car remained conveniently narrow on the outside, rather flat-sided, and relatively tall (several inches taller than a Toyota Camry). The profile was more continuous, with a short sloping nose transitioning to a highly sloped windscreen and an arcing roofline ending in a cut-off Kammback. The additional height allowed a more erect seating position and a higher eye point, giving a better view of the road to the driver. There was also a surprising amount of additional rear-seat leg room, resembling that available in a much larger vehicle. Fold down rear seats with a 60/40 split made for easy carriage of most parcels. It retains a tight turning radius of 17 feet (34 feet or 10.4 meters in diameter), which when combined with a short hood is particularly useful in urban environments.

    With a smaller and lower voltage NiMH battery and a boost converter to step the voltage up to 500 V, the 2004 model was more powerful (2 seconds faster in 0 to 96 km/h acceleration) and is 15% more fuel efficiency than the previous generation Prius. The lower voltage also allows the traction battery to accept charge during regenerative braking down to a lower speed hence improving the energy recovery during braking. Except in short trips or extreme cold, typical commuting and mixed suburban drivers are reporting fuel consumption of to . Models have a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 10.1 seconds and a top speed of 105 mph (169 km/h) when using both electric and internal combustion motors simultaneously. When exclusively using its electric motor, the Prius has a 42 mph (68 km/h) top speed.

    The multi-function-display (MFD) shows fuel consumption bars for each five minute segment of driving and this can encourage economical driving. The display also indicates instantaneous fuel consumption, which is useful for detecting when the vehicle has switched from electric-only to electric plus ICE. At this time it can usually be advantageous to accelerate quickly rather than lug the vehicle, in an attempt to get to a more favorable location or speed range for electric-only mode.

    An option called the Smart Key System (SKS) eliminates the traditional ignition key. The "smart key," which resembles a conventional keyless entry remote, has buttons to remotely lock and unlock the door, as well as trigger the alarm system. It is not necessary to use any of the buttons to utilize the SKS. Approaching to within one meter of the car while in possession of the key (even inside a pocket or purse) causes the interior dome lights to fade in (if the switches are at the DOOR position). When the person with the key in their possession touches the inside of either of the front door handles, or the rear hatchback door handle, that door (or more) is immediately unlocked and can be opened. There are three settings in which the Smart Key System (SKS) can operate: driver's door unlocking mode, single door unlocking mode, and all doors unlocking mode. Once inside, the car may be started by pushing the "POWER" button while depressing the brake pedal, with the fob still safely tucked away inside your pocket or purse. To stop the car, push the "POWER" button again. Once parked, the car can be locked by a pushing a black button on the exterior door handle. The SKS will detect keys left inside the vehicle when powered-off, and will not allow the vehicle to be locked in this situation.

    On cars which are not equipped with SKS, the driver uses the lock/unlock buttons on the fob, and puts the remote fob into a slot in the dash to allow the car to start.

    The vehicle is classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle), 90% cleaner than conventional gasoline-only automobiles. It comes with an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) certification by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

    As an interesting side note, an option package offered in Japan and Europe gives the Prius the ability to perform parallel and reverse parking assisted by the on-board computer — the first time such a capability has been offered on a production vehicle. Eighty percent of the Prius buyers in Japan have chosen this option. The system is not Artificial Intelligence though, particularly lacking machine vision which would allow avoidance of obstructions or pedestrians, so it is very limited.

    The Prius also has an optional Bluetooth hands free kit for cellphones, which uses one of the stereo's speakers in the driver door, and a microphone near the rear-view mirror. The steering wheel has a dedicated button for answering and hanging up the phone while driving. The hands free system usually comes in the highest or next-to-highest packages from the dealership. Most, but not all Bluetooth phones are 100% compatible with the Prius. Nearly all phones have the minimum functionality of using the car as a headset, but some phones also allow some or all of the following actions:

    The 2006 Prius introduced some minor cosmetic changes, along with optional features such as advanced airbags, a rear-view camera, an upgraded audio system (including a line-in port), an updated Navigation DVD with new user interface, and a higher-resolution liquid crystal display.

    The 2007 Prius carries over the newer features from 2006 (also slightly higher price), while making the advanced and side-curtain airbags standard on all models. Also available is a Touring Edition that includes an elongated larger rear spoiler as well as larger, sharper-pointed 7-spoke 16" alloy wheels with plastic hub cap cover to protect it from scratches when parking against the curb. In addition, the Touring Edition also comes with a firmer European tuned suspension, standard high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights and integrated (non-HID) fog lights.

    Future of the Prius Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe said in a February 16, 2007 interview that Toyota was "aiming at reducing, by half, both size and cost of the Hybrid Synergy Drive#Third generation."However, plans to replace Nickel metal hydride battery batteries with lithium-ion batteries have since then been cancelled or delayed.Halvorson, Bengt. Li-ion Not Ready for Prius. BusinessWeek, June 18, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-07. Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy capacity-to-weight ratio, but cost more, and operate at higher temperatures, raising safety concerns.http://www.dailytech.com/Toyota+Shuns+Lithiumion+Batteries+for+Next+Gen+Prius/article7678.htm

    It has been mentioned that a future Prius or Lexus will receive an upgrade of the petrol (gasoline) engine from 1.5 litres to 1.8 litres. A plug-in hybrid version of the Prius will allow for less fuel consumption with a bigger engine. http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0720/p02s01-ussc.html It has also been suggested that a range of different sized models are planned, (referred to by engineers as the Prius A, B and C), rather than a single model. The first of these new models is expected in 2009.http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=379003&ssid=53&sid=BUS http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/06/report-toyota-t.html This new hybrid may carry the Lexus brand.http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUST33122520070629 Toyota spokesman said that future Prius research "...is broad-reaching and being carried out from various angles." http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?DID=RSS&n=274&sid=274&article=12471

    Toyota is road test prototype plug-in hybrid vehicles (called Toyota Plug-in HV) in Japan http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/tech/environment/phv/conference/ http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/798.html.

    Safety Crash testing NHTSA crash testing of the 2004 Prius yielded a five star driver and four star passenger rating in the frontal collision test (out of five stars). Side crash results were four out of five stars for both front and rear seats. The car scored four out of five stars in rollover testing.

    In 2004, EuroNCAP tested the Prius. It earned the following ratings:Adult Occupant Child OccupantPedestrian .{{cite web|title=Toyota Prius|work=Tests|publisher=EURO NCAP|url=http://www.euroncap.com/tests/toyota_prius_2004/193.aspx-->

    Quietness The Wall Street Journal reported in February 2007 on concerns that quiet cars like the Prius may pose a safety risk to those who rely on engine noise to sense the presence or location of moving vehicles.{{cite web]|url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117133115592406662-7BH5dNRG2MssUH28WlvpqNMnCy8_20080212.html|title=Blind Pedestrians Say Quiet Hybrids Pose Safety Threat|publisher=The Wall Street Journal Online--> Blind pedestrians are a primary concern, and the National Federation of the Blind advocates audio emitters on hybrid vehicles,{{cite web]|url=http://www.startribune.com/397/story/1314682.html|title=Fixit: Will quiet hybrids get noisier?|publisher=StarTribune.com (Star Tribune, Minneapolis MN)|author=Youso, Karen-->

    Recalls

    Awards

    Controversies Environmental impact of battery The Daily Mail newspaper retracted an article linking Toyota's Ni-MH battery production to environmental damage said to have been caused by nickel mining at a facility now owned by Inco at Sudbury, Ontario, "in order to prevent further misinterpretation", and publishing in its place a rebuttal letter from Dave Rado. Rado accuses the article of inaccuracy, and notes that nickel is used for countless other purposes and that any damage occurred more than thirty years ago, long before the Prius was made.{{cite web|title=Toyota factory|url=http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=417227&in_page_id=1770|date=2007-05-09|publisher=The Mail on Sunday--> However, the article's charges were repeated by followup articles in other publications, and provoked heated debate in online forums.http://digg.com/world_news/Toyota_Hybrid_Battery_Factory_Turns_Landscape_to_Poisoned_Wasteland http://autos.netscape.com/story/2006/12/09/toyota-hybrid-battery-factory-ruins-environment/

    A question often raised about the battery is whether it can, or will be, recycled and whether it will be source of pollution.http://www.hybridcars.com/faq.html#batteryhttp://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070725064624AA2sIJX Toyota themselves state on their website: "Toyota has a comprehensive battery recycling program in place and has been recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries since the RAV4 Electric Vehicle was introduced in 1998. Every part of the battery, from the precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case, and the wiring, is recycled. To ensure that batteries come back to Toyota, each battery has a phone number on it to call for recycling information and dealers are paid a $200 'bounty' for each battery."{{cite web|title=Hybrid Hype? Fact and Fiction Surrounding the New Technology|url=http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/technology/2004/hybrid.html|publisher=Toyota-->

    Lifetime energy cost A 2006 study by CNW Marketing Research, Inc. calculated the Life cycle assessment of a Prius at per mile and a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV at per mile. It concluded that 2005 hybrids cost "significantly more in overall energy costs than conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles."{{cite web] commented that the study "has been completely contradicted by studies from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Argonne National Labs, and Carnegie Mellon University's Lifecycle Assessment Group."{{cite web |url=http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/Green_Car_News/Prius_Versus_HUMMER_Exploding_the_Myth.S196.A12220.html|title=Prius Versus HUMMER: Exploding the Myth|accessdate=2007-07-27|date=2007-04-16|last=Halvorson|first=Bengt|publisher=The Car Connection-->

    An article on the Better World Club website{{cite web]. It suggests that the source may be the CNW "Dust to dust" study, or follow-up articles by James L. Martin or Chris Demorro, and goes on to challenge some of the arguments made in the study and in the mentioned articles: Noncomparable allocation of development costs, and assuming that no more Prius will be sold in future; Unjustified assumption the Hummer lasts for 3 times as many miles; Attributing all Sudbury nickel mining pollution to the Prius, when about 1.1% of the annual output is actually used (also, much greater pollution from decades-old mining methods is assumed); Attributing unnamed costs of global transportation to Prius only; Misquoting fuel consumption and not mentioning smaller size of Chevy Aveo (coincidentally made by same company as Hummer).

    A critique of the 2007 version of the CNW report by the Pacific Institute concluded that “closer inspection suggests that the report’s conclusions rely on faulty methods of analysis, untenable assumptions, selective use and presentation of data, and a complete lack of peer review. Even the most cursory look reveals serious biases and flaws....”Gleick, Peter H. "Hummer versus Prius: 'Dust to Dust' Report Misleads the Media and Public with Bad Science," Pacific Institute, PDF version via pacinst.org, May 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.

    Political symbolism The large number of Prius-owning progressive celebrities in 2002 prompted the Washington Post to dub hybrids "Hollywood's latest politically correct status symbol." "Half Gas, Half Electric, Total California Cool: Hollywood Gets a Charge Out of Hybrid Cars." The Washington Post, page C01, via washingtonpost.com, 2002-06-06. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. While conservative "Prius Patriots" were also cited in 2005,Anderson, Kevin. "Hybrid cars take hold in US." BBC News Website, 2005-02-22. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.the vehicle carries an image as being a car for politically liberal environmentalists. A 2007 San Francisco Chronicle article said "Prius Progressives" were becoming an archetype, quoting conservative U.S. pundit Rush Limbaugh opining that "these liberals think they're ahead of the game on these things, and they're just suckers."Haddock, Vicki. "Oh, so pious, Prius drivers: Smugness drifts over the warming Earth -- is that a bad thing?" San Francisco Chronicle, page D-3, via sfgate.com, 2007-07-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

    Many conservatives promote use of the Toyota Prius. For example, Jim Road from What Would Jesus Drive? encourages people to drive hybrid cars because of the damage that large SUVs can do to others. Driving an SUV, it is claimed, expressed an attitude not consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

    Former CIA chief James Woolsey drives a Prius because of its low petrol consumption. Woolsey claims that money that pays for imports of petrol help fund terrorism and states hostile to the United States. Ben Oliver writes the following: "By rights, Woolsey ought to drive a big, bad Hummer. Instead, he drives a Prius, and he says that if you live in a country dependent on imported oil, it's your patriotic duty to do the same. His argument is simple: It's a bad thing for transport to depend on oil when the great majority of that oil lies in volatile parts of the world whose governments are hostile to the West. Moreover, he argues that, by making the Middle East so wealthy, we're indirectly subsidizing terror. For Woolsey, the cash register at your local gas station is a collection box for Al Qaeda. 'We're paying for both sides in this war, and that's not a good long-term strategy,' he says. 'I have a bumper sticker on the back of my Prius that reads, "Bin Laden hates this car."'"http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0705_james_woolsey_interview/

    Fashion over function The Prius's shape, although unusual, is designed to minimize aerodynamic drag. The Prius's low drag coefficient of 0.26http://www.fred.net/tds/prius.html is influentual in making the car fuel efficient. By comparison, a Hummer H2 has a drag coefficient of 0.57http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/suvs/0207_hummer_h2/. The low drag of the Prius is achieved by the teardrop shape instead of the conventional sedan shape with a boot. The conventional sedan shape encourages air flow to hit sharp edges and protrusions, thereby creating turbulence and increasing the car's fuel consumptionhttp://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=2968&akst_action=share-this. The smooth teardrop shape of the Prius is designed with the function of efficiency in mind. Most cars that retain the conventional sedan appearance do so because consumers are not comfortable with teardrop-shaped cars.

    In spite of the efficiency goals of the Prius's shape, in 2004, industry analyst Art Spinella of CNW Marketing Research (CNWMR) said "the Prius was a fashion statement," attributing its success over the Honda Civic Hybrid to its distinctive styling, which lets "other people know the driver is driving a hybrid vehicle." The Honda Civic is available in hybrid and non-hybrid versions, making the hybrid less distinctive, though other differences from the Prius are that it is smaller and less fuel efficient. "2007 Most and Least Fuel Efficient Cars," U.S. Department of Energy, retrieved on 2007-08-20.

    In focus groups, Spinella said buyers reported choosing the Prius "because of its unique design, and will candidly admit they expect to receive some acclaim from friends, relatives, co-workers for their concern about the environment and/or fuel efficiency."Schneider, Greg. "Toyota's Prius Proving to Be the Hotter Ride in Hybrids." The Washington Post, page A01, via washingtonpost.com, 2004-08-23. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. In April 2006, noting "hybrid-vehicle sales actually have decreased since November, when fuel prices began to rise," and citing Prius sales that "dropped 23 percent over the last year," Spinella generalized that "for most people, hybrids are a fashion statement, not indicative of any real concern."Lubrano, Alfred. 2006-04-30. "Give up driving? Ha!: We groan about gas prices, but we love our cars." The Philadelphia Inquirer, page A01, via paywalled archive on www.philly.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

    CNWMR's latest figures, first reported on the front page of the The New York Times in July 2007Maynard, Micheline; Nick Bunkley and Mary M. Chapman contributing. "Say 'Hybrid' and Many People will Hear 'Prius.'" The New York Times, via nytimes.com, 2007-07-04. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.Maynard, Micheline; Nick Bunkley and Mary M. Chapman contributing. "Toyota Hybrid Makes a Statement, and That Sells." The New York Times, section A, page 1, via TimesSelect select.nytimes.com (account required), 2007-07-04. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.and subsequently widely reported,Lopez, Manny. "Prius owners prefer style over substance." Detroit News, via detnews.com, 2007-07-08. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. "Summertime Sizzle; Nerves Raw in Great Britain; Treating Invisible Injuries." (Transcript). CNN Newsroom, via cnn.com, aired 2007-07-05 9:00pm ET. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. found that just 36% of Prius buyers cited fuel economy as a prime motivator, while 57% said their main reason was that "it makes a statement about me." The latter number was under 20% in 2004, according to CNWMR.

    Shortly thereafter, Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson coined the term "Prius politics" to describe the practice of showing off rather than curbing greenhouse gas emissions, extending the concept to all ineffective feel-good measures in the broader battle against global warming.Samuelson, Robert J. "Prius Politics." The Washington Post, page A15, via washingtonpost.com, 2007-07-25. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

    Contrary to the fashion-over-mileage studies, a widely reported study by CNWMR, first covered in The Chicago Tribune, found considerable fluctuations in hybrid demand dependent on fuel prices. Consumers considering hybrids plummeted from 30% to 12% between late 2005 and late 2006 as fuel prices dropped, and were willing to pay a much lower premium over conventional cars in the absence of a fuel price "scare factor," according to Spinella.Ropely, Rick. "Hybrid interest may need refueling, research firm says." Chicago Tribune, business section page 1, via pqarchiver.com, 2006-12-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

    Disappointing and overstated fuel consumption Hybrid owners in the U.S. were more than twice as likely to be dissatisfied with the fuel consumption of their vehicle, according to CNW Marketing Research. They reportedly found in mid 2006 that 62% of hybrid owners were dissatisfied with their fuel economy, and CNWMR's Art Spinella said those customers were unlikely to purchase another hybrid as a replacement.Dalmia, Shikha. "Have You Hugged a Hummer Today?" 'Reason.org, Reason Foundation, 2006-07-26. Retrieved on 2007-08-14. The figure was up from 58% in a study reported in January, 2006, and compared at that time with just 27% of conventional vehicle owners who were dissatisfied with their fuel consumption.Burr, Richard. "The Hybrid Hoax: They're not as fuel-efficient as you think." The Weekly Standard, via weeklystandard.com, 2006-01-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-14. A 2003 J.D. Power and Associates survey found poor fuel economy was the top complaint among Prius buyers, out of a total rate of complaints which was the lowest of any compact car; fuel consumption was the second most common driver complaint industrywide in this year.Hakim, Danny. "Whether a Hummer or a Hybrid, the Big Complaint Is Fuel Use." The New York Times, 2003-05-07. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.

    While United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test results, (see Fuel economy in automobiles) which by law must be posted on new vehicle windows in the U.S. and are the only mileage figures that can be advertised, showed fuel consumption for the Prius in city driving as in 2003, different tests by Consumer Reports estimated fuel consumption in city driving at .Gartner, John. "Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short." Wired, via wired.com, 2004-05-11. Retrieved on 2007-08-14. Consumer Reports quickly retracted this assessment as flawedhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ and issued a revised assessmenthttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/high-cost-of-hybrid-vehicles-406/overview/index.htm giving a real-world mileage of 44 mpg for the Prius, but the original figure continues to be quoted on many web sites.

    EPA testing procedures were revised in 2007, after longstanding criticism of inflated fuel consumption results. City mileage dropped an average of 12% across all vehicles, and dropped 20% for the Prius. 2007 Prius ratings were revised from city, highway, and combined to city, highway, and combined.Gartner, John. "Hybrid Cars' Fantasy Mileage Ratings Drive Into the Sunset." Wired, via wired.com, 2007-05-14. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.

    claims In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority, an independent body charged with policing the rules of the advertising industry, ruled that a television advert for the Toyota Prius should not be broadcast again in the same form, having breached rules concerning misleading advertising. The advert claimed the Prius "emits up to one tonne less per year," while on-screen text included: "1 tonne of less than an equivalent family vehicle with a diesel engine. Average calculated on 20,000 km a year." Points of contention were the vehicles chosen for comparison, whether "up to one tonne less" adequately communicated that reductions could be lower, and whether the distance used was appropriate: 20,000 km per year is around a U.S. car's average annual driving distance, while a UK car's is 13,440 km.{{cite web]|publisher=UK Advertising Standards Authority|url=http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_42615.htm-->

    Government and corporate incentives United States Government Incentives The Internal Revenue Service approved a series of tax deductions and credits that amount to a $3150 federal tax credit for cars purchased between January 1 2006 and September 30 2006. Cars purchased between October 1 2006 and March 31 2007 may be eligible for a $1575 tax credit. Cars purchased between April 1 2007 and September 30 2007 may be eligible for a $787.50 tax credit.{{cite web], Priuses are exempt from sales tax. Exemption for Hybrid Vehicles (Website). State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Retireved on 2007-08-11.

    In the State of Illinois, Illinois Green Rewards program offers a $1,000 incentive for new Priuses purchased through financial institutions.{{cite web]) lanes in some US states such as Virginia (currently until July 1, 2008, and requires a special "Clean Fuel Vehicle" Vehicle registration plate at $25 per year,{{cite web|title=Virginia DMV|url=http://www.dmvnow.com/webdoc/general/news/news.asp?id=4865-->), California (currently until January 1, 2011,{{cite web] 2007.{{cite web] 2007.{{cite web|year=June, 2006|url=http://www.lacity.org/LADOT/FreePark.htm|title=Free Parking Info|work=From City of Los Angeles Website-->

    Corporate Incentives Several U.S. companies offer employees incentives.Bank of America will reimburse $3000 on the purchase of new hybrid vehicles to full- and part-time associates working more than 20 hours per week. Corporate Incentives (Website). Hybridcars.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. Google, "Q&A with Google's VP of Marketing" BusinessWeek Online, 2007-08-06. Retrieved on 2007-08-12. software company Hyperion Solutions,{{cite web]offer employees a $5000 credit toward their purchase of a certain hybrid vehicles including the Prius. Integrated Archive Systems, a Palo Alto IT company, offers a $10,000 subsidy toward the purchase of hybrid vehicles to full-time employees employed more than one year. Clothing companies The Timberland Company and Patagonia (clothing), law firm DLA Piper, non-profit American Jewish Committee, software publisher Topics Entertainment, and research firm ABR, Inc. are among companies offering eligible employees significant discounts on certain hybrid vehicles including the Prius.



    {{Infobox Automobile|name=Toyota Prius|image=|manufacturer=Toyota, [Japan|class=[Hybrid car|production=1997–present-->

    {{Infobox Automobile generation|name=NHW10|production=1997–2001|image=|class=[Compact car|competitor=[Honda Civic Hybrid
    Gasoline: 1.5 L [DOHC     Straight-4
    13.5:1 compression ratio
    43 Watt (58 horsepower#hp (SAE)) @ 4000 rpm
    102 Newton metre (75 Torque) @ 4000 rpm
    Electric: 288 volt motor
    30 kW (40 hp) @ 940 rpm
    305 N·m (225 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm|length=4275 mm (168.3 in)|width=1694 mm (66.7 in)|height=1491 mm (58.7 in)|wheelbase=2550 mm (100.4 in)-->{{Infobox Automobile generation|name=NHW11|image=|production=2000–2003|class=Compact car|engine=[Toyota Hybrid System
    Gasoline: 1.5 L DOHC Straight-4 VVT-i
    13.0:1 compression ratio
    52 kW (70 hp) @ 4500 rpm
    110 N·m (82 ft·lbf) @ 4200 rpm
    Electric: 273.6 volt motor
    33 kW (44 hp) @ 1040 rpm
    350 N·m (258 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm
    SULEV-->{{Infobox Automobile generation|name=NHW20|production=2004–present|image=|class=[Midsize car|engine=[Hybrid Synergy Drive
    Gasoline: 1.5 L DOHC Straight-4 VVT-i
    57 kW (76 hp) @ 5000 rpm
    115 N·m (85 ft·lbf) @ 4200 rpm
    Electric: 500 volt
    50 kW (67 hp) @ 1200 rpm
    400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) @ 0 rpm
    AT-PZEV
    Hybrid System Net Power: 110 hp (82 kW)|length=4450 mm (175.33 in)|width=1725 mm (67.97 in)|height=1490 mm (58.71 in)|weight=1325 kg (2921 lb)|transmission=Continuously variable transmission|wheelbase=2700 mm (106.3 in)-->

    The Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation, and one of the first such vehicles to be mass-produced and marketed. The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, and worldwide in 2001. By the end of 2003, nearly 160,000 units had been produced for sale in Japan, Europe, and North America. The Prius has won several awards, including the Car of the Year Japan (1997-98), the North American Car of the Year (2004), and the European Car of the Year (2005).

    Under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recently revised testing procedures, the 2007 Prius is the most fuel efficient car sold in the U.S.,{{cite web] of {{cite web|title=2007 Toyota Prius|url=http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/compx2008f.jsp?year=2007&make=Toyota&model=Prius&hiddenField=Findacar|publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency and United States Department of Energy|accessdate=2007-08-20-->

    Under the Department for Transport "Best on rankings" scheme, the Prius is ranked as equal second, alongside the diesel MINI (BMW), and behind the diesel Volkswagen Polo, out of all the cars ranked.{{cite web|title=Best on rankings|publisher=UK Department for Transport|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/ActOnCO2/index.php?q=best_on_co2_rankings-->

    Dual-Drive System This is how the powerplant operates: The electric motor, which is an electromagnet, powers the vehicle in this mode. An electromagnet works like this: there are magnets around a central core. The central core is attracted to one magnet, because the magnet is charged with electricity. Then the core is attracted to the next magnet, turning the core in that direction. (The core is charged to be attracted to the magnets), then the core is attracted to the third and last magnet. In this way the core has made one full revolution. This process is repeated at a rapid rate, which gives the result: a rotating motion of the core. Such a rotating motion can be used for many purposes. In this case it powers a system which drives wheels of a car to propel the car forward.

    There is also a standard internal combustion engine system. This system is linked in with the drivetrain as well, so that it powers the wheels also, when needed. When it is not needed (no extra power is needed), it shuts off and disconnects from the drivetrain, while the electromagnet-powered engine (electric engine) continues to provide power through the drivetrain. This is how the Dual-Drive System works.

    Technology The Prius is a hybrid vehicle drivetrain configuration hybrid, a vehicle that can run on just the combustion engine, just the electric motor, or a combination of both. Toyota's design goals are to reduce the amount of pollution and to maximise fuel efficiency. To do this, it uses a gasoline(petrol)/electric hybrid powertrain, incorporating large batteries that are charged by the gas (petrol) engine directly or by regenerative braking. Either the engine or the battery (or both) can power the vehicle, depending on conditions. This gives it the acceleration and power of a standard car having a much larger internal combustion engine. Specifically, the Prius incorporates:
  • More efficient use of the internal combustion engine (ICE), reducing fuel consumption. The Toyota NZ engine uses the more efficient Atkinson cycle instead of the more common Four-stroke cycle;
  • Two electric motor/electrical generator, MG1 and MG2 are in the transaxle. The MG2 provides 50 kW (67 hp) @ 1,200 to 1,540 rpm and 400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) torque from 0 to 1,200 rpm, which significantly contributes to performance and economy. The MG1, with rpm from -10,000 to +10,000 rpm, provides the engine starter and counter torque for the electronic Continuously Variable Transmission;
  • 50 kW IGBT inverter (electrical) controlled by a 32-bit microprocessor, which efficiently converts power between the batteries and the motor/generators.
  • Lower Drag coefficient at 0.26 (0.29 for 2000 model), with a Kammback design reducing air resistance, especially at higher speeds;
  • Lower rolling-resistance tires on the 2000 model, reducing road friction;
  • Regenerative braking, a process for recovering kinetic energy when braking or travelling down a slope and storing it as chemical potential energy in the Battery (electricity)#Traction batteries for later use while reducing wear and tear on the brake pads;
  • Sealed 168-cell nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery providing 201.6 volts; supplied by Panasonic EV Energy Co
  • Continuously variable transmission — the Prius uses a computer-managed (rather than a mechanical) CVT; Toyota calls it the Power Split Device. The electric motors and gasoline engine are connected to a planetary gear set which is always engaged, and there is no shifting.
  • Flexible resin gasoline tank, reducing the amount of hydrocarbon emissions in the form of escaped gasoline vapor; (US model only)
  • Vacuum flask coolant storage system that stores hot engine coolant when the vehicle is powered off, then reuses it to reduce warm-up time. (US model only)
  • Toyota Prius#EV mode (Europe and Asian markets only, aftermarket option in the U.S.) allows the driver to select electric-only mode in low-power conditions. The vehicle can only be driven a couple of kilometers (depending on conditions) on battery power alone before the gas engine is needed.
  • Weight reduction — for example the hatch and hood/bonnet are made of aluminium instead of steel.
    • One reason that the Prius gets such good fuel consumption is that the Internal combustion engine is smaller than in most cars this size. The ICE usually shuts off at stop lights and when backing up and descending long hills. The Prius performance remains very good because the battery/electric motor booster automatically provides adequate extra power for moderate acceleration and hill climbing. This means it drives like a traditional ICE automobile, with the on-board computer taking care of shifting power to and from the engine and motors, and automatically determining when to charge the battery, as well as the most efficient use of the engine or the electric motors (or both) based on driving conditions. This also means that one cannot use electricity from external sources. Advocates of 'plug-in' hybrids consider this to be a missed opportunity. The Prius also uses its electric motor to recharge the battery during braking, with kinetic energy normally wasted as heat being recaptured. This also significantly reduces brake wear.

    The engine can shut down once it has warmed up and the catalytic converter in the exhaust system has reached operating temperature. The Prius can then operate solely on electric power under low energy loads. This is sometimes referred to as "stealth mode" due to the lack of engine noise. While this further reduces fuel consumption and engine wear, the Prius is so quiet it can be hazardous to blind pedestrians and others accustomed to engine noise to warn of a nearby vehicle. When driving conditions demand additional power, the engine starts up automatically.

    The on-board computer ensures that the engine runs under the most efficient conditions. Typically, a petrol/gasoline engine runs inefficiently at half-throttle, creating a choking condition. This effect, called pumping loss, is a major reason for the inefficiency of gasoline engines compared to diesel engines. The Prius minimises pumping loss by running the gasoline engine at a high torque range with the throttle fully open. Drive-by-wire throttle control technology and Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (a torque combiner, electric drive, and computer control) are essential to this engine control.In addition to the immediate benefit of reducing fuel consumption and emissions, stopping the combustion engine also improves the performance of the catalytic converter. In a non-hybrid vehicle the exhaust gases from an idling engine tend to cool the catalysts below their optimal temperature.The frequent starting and stopping of the engine does not cause additional wear and tear or emission problems because the drive motors have enough power to quickly spin the engine to optimal Revolutions per minute (around 1,000) before the engine fires up. This avoids the wear that would occur if the engine were to run (with fuel and spark) at very low rpm.

    For any car, aerodynamic losses due to Drag (physics) are much greater on the highway than in low speed city driving. A non-hybrid car nonetheless gets worse fuel consumption in city driving because its engine is far less efficient at low power, such as when stopped in traffic, and because it must frequently dump its kinetic energy into the brakes during stop-and-go driving. The Prius gets better fuel efficiency in city dynamometer cycles because the engine can shut down instead of running at low power, and run solely off the battery at low speeds and when stopped (including the cabin air heating/cooling system and the power steering). Also, the car's kinetic energy is captured when braking and stored in the battery. According to the revised EPA tests, the Prius gets in the city dynamometer tests, compared with on the highway, and Natural Resources Canada estimates in the city and on the highway. (Owing to peculiarities of these tests, few drivers obtain these fuel consumption values in typical suburban circumstances, but "real world" performance with careful driving can come close. Typical real-world drivers get about - , hypermilers can get up . This means the greatest advantages of a hybrid are mainly in city driving, though factors including driving style, air conditioning use, and short trips may offset some of this advantage. The hybrid has less of an advantage in higher speed open road driving typical of intercity driving, yet obtains improved fuel consumption under these circumstances since it can use a smaller and more efficient engine than would otherwise be required (because the battery and electric motor can provide the extra peak power needed for passing and limited hill climbing).

    Versions The first Prius model, NHW10, was sold only in Japan, though grey import have been made to the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand. Subsequent versions have seen wider sales, increased power and reduced battery weight.

    {| class="wikitable"|-!colspan="2" rowspan="2"| Feature!colspan="3"| Model code|-! NHW10! NHW11! NHW20|-|colspan="2"| Body style|align="center"| 4 Door
    Sedan|-|colspan="2"| First sales|align="right"| 1997|align="right"| 2000|align="right"| 2003|-|rowspan="8"|Battery|Modules|align="right"| 40|align="right"| 38|align="right"| 28|-|Cells per module|align="right"| 6|align="right"| 6|align="right"| 6|-|Total cells|align="right"| 240|align="right"| 228|align="right"| 168|-|Volts per cell|align="right"| 1.2|align="right"| 1.2|align="right"| 1.2|-|Total volts (nominal)|align="right"| 288|align="right"| 273.6|align="right"| 201.6|-|Capacity amp hours|align="right"| 6.0|align="right"| 6.5|align="right"| 6.5|-|Capacity Watt hours|align="right"| 1728|align="right"| 1778.4|align="right"| 1310.4|-|Weight kg|align="right"| 57|align="right"| 50|align="right"| 45|-|rowspan="2"|Petrol Engine|Power kW|align="right"| 43|align="right"| 52|align="right"| 57|-|Max rpm|align="right"| 4000|align="right"| 4500|align="right"| 5000|-|rowspan="2"|Electric Motor|Operating Voltage|align="right"| 288|align="right"| 273|align="right"| 500|-|Power kW|align="right"| 30|align="right"| 33|align="right"| 50|-|Combined|Power kW|align="right"| ?|align="right"| 73|align="right"| 82|}

    Production of the Prius for the [China     market began in December 2005 by Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor, a joint venture with First Automobile Works.

    2001 to 2003 Prius (NHW11) This is a compact sedan with a distinctive front hood (bonnet). In common with the first generation Prius, it used the engine to run the air conditioning compressor - while idling, the engine would need to start every minute or so if the air conditioning was running.

    It was the first Prius sold in the U.S., where it slotted between the Toyota Vitz and Toyota Corolla in the company's North American lineup, and is certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

    It sold in relatively small numbers, it nevertheless gained wide attention and proved the market existed for a sensible hybrid vehicle as a family car.

    2004 to 2007 Prius (NHW20) The Prius 2004 model was a complete redesign of the previous generations of Prius. The new model is larger inside and out, now a mid-size vehicle, gets even better fuel consumption, and is a hatchback.

    In the U.S. market it slotted between the Corolla and Toyota Camry.

    It is based on the new (second generation) Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD or also known as THSII), replacing the earlier Toyota Hybrid System (THS) technology. In contrast to earlier generations, the 2004 model introduced an all-electric compressor for cooling, this not only allowed the use of air conditioning without the engine starting from time to time when the car was completely still, it also allowed more extensive use of the "wikt:stealth mode" (operation on electric motor only).

    Its drag coefficient of 0.26 was then the second-lowest in the industry, after the Honda Insight at 0.25.

    Regenerative braking was greatly improved, relying so little upon the friction-type brakes (except for panic stops) that some Toyota technicians quipped that the original brake pads might well last for the life of the car.

    In general, the car remained conveniently narrow on the outside, rather flat-sided, and relatively tall (several inches taller than a Toyota Camry). The profile was more continuous, with a short sloping nose transitioning to a highly sloped windscreen and an arcing roofline ending in a cut-off Kammback. The additional height allowed a more erect seating position and a higher eye point, giving a better view of the road to the driver. There was also a surprising amount of additional rear-seat leg room, resembling that available in a much larger vehicle. Fold down rear seats with a 60/40 split made for easy carriage of most parcels. It retains a tight turning radius of 17 feet (34 feet or 10.4 meters in diameter), which when combined with a short hood is particularly useful in urban environments.

    With a smaller and lower voltage NiMH battery and a boost converter to step the voltage up to 500 V, the 2004 model was more powerful (2 seconds faster in 0 to 96 km/h acceleration) and is 15% more fuel efficiency than the previous generation Prius. The lower voltage also allows the traction battery to accept charge during regenerative braking down to a lower speed hence improving the energy recovery during braking. Except in short trips or extreme cold, typical commuting and mixed suburban drivers are reporting fuel consumption of to . Models have a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 10.1 seconds and a top speed of 105 mph (169 km/h) when using both electric and internal combustion motors simultaneously. When exclusively using its electric motor, the Prius has a 42 mph (68 km/h) top speed.

    The multi-function-display (MFD) shows fuel consumption bars for each five minute segment of driving and this can encourage economical driving. The display also indicates instantaneous fuel consumption, which is useful for detecting when the vehicle has switched from electric-only to electric plus ICE. At this time it can usually be advantageous to accelerate quickly rather than lug the vehicle, in an attempt to get to a more favorable location or speed range for electric-only mode.

    An option called the Smart Key System (SKS) eliminates the traditional ignition key. The "smart key," which resembles a conventional keyless entry remote, has buttons to remotely lock and unlock the door, as well as trigger the alarm system. It is not necessary to use any of the buttons to utilize the SKS. Approaching to within one meter of the car while in possession of the key (even inside a pocket or purse) causes the interior dome lights to fade in (if the switches are at the DOOR position). When the person with the key in their possession touches the inside of either of the front door handles, or the rear hatchback door handle, that door (or more) is immediately unlocked and can be opened. There are three settings in which the Smart Key System (SKS) can operate: driver's door unlocking mode, single door unlocking mode, and all doors unlocking mode. Once inside, the car may be started by pushing the "POWER" button while depressing the brake pedal, with the fob still safely tucked away inside your pocket or purse. To stop the car, push the "POWER" button again. Once parked, the car can be locked by a pushing a black button on the exterior door handle. The SKS will detect keys left inside the vehicle when powered-off, and will not allow the vehicle to be locked in this situation.

    On cars which are not equipped with SKS, the driver uses the lock/unlock buttons on the fob, and puts the remote fob into a slot in the dash to allow the car to start.

    The vehicle is classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle), 90% cleaner than conventional gasoline-only automobiles. It comes with an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) certification by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

    As an interesting side note, an option package offered in Japan and Europe gives the Prius the ability to perform parallel and reverse parking assisted by the on-board computer — the first time such a capability has been offered on a production vehicle. Eighty percent of the Prius buyers in Japan have chosen this option. The system is not Artificial Intelligence though, particularly lacking machine vision which would allow avoidance of obstructions or pedestrians, so it is very limited.

    The Prius also has an optional Bluetooth hands free kit for cellphones, which uses one of the stereo's speakers in the driver door, and a microphone near the rear-view mirror. The steering wheel has a dedicated button for answering and hanging up the phone while driving. The hands free system usually comes in the highest or next-to-highest packages from the dealership. Most, but not all Bluetooth phones are 100% compatible with the Prius. Nearly all phones have the minimum functionality of using the car as a headset, but some phones also allow some or all of the following actions:

    The 2006 Prius introduced some minor cosmetic changes, along with optional features such as advanced airbags, a rear-view camera, an upgraded audio system (including a line-in port), an updated Navigation DVD with new user interface, and a higher-resolution liquid crystal display.

    The 2007 Prius carries over the newer features from 2006 (also slightly higher price), while making the advanced and side-curtain airbags standard on all models. Also available is a Touring Edition that includes an elongated larger rear spoiler as well as larger, sharper-pointed 7-spoke 16" alloy wheels with plastic hub cap cover to protect it from scratches when parking against the curb. In addition, the Touring Edition also comes with a firmer European tuned suspension, standard high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights and integrated (non-HID) fog lights.

    Future of the Prius Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe said in a February 16, 2007 interview that Toyota was "aiming at reducing, by half, both size and cost of the Hybrid Synergy Drive#Third generation."However, plans to replace Nickel metal hydride battery batteries with lithium-ion batteries have since then been cancelled or delayed.Halvorson, Bengt. Li-ion Not Ready for Prius. BusinessWeek, June 18, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-07. Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy capacity-to-weight ratio, but cost more, and operate at higher temperatures, raising safety concerns.http://www.dailytech.com/Toyota+Shuns+Lithiumion+Batteries+for+Next+Gen+Prius/article7678.htm

    It has been mentioned that a future Prius or Lexus will receive an upgrade of the petrol (gasoline) engine from 1.5 litres to 1.8 litres. A plug-in hybrid version of the Prius will allow for less fuel consumption with a bigger engine. http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0720/p02s01-ussc.html It has also been suggested that a range of different sized models are planned, (referred to by engineers as the Prius A, B and C), rather than a single model. The first of these new models is expected in 2009.http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=379003&ssid=53&sid=BUS http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/06/report-toyota-t.html This new hybrid may carry the Lexus brand.http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUST33122520070629 Toyota spokesman said that future Prius research "...is broad-reaching and being carried out from various angles." http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?DID=RSS&n=274&sid=274&article=12471

    Toyota is road test prototype plug-in hybrid vehicles (called Toyota Plug-in HV) in Japan http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/tech/environment/phv/conference/ http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/798.html.

    Safety Crash testing NHTSA crash testing of the 2004 Prius yielded a five star driver and four star passenger rating in the frontal collision test (out of five stars). Side crash results were four out of five stars for both front and rear seats. The car scored four out of five stars in rollover testing.

    In 2004, EuroNCAP tested the Prius. It earned the following ratings:Adult Occupant Child OccupantPedestrian .{{cite web|title=Toyota Prius|work=Tests|publisher=EURO NCAP|url=http://www.euroncap.com/tests/toyota_prius_2004/193.aspx-->

    Quietness The Wall Street Journal reported in February 2007 on concerns that quiet cars like the Prius may pose a safety risk to those who rely on engine noise to sense the presence or location of moving vehicles.{{cite web]|url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117133115592406662-7BH5dNRG2MssUH28WlvpqNMnCy8_20080212.html|title=Blind Pedestrians Say Quiet Hybrids Pose Safety Threat|publisher=The Wall Street Journal Online--> Blind pedestrians are a primary concern, and the National Federation of the Blind advocates audio emitters on hybrid vehicles,{{cite web]|url=http://www.startribune.com/397/story/1314682.html|title=Fixit: Will quiet hybrids get noisier?|publisher=StarTribune.com (Star Tribune, Minneapolis MN)|author=Youso, Karen-->

    Recalls

    Awards

    Controversies Environmental impact of battery The Daily Mail newspaper retracted an article linking Toyota's Ni-MH battery production to environmental damage said to have been caused by nickel mining at a facility now owned by Inco at Sudbury, Ontario, "in order to prevent further misinterpretation", and publishing in its place a rebuttal letter from Dave Rado. Rado accuses the article of inaccuracy, and notes that nickel is used for countless other purposes and that any damage occurred more than thirty years ago, long before the Prius was made.{{cite web|title=Toyota factory|url=http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=417227&in_page_id=1770|date=2007-05-09|publisher=The Mail on Sunday--> However, the article's charges were repeated by followup articles in other publications, and provoked heated debate in online forums.http://digg.com/world_news/Toyota_Hybrid_Battery_Factory_Turns_Landscape_to_Poisoned_Wasteland http://autos.netscape.com/story/2006/12/09/toyota-hybrid-battery-factory-ruins-environment/

    A question often raised about the battery is whether it can, or will be, recycled and whether it will be source of pollution.http://www.hybridcars.com/faq.html#batteryhttp://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070725064624AA2sIJX Toyota themselves state on their website: "Toyota has a comprehensive battery recycling program in place and has been recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries since the RAV4 Electric Vehicle was introduced in 1998. Every part of the battery, from the precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case, and the wiring, is recycled. To ensure that batteries come back to Toyota, each battery has a phone number on it to call for recycling information and dealers are paid a $200 'bounty' for each battery."{{cite web|title=Hybrid Hype? Fact and Fiction Surrounding the New Technology|url=http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/technology/2004/hybrid.html|publisher=Toyota-->

    Lifetime energy cost A 2006 study by CNW Marketing Research, Inc. calculated the Life cycle assessment of a Prius at per mile and a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV at per mile. It concluded that 2005 hybrids cost "significantly more in overall energy costs than conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles."{{cite web] commented that the study "has been completely contradicted by studies from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Argonne National Labs, and Carnegie Mellon University's Lifecycle Assessment Group."{{cite web |url=http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/Green_Car_News/Prius_Versus_HUMMER_Exploding_the_Myth.S196.A12220.html|title=Prius Versus HUMMER: Exploding the Myth|accessdate=2007-07-27|date=2007-04-16|last=Halvorson|first=Bengt|publisher=The Car Connection-->

    An article on the Better World Club website{{cite web]. It suggests that the source may be the CNW "Dust to dust" study, or follow-up articles by James L. Martin or Chris Demorro, and goes on to challenge some of the arguments made in the study and in the mentioned articles: Noncomparable allocation of development costs, and assuming that no more Prius will be sold in future; Unjustified assumption the Hummer lasts for 3 times as many miles; Attributing all Sudbury nickel mining pollution to the Prius, when about 1.1% of the annual output is actually used (also, much greater pollution from decades-old mining methods is assumed); Attributing unnamed costs of global transportation to Prius only; Misquoting fuel consumption and not mentioning smaller size of Chevy Aveo (coincidentally made by same company as Hummer).

    A critique of the 2007 version of the CNW report by the Pacific Institute concluded that “closer inspection suggests that the report’s conclusions rely on faulty methods of analysis, untenable assumptions, selective use and presentation of data, and a complete lack of peer review. Even the most cursory look reveals serious biases and flaws....”Gleick, Peter H. "Hummer versus Prius: 'Dust to Dust' Report Misleads the Media and Public with Bad Science," Pacific Institute, PDF version via pacinst.org, May 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.

    Political symbolism The large number of Prius-owning progressive celebrities in 2002 prompted the Washington Post to dub hybrids "Hollywood's latest politically correct status symbol." "Half Gas, Half Electric, Total California Cool: Hollywood Gets a Charge Out of Hybrid Cars." The Washington Post, page C01, via washingtonpost.com, 2002-06-06. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. While conservative "Prius Patriots" were also cited in 2005,Anderson, Kevin. "Hybrid cars take hold in US." BBC News Website, 2005-02-22. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.the vehicle carries an image as being a car for politically liberal environmentalists. A 2007 San Francisco Chronicle article said "Prius Progressives" were becoming an archetype, quoting conservative U.S. pundit Rush Limbaugh opining that "these liberals think they're ahead of the game on these things, and they're just suckers."Haddock, Vicki. "Oh, so pious, Prius drivers: Smugness drifts over the warming Earth -- is that a bad thing?" San Francisco Chronicle, page D-3, via sfgate.com, 2007-07-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

    Many conservatives promote use of the Toyota Prius. For example, Jim Road from What Would Jesus Drive? encourages people to drive hybrid cars because of the damage that large SUVs can do to others. Driving an SUV, it is claimed, expressed an attitude not consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

    Former CIA chief James Woolsey drives a Prius because of its low petrol consumption. Woolsey claims that money that pays for imports of petrol help fund terrorism and states hostile to the United States. Ben Oliver writes the following: "By rights, Woolsey ought to drive a big, bad Hummer. Instead, he drives a Prius, and he says that if you live in a country dependent on imported oil, it's your patriotic duty to do the same. His argument is simple: It's a bad thing for transport to depend on oil when the great majority of that oil lies in volatile parts of the world whose governments are hostile to the West. Moreover, he argues that, by making the Middle East so wealthy, we're indirectly subsidizing terror. For Woolsey, the cash register at your local gas station is a collection box for Al Qaeda. 'We're paying for both sides in this war, and that's not a good long-term strategy,' he says. 'I have a bumper sticker on the back of my Prius that reads, "Bin Laden hates this car."'"http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0705_james_woolsey_interview/

    Fashion over function The Prius's shape, although unusual, is designed to minimize aerodynamic drag. The Prius's low drag coefficient of 0.26http://www.fred.net/tds/prius.html is influentual in making the car fuel efficient. By comparison, a Hummer H2 has a drag coefficient of 0.57http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/suvs/0207_hummer_h2/. The low drag of the Prius is achieved by the teardrop shape instead of the conventional sedan shape with a boot. The conventional sedan shape encourages air flow to hit sharp edges and protrusions, thereby creating turbulence and increasing the car's fuel consumptionhttp://www.trollhattansaab.net/?p=2968&akst_action=share-this. The smooth teardrop shape of the Prius is designed with the function of efficiency in mind. Most cars that retain the conventional sedan appearance do so because consumers are not comfortable with teardrop-shaped cars.

    In spite of the efficiency goals of the Prius's shape, in 2004, industry analyst Art Spinella of CNW Marketing Research (CNWMR) said "the Prius was a fashion statement," attributing its success over the Honda Civic Hybrid to its distinctive styling, which lets "other people know the driver is driving a hybrid vehicle." The Honda Civic is available in hybrid and non-hybrid versions, making the hybrid less distinctive, though other differences from the Prius are that it is smaller and less fuel efficient. "2007 Most and Least Fuel Efficient Cars," U.S. Department of Energy, retrieved on 2007-08-20.

    In focus groups, Spinella said buyers reported choosing the Prius "because of its unique design, and will candidly admit they expect to receive some acclaim from friends, relatives, co-workers for their concern about the environment and/or fuel efficiency."Schneider, Greg. "Toyota's Prius Proving to Be the Hotter Ride in Hybrids." The Washington Post, page A01, via washingtonpost.com, 2004-08-23. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. In April 2006, noting "hybrid-vehicle sales actually have decreased since November, when fuel prices began to rise," and citing Prius sales that "dropped 23 percent over the last year," Spinella generalized that "for most people, hybrids are a fashion statement, not indicative of any real concern."Lubrano, Alfred. 2006-04-30. "Give up driving? Ha!: We groan about gas prices, but we love our cars." The Philadelphia Inquirer, page A01, via paywalled archive on www.philly.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

    CNWMR's latest figures, first reported on the front page of the The New York Times in July 2007Maynard, Micheline; Nick Bunkley and Mary M. Chapman contributing. "Say 'Hybrid' and Many People will Hear 'Prius.'" The New York Times, via nytimes.com, 2007-07-04. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.Maynard, Micheline; Nick Bunkley and Mary M. Chapman contributing. "Toyota Hybrid Makes a Statement, and That Sells." The New York Times, section A, page 1, via TimesSelect select.nytimes.com (account required), 2007-07-04. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.and subsequently widely reported,Lopez, Manny. "Prius owners prefer style over substance." Detroit News, via detnews.com, 2007-07-08. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. "Summertime Sizzle; Nerves Raw in Great Britain; Treating Invisible Injuries." (Transcript). CNN Newsroom, via cnn.com, aired 2007-07-05 9:00pm ET. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. found that just 36% of Prius buyers cited fuel economy as a prime motivator, while 57% said their main reason was that "it makes a statement about me." The latter number was under 20% in 2004, according to CNWMR.

    Shortly thereafter, Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson coined the term "Prius politics" to describe the practice of showing off rather than curbing greenhouse gas emissions, extending the concept to all ineffective feel-good measures in the broader battle against global warming.Samuelson, Robert J. "Prius Politics." The Washington Post, page A15, via washingtonpost.com, 2007-07-25. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

    Contrary to the fashion-over-mileage studies, a widely reported study by CNWMR, first covered in The Chicago Tribune, found considerable fluctuations in hybrid demand dependent on fuel prices. Consumers considering hybrids plummeted from 30% to 12% between late 2005 and late 2006 as fuel prices dropped, and were willing to pay a much lower premium over conventional cars in the absence of a fuel price "scare factor," according to Spinella.Ropely, Rick. "Hybrid interest may need refueling, research firm says." Chicago Tribune, business section page 1, via pqarchiver.com, 2006-12-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

    Disappointing and overstated fuel consumption Hybrid owners in the U.S. were more than twice as likely to be dissatisfied with the fuel consumption of their vehicle, according to CNW Marketing Research. They reportedly found in mid 2006 that 62% of hybrid owners were dissatisfied with their fuel economy, and CNWMR's Art Spinella said those customers were unlikely to purchase another hybrid as a replacement.Dalmia, Shikha. "Have You Hugged a Hummer Today?" 'Reason.org, Reason Foundation, 2006-07-26. Retrieved on 2007-08-14. The figure was up from 58% in a study reported in January, 2006, and compared at that time with just 27% of conventional vehicle owners who were dissatisfied with their fuel consumption.Burr, Richard. "The Hybrid Hoax: They're not as fuel-efficient as you think." The Weekly Standard, via weeklystandard.com, 2006-01-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-14. A 2003 J.D. Power and Associates survey found poor fuel economy was the top complaint among Prius buyers, out of a total rate of complaints which was the lowest of any compact car; fuel consumption was the second most common driver complaint industrywide in this year.Hakim, Danny. "Whether a Hummer or a Hybrid, the Big Complaint Is Fuel Use." The New York Times, 2003-05-07. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.

    While United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test results, (see Fuel economy in automobiles) which by law must be posted on new vehicle windows in the U.S. and are the only mileage figures that can be advertised, showed fuel consumption for the Prius in city driving as in 2003, different tests by Consumer Reports estimated fuel consumption in city driving at .Gartner, John. "Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short." Wired, via wired.com, 2004-05-11. Retrieved on 2007-08-14. Consumer Reports quickly retracted this assessment as flawedhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ and issued a revised assessmenthttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/high-cost-of-hybrid-vehicles-406/overview/index.htm giving a real-world mileage of 44 mpg for the Prius, but the original figure continues to be quoted on many web sites.

    EPA testing procedures were revised in 2007, after longstanding criticism of inflated fuel consumption results. City mileage dropped an average of 12% across all vehicles, and dropped 20% for the Prius. 2007 Prius ratings were revised from city, highway, and combined to city, highway, and combined.Gartner, John. "Hybrid Cars' Fantasy Mileage Ratings Drive Into the Sunset." Wired, via wired.com, 2007-05-14. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.

    claims In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority, an independent body charged with policing the rules of the advertising industry, ruled that a television advert for the Toyota Prius should not be broadcast again in the same form, having breached rules concerning misleading advertising. The advert claimed the Prius "emits up to one tonne less per year," while on-screen text included: "1 tonne of less than an equivalent family vehicle with a diesel engine. Average calculated on 20,000 km a year." Points of contention were the vehicles chosen for comparison, whether "up to one tonne less" adequately communicated that reductions could be lower, and whether the distance used was appropriate: 20,000 km per year is around a U.S. car's average annual driving distance, while a UK car's is 13,440 km.{{cite web]|publisher=UK Advertising Standards Authority|url=http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_42615.htm-->

    Government and corporate incentives United States Government Incentives The Internal Revenue Service approved a series of tax deductions and credits that amount to a $3150 federal tax credit for cars purchased between January 1 2006 and September 30 2006. Cars purchased between October 1 2006 and March 31 2007 may be eligible for a $1575 tax credit. Cars purchased between April 1 2007 and September 30 2007 may be eligible for a $787.50 tax credit.{{cite web], Priuses are exempt from sales tax. Exemption for Hybrid Vehicles (Website). State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Retireved on 2007-08-11.

    In the State of Illinois, Illinois Green Rewards program offers a $1,000 incentive for new Priuses purchased through financial institutions.{{cite web]) lanes in some US states such as Virginia (currently until July 1, 2008, and requires a special "Clean Fuel Vehicle" Vehicle registration plate at $25 per year,{{cite web|title=Virginia DMV|url=http://www.dmvnow.com/webdoc/general/news/news.asp?id=4865-->), California (currently until January 1, 2011,{{cite web] 2007.{{cite web] 2007.{{cite web|year=June, 2006|url=http://www.lacity.org/LADOT/FreePark.htm|title=Free Parking Info|work=From City of Los Angeles Website-->

    Corporate Incentives Several U.S. companies offer employees incentives.Bank of America will reimburse $3000 on the purchase of new hybrid vehicles to full- and part-time associates working more than 20 hours per week. Corporate Incentives (Website). Hybridcars.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. Google, "Q&A with Google's VP of Marketing" BusinessWeek Online, 2007-08-06. Retrieved on 2007-08-12. software company Hyperion Solutions,{{cite web]offer employees a $5000 credit toward their purchase of a certain hybrid vehicles including the Prius. Integrated Archive Systems, a Palo Alto IT company, offers a $10,000 subsidy toward the purchase of hybrid vehicles to full-time employees employed more than one year. Clothing companies The Timberland Company and Patagonia (clothing), law firm DLA Piper, non-profit American Jewish Committee, software publisher Topics Entertainment, and research firm ABR, Inc. are among companies offering eligible employees significant discounts on certain hybrid vehicles including the Prius.



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