Google for plug-in hybrid charging Oct 2, 2009
Google, known for its Internet search engine, in 2007 announced a program to test Toyota Prius and Ford Escape gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles that were converted to rechargeable plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity. One of the experimental technologies that was being tested by the Web search giant allowed parked plug-ins to tran 00004000 sfer stored energy back to the electric grid, opening a potential back-up source of power for the system in peak hours. (India Times)
CHAT TRANSCRIPT: James Healey answers your questions Sep 26, 2009
The lack of rear vision is a deal breaker for me, It seems to me however that poor rear visibility seems to be more and more common(New Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala, Toyota Prius) What's your take on this are cool designs trumping good functionality and safety. James Healey: Yes. (USA Today -- Money)
* The shift to sustainability might revolutionize the family car Sep 24, 2009
The Toyota Prius, a hybrid-electric vehicle first introduced in Japan in 1997, marked an initial breakthrough. By connecting a small generator and rechargeable battery to the braking system of a standard car, the hybrid augments the normal engine with a battery-powered motor. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Three-Wheel Car Could Hit the Road Sep 22, 2009
Not bad, given that even a greener-than-green Toyota Prius hybrid can manage only 48mpg on a good day. FOX NEWS VIDEOS. (Fox News)
Grown-ups bask in cubes' youthful glow Sep 21, 2009
By James R. Healey, USA TODAY Gary Musser of Las Vegas traded a Toyota Prius hybrid for his spanking new Cube, and loves to cruise the glittering Vegas Strip in the little boxy car he says is a "babe magnet.". Thing is, Musser's 71 and married. (USA Today -- Money)
Renault Chief Ghosn Says Future of Electric Autos Hinges on Oil Above $70 Sep 16, 2009
Nissan, which is also headed by Ghosn, unveiled its own all- electric car last month and began developing a gasoline- electric powertrain only last year, a decade after the first Toyota Prius hybrid went on sale. Ghosn predicts that electric cars will grab 10 percent of global auto sales by 2020, compared with an estimate of 1. (Bloomberg -- UK)
› Old tricks, new name Sep 12, 2009
Gerdes and his conservation-minded peers organised 'races' where the goal was not speed, but trying to get a Toyota Prius to achieve less than 2. 3 litres per 100 kilometres. (iAfrica.com)
MotorWeek TV and Cars.com Feature Fuel Economy Face-Off Sep 9, 2009
The gas sippers tested were the 2010 Toyota Prius, 2010 Honda Insight, 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, 2010 Audi A3 TDI, and the 2009 Smart ForTwo ... 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid 49. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Off to see the wizard behind the hit musical Sep 7, 2009
The flavour of the middle-class, liberal neighbourhood is neatly encapsulated by the Toyota Prius in his driveway. It all seems a long way from the glamour and escapist throngs on Broadway, four hours away by train and car to the south, where the hottest show remains the musical Wicked, which has rarely had an empty seat in more than four years of performances. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Drummer on mission to find cure Sep 5, 2009
Participants will have the opportunity to win dozens of prizes including a 2009 Toyota Prius. The event also will include an auction of sports and music memorabilia and the chance to play nine holes with Kix Brooks. (Columbia Daily Herald, TN)
Audi Boss Disses Chevy Volt Sep 5, 2009
What de Nysschen seems to be missing here is that the Volt isnt necessarily meant to save the planet but rather to save (MTLQQ) which desperately needs a home-run vehicle along the lines of the Toyota Prius, but with a more forward-looking technological twist. Although, given that many Audi buyers may, in a few years, suddenly become Volt buyersbecause the very intellectual elites that he ridiculed in his original idiots comment are kind of a sweet spot for U.S. salesmaybe... (Slate)
Prius Top-Selling Car in Japan for 4th Month Sep 4, 2009
This photo taken July 10, 2008 shows a Toyota Prius hybrid automobile sits near new trucks on a Little Rock, Ark. Toyota dealer's lot. (ABC News -- Business)
Toyota Prius hybrid top-selling car in Japan for 4 months Sep 4, 2009
Web search enhanced by. Published: Friday September 4, 2009 MYT 11:45:00 AM. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Mazda giving green twist to rotary engine Sep 4, 2009
Unlike a Toyota Prius, whose wheels can be powered by its gasoline engine, electric motor or both, the Hydrogen RE Primacy van is powered solely by electricity. The hydrogen rotary functions only as a generator, charging up the vehicles battery or sending power directly to the electric motor turning its wheels. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Sour clunker grapes Sep 3, 2009
The cripp 00003381 ling success of Cash for Clunkers, the sustained popularity of the Toyota Prius and splashy headlines afforded the 230-mpg Chevy Volt would seem to signal a fuel-efficiency awakening in the United States not seen since the energy crisis of the 1970s. Tell that to the angry-faced guy riding my bumper as I coast up to a red light. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
EBay Cuts its Skype Connection Sep 2, 2009
"Foreign automakers dominated the trade, accounting for 61.4% of the nearly 700,000 vehicles sold under the program. Japanese makers grabbed the biggest share, with 47% of the total, thanks to popular gas sippers such as the Toyota Prius and the Honda Fit," the newspaper writes. BusinessWeek reports car makers are already suffering. (Slate)
Supercar speed, hybrid economy Aug 31, 2009
8 seconds yet uses less fuel than a Toyota Prius ... Last month s launch of Australia s greenest car, the new Toyota Prius, saw it sacrifice economy for performance in its latest third generation guise. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Random Thoughts: No kings or queens Aug 30, 2009
Yet a driver in a Toyota Prius assumed I was too dim to know. He was gesturing in a smugly pedagogical manner for me to turn. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Guzzlers still in Bligh fleet Aug 30, 2009
"The Holden Caprice that I currently drive does not meet the proposed minimum rating of 5.5.'' She and five ministers now drive a six-cylinder Chrysler 300C with the acceptable GVG rating of 6. But five other ministers still drive six-cylinder Holden Caprices that rate an unacceptable 4.5, emitting from 261 to 280 grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometre driven. Information supplied by Public Works, Information and Communication Technology Minister Robert Schwarten shows those with the... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Repairing a hybrid doesn't have to cost a lot Aug 29, 2009
Fleets of Toyota Prius and Ford Escape hybrid taxis in Vancouver, San Francisco, and New York City have reliably been in service for more than 200,000 miles. The first generation Toyota and Honda hybrids were introduced more than a decade ago and there are definitely thousands of satisfied hybrid owners. (Atlantic News-Telegraph, IO)
Hybrid bus finds Anchorage a tough environment Aug 28, 2009
"The first-generation Toyota Prius had its problems too," UAA fleet maintenance supervisor Greg Schubauer said. "It's the same with any emerging technology." The shuttle ran on batteries up to about 35 mph, when the diesel engine kicked in. (Anchorage Daily News)
ISU unveils new car-sharing program to promote car-pooling Aug 28, 2009
Courtney McCaughrin, a senior account representative with Hertz demonstrated the GPS system in one the company's new Connect by Hertz Toyota Prius automobiles during Festival ISU, Thursday, August 27, 2009. The car can be rented remotely through the use of a variety of technologies. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Clunker car-trade plan ends in red tape Aug 25, 2009
The Toyota Prius, often regarded as one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available, ranks number six. Even dealers who stopped dealing to allow themselves more time to file were still rushing to process requests yesterday. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Falling, fell, fallen Aug 25, 2009
He drives a Toyota Prius (a hybrid car), and hes really smart, she said. According to Colbie however, we could be hearing about more than just his name pretty soon. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Enterprise offers hybrid rentals in Hawaii Aug 22, 2009
Hawaii customers can choose from the Honda Civic and Insight, or the Toyota Prius, Enterprise said. Reader Comments. (Pacific Business News, HI)
Hybrid Cars Enter the Mainstream Au... Aug 22, 2009
The Toyota Prius becoming the bestselling car in Japan, shows that modern hybrid cars, with better fuel ratings and lower prices are becoming popular to auto buyers ... The flagship Toyota Hybrid is the Toyota Prius, with 4 models ranging in price from $22,000 to $27,000. (Suite101.com)
Triple-digit mileage? Aug 19, 2009
By comparison, the most fuel-efficient car now on the road, the Toyota Prius hybrid, gets 51 mpg. GM CEO Fritz Henderson says the Volt will be a "a game-changer." The Volt, the Leaf and cars like it still to come from Ford, Chrysler and Toyota would certainly mean a change in American driving habits, which have proved remarkably resistant to change. (Montana Standard, MT)
Toyota Prius 'Harmony Floralscapes' Blooming Along Los Angeles Freeways Aug 19, 2009
A first-of-its-kind "Harmony Floralscape," a vivid roadside display made up of more than 20,000 live flowers, was unveiled today along the Pasadena Freeway (SR-110) in downtown Los Angeles by Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, officials from Caltrans, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., and Greenroad Media, Inc. The Floralscape is one of nine oversized floral designs that will appear alongside California freeways in support of the ongoing launch of the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle ... The... (PR Newswire)
LOOKING AHEAD: Bolt says 200 may not bring record time Aug 18, 2009
Finally, an official came to the rescue, ushering Bolt to a nearby Toyota Prius that was on standby. He quickly climbed in and a few honks of the horn to clear the crowd later, the world-record holder was on his way. (USA Today -- Sports)
The cars of 2015 Aug 17, 2009
Automatic parallel parking systems are already available on affordable cars such as the Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Tiguan. Page 1 of 7 | 1 Related News And Reviews. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
UVM Studies Hybrid Electric Car Aug 16, 2009
The car, donated by Central Vermont Public Service Corp., was converted from a conventional Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid to a plug-in, which can be charged from any 110 volt outlet. Jonathan Dowds, a graduate assistant in charge of the study, told a gathering of students, "Plug-in hybrids offer a number of potential benefits, including reducing the amount of oil that's used in the transportation sector, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But there are also potential drawbacks associated with... (WCAX.com, VT)
The Volt's 230 M.P.G.: Is M.P.G. Still Relevant? Aug 15, 2009
A Toyota Prius is rated at 200 grams per mile. The new carbon-emission ratings are destined to be part of our car-buying futures. (Time.com)
Cabinet's biggest gas regurgitators Aug 15, 2009
The Prime Minister, along with the Minister for Climate Change, Penny Wong, the parliamentary secretary for infrastructure and transport, Maxine McKew, and the parliamentary secretary for Pacific island affairs, Duncan Kerr, all opted for the Toyota Prius. The electric-petrol hybrid Prius emits 106g of CO2 a kilometre, according to the Government's Green Vehicle Guide. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
* Knowing when to change can keep tech firms alive Aug 14, 2009
While hybrids like the Toyota Prius use electricity as a supplement, plug-in hybrids go the next step and rely primarily on electricity, with gasoline as the secondary energy source. Because of plug-in hybrids, the supply chain and all the technologies will improve, so we gradually get batteries that are cheaper with longer range, and eventually we get all-electric vehicles, Kramer said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Battery powered: GM picks factory Aug 14, 2009
Unlike the Toyota Prius and other traditional hybrids, the Volt can run on batteries alone within a 40-mile range. It has a small internal-combustion engine that kicks in after the battery runs out. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Safest hybrid cars - Not just Prius Aug 14, 2009
Safest hybrid cars - 2010 Toyota Prius (1) - CNNMoney ... 1 of 52010 Toyota Prius ... The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced Thursday that the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight had become the latest hybrid vehicles to get the group's Top Safety Pick award. (CNN -- Money)
Will the Volt Do 230 MPG? Aug 13, 2009
The Toyota Prius which gets only 50 miles per gallon. Granted the Prius is already on the road and the Volt isn't expected to hit showroom floors until late next year. (ABC News -- Business)
GM says $40,000 Volt will get 230 mpg Aug 13, 2009
Still, the Volt's fuel efficiency would be four times more than the popular Toyota Prius hybrid, the most efficient car now sold in the U.S.. Most automakers are working on similar designs, but GM would offer the first mainstream plug-in with the Volt, which seats four and was introduced at the 2007 Detroit auto show. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Hybrid and electric power systems at a glance Aug 12, 2009
Still, the Volt's fuel efficiency in the city would be four times more than the popular Toyota Prius hybrid, the most efficient car now sold in the U.S.. AP News in Brief. (Fresno Bee -- Business)
Toyota Prius Aug 12, 2009
Search Local Business Listings. AP TECHNOLOGY NEWSLatest Breaking News & Headlines from the Associated Press. (Nola.com -- Sports)
Other hybrids will be cheaper to own Aug 12, 2009
With rebates and tax credits factored in, the Volt would cost $33,220, or $10,470 more than a Toyota Prius, the analysts said. Assuming both cars are driven 15,000 miles per year and gasoline costs the current national average of $2. (Republican-American)
GM says its plug-in Chevy Volt will deliver 230 mpg Aug 12, 2009
DETROIT General Motors said today its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car should get 230 miles per gallon of gasoline in city driving, more than four times the mileage of the current champion, the Toyota Prius. GM came up with the figure in early tests using draft guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for calculating the mileage of extended range electric vehicles, said Tony Posawatz, GM's vehicle line director for the Volt. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Lesser access for babies? Aug 12, 2009
If the Volt s 230 mpg is certified, its fuel efficiency would be more than four times the figure for the popular Toyota Prius hybrid. General Motors said yesterday that its Chevrolet Volt electric car could get 230 mpg in city driving, making it the first American vehicle to achieve triple-digit fuel economy if the figure is confirmed by federal regulators. (Yahoo News -- Child Welfare)
GM: New Volt to get 230 mpg Aug 12, 2009
WARREN, Michigan - General Motors Corp. said Tuesday its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car should get 230 miles per gallon (98 kilometers per liter) of gasoline in city driving, more than four times the current champion, the Toyota Prius. The Volt is powered by an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile (65-kilometer) range. (AZCentral -- Business)
Local residents cash in clunkers Aug 9, 2009
He recently purchased a Toyota Prius and got 4,500 in trade for his Acura. He said if it wasn t for the CARS program, he probably would still have his tired old Acura. (Santa Maria Times)
A buyers’ guide to hybrid autos Aug 9, 2009
The Globe tested six of the most significant hybrids on the market, priced between $23,810 and $117,330: the 2010 Toyota Prius, 2010 Insight, 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid, and the 2008 Lexus LS600 hL. We drove them as regular drivers would, in downtown Boston and on highways to Vermont and Connecticut. The Toyota, Honda, and Ford models offer fuel efficiency at moderate prices. (Boston Globe)
All Aboard the Eco-Express: Rail's Hybrid Energy Solutions Aug 7, 2009
General Electric uses a in its trains similar to that found in a Toyota Prius. The set the stage for railroad energy-efficiency systems being created by hydrogen fuel-cell technology company in Golden, Colo. (Scientific American)
Click here to read more. Aug 7, 2009
Local attorney sets miles-per-hour record in Toyota Prius, and pushes his personal hybrid mileage to the limit. Date published: 8/7/2009. (Fredericksburg.com, VA)
Old ‘clunker’ may help save planet Aug 7, 2009
Yet plenty of used cars exceed the required 22 mpg: The Toyota Prius hybrid, on the market since 2001, gets upward of 40 mpg, and even a 15-year-old Honda Civic gets 28. By assuming that only new products can be environmentally friendly, these policies lead us to discount the environmental gains that could be made through well-established and low-tech means, such as smaller refrigerators. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Hybrid Vehicle Rebates Produce Scant Environmental Benefits, High Cost Aug 7, 2009
"The biggest rebates will be given to purchasers of the Chevy Volt, rather than other hybrids like the Toyota Prius.". Hybrid rebate programs are currently offered by the governments of the U.S. and 13 states, including Washington, Oregon, Illinois and Colorado, and five Canadian provinces, including B.C., Ontario, Quebec, PEI and Manitoba. (Science Daily)
Hot weekend forecast ideal for baking cookies in car Aug 7, 2009
We baked nine chocolate chip cookies on a metal sheet in a 2006 Toyota Prius, parked in the Star s asphalt parking lot. The car s digital thermometer told us it was 108 degrees outside, though the forecast was calling for a high of only 101 that day. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Stimulus cash to create new batteries Aug 6, 2009
The nickel-metal hydride batteries used now in cars like the Toyota Prius must be paired with a combustion engine. Hydride batteries can give short bursts of power. (AZCentral -- News)
Gas prices fail to shift car buyer habits Aug 6, 2009
The Toyota Prius, the poster child for the environmental movement, topped 20,000 sales in June 2008, but by the beginning of this year Toyota was struggling to sell 6,000 a month. Volume has rebounded only moderately since the recent launch of the third-generation Prius. (MSNBC -- Business)
U.S. to spend $2.4 billion to boost electric vehicles Aug 6, 2009
Kramer's CalCars has argued that it's possible to electrify existing vehicles, and it's developed a conversion of the Toyota Prius hybrid to a plug-in electric vehicle. Now for the first time the government will be paying to demonstrate the same thing, Kramer said. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
'Cash For Clunkers' Program A Big Hit In State Aug 5, 2009
In many cases, consumers, like the Bogarts of Hamden who are giving up a Ford Expedition for a Toyota Prius are not only trading in a car, but adopting a new lifestyle ... But that didn't stop them from striking a deal for a winter gray Toyota Prius at Colonial Toyota in Milford on Saturday. (FOX61, CT)
Verizon green effort saves green too Aug 5, 2009
Customers who agree to go paperless can enter in a chance to win a Toyota Prius or daily prizes, a release said. By opting to receive their monthly bills electronically, the earth wins, the company said. (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)
Newspaper carrier shot, keeps driving Aug 4, 2009
Richmond police say someone in a white sedan opened fire on the victim's Toyota Prius before dawn Monday as he drove on Interstate 80 in Albany. The 32-year-old East Oakland man was hit in the leg and continued driving to Richmond before calling his brother. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Weird News)
The Triumph of Hope over Experience Aug 4, 2009
Consider: every Toyota Prius, the icon of fuel efficiency, is sold at a loss. In other words the other cars Toyota sells subsidize the cost of making the Prius available to the public. (Townhall.com)
Home prices fall as you head away from S.F. Aug 3, 2009
Those willing to take the next 25-mile leap - and check out the deals on a Honda Civic hybrid or Toyota Prius first, because this means driving 750 miles a week just to get to work and back - may be in for a bit of a shock, at least those moving east. Not only will they not save money by looking in Dixon rather than Fairfield, they will spend more. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Shooting a spot Jul 31, 2009
Well-known Hollywood stunt man Rocky Capella (behind wheel) sat patiently in a Toyota Prius at the Plaza Monday as a production crew from Green Dot Films in Los Angeles did some close-ups and location shooting for a Prius commercial ... Well-known Hollywood stunt man Rocky Capella (behind wheel) sat patiently in a Toyota Prius at the Plaza Monday as a production crew from Green Dot Films in Los Angeles did some close-ups and location shooting for a Prius commercial. (Sonoma Index-Tribune, CA)
Honda Insight hybrid losing ground to Toyota Prius Jul 30, 2009
But the Los Angeles' Times' Ken Bensinger points out that only 2,079 Insights were sold in June, while 12,998 Toyota Priuses found their way into the hands of buyers ... "He talks to a couple disappointed dealers. And there is the expected denial from Honda officials, who try to argue that Insight wasn't meant to compete against Prius even though their prices are a couple of thousand dollars apart.It's still pretty early in the game, though. The Toyota Prius' latest version has only been in... (USA Today -- Money)
High-intensity lights on Prius go 'Pop' Jul 25, 2009
Pop goes the high-intensity headlights on Toyota Prius - Drive On: A conversation about the cars and trucks we drive - USATODAY.com ... Pop goes the high-intensity headlights on Toyota Prius ... It's "lights out" for many older-model Toyota Prius owners with upgraded optional headlamps, reports Drive On's Michelle Walbaum. (USA Today -- Money)
Hybrid Car Powered By Micro-Jet Turbine Jul 23, 2009
The vehicle, built on the shell of a Toyota Prius, ignites without the need for an internal combustion engine, using instead an electric engine containing a micro-jet turbine engine and a supercapacity battery. . (Newsmax)
Car transport ships set sail to save money Jul 20, 2009
Toyota Prius hybrid cars wait to be driven off the Auriga Leader in Long Beach, Calif. The cars are parked on 12 decks; the ship can carry 6,200 cars. (USA Today -- Autos)
Handicapping the Electric Vehicle Race Jul 20, 2009
Initially, the car was explained to the public as utilizing a drivetrain that, unlike that on the Toyota Prius, could conceivably never burn any gas. The Volt uses what General Motors calls a Volt system, with an electric motor providing 40 miles of range before a small gas motor kicks in to recharge the battery. (ABC News -- Business)
