Hybrid Batteries

Toyota Prius 2005-2012

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:56:56 +0000

The Toyota Prius has become a standard-bearer in its segment. While many automakers have yet to even develop a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, Toyota is already on its third generation of the Prius. This four-door hybrid has become a hit with consumers because of its stellar fuel economy, relatively compromised driving and acceleration characteristics and reasonable price.

The Toyota Prius (its name comes from Latin and means “to go before”) exists as a partial solution to the automobile’s problem of tailpipe emissions. The Prius, like other hybrid vehicles, has a special power train that combines a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine with an electric motor. This power train, along with other advanced features, allows the Prius to deliver higher fuel economy and lower emissions compared to regular cars.

Due to its popularity and relatively long sales history, Toyota’s original hybrid car is a strong candidate for a shopper interested in a used hybrid vehicle. So far, it seems Toyota’s reputation for reliability and durability is holding true for the Prius. Early concerns about long-term durability have turned out to be mostly unfounded. However, potential buyers of a used Prius should take extra care during the research process. As the Toyota Prius is quite complex, future repairs and part replacements could be quite expensive.

Lexus Hybrid Vehicles

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:56:16 +0000

Since 2006 Lexus has deployed the advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive utilizing a set of hybrid car technologies found in the Lexus RX 400h/RX 450h, Lexus GS 450h, Lexus LS 600h/LS 600hL, Lexus CT 200h, and Lexus HS 250h automobiles.

HSD technology produces a full hybrid vehicle which allows the car to run on the electric motor only, as opposed to most other brand hybrids which cannot and are considered mild hybrids. The HSD also combines an electric drive and a planetary gearset which performs similarly to a continuously variable transmission. The Synergy Drive is a drive-by-wire system with no direct mechanical connection between the engine and the engine controls: both the gas pedal/accelerator and the gearshift lever in an HSD car merely send electrical signals to a control computer.

HSD is a refinement of the original Toyota Hybrid System (THS) used in the 1997 to 2003 Toyota Prius. The second generation system THS II first appeared on the redesigned Prius in 2004. The Lexus Hybrid Drive system is tuned for increased power and performance along with efficiency concerns;[1] it was introduced on all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive Lexus models.

Honda Civic Hybrid

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:53:20 +0000

The first generation Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model. It is the first hybrid vehicle to be certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero- Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) from California’s Air Resources Board.
The second generation Civic Hybrid is based on the eighth generation Civic. As with other Civics, there are some styling differences between the North American and the Japanese market models.

The third generation Civic Hybrid, launched in 2011 in the U.S. and Canada as a 2012 model year, has a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and a lithium-ion battery pack instead of nickel-metal hydride. The 2012 Civic Hybrid delivers a combined EPA rating of 44 mpg-US (5.3 L/100 km; 53 mpg-imp) for both city and highway driving cycle, an improvement from 40 to 43 mpg-US (5.9 to 5.5 L/100 km; 48 to 52 mpg-imp) city/highway for the previous model.

It comes with improved aerodynamics and Honda ECO Assist technology. The ECO Assist technology is an information system to help the driver adopt a more fuel-efficient driving style, and is proven to improve fuel economy by about 10% for Honda’s hybrid vehicles in Japan.

The hatchback version of the Civic Hybrid is under development, said to be released in 2011 or 2012 to replace its sedan version in Europe.