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Image At Toyota, we invest a great deal in technological improvement: it is the breath of life to us. Our quest is to seek out ways to make the world work better and smarter every day. Ways to improve the systems which allow us to deliver high quality vehicles to our customers. Vehicles that will protect people with world-leading safety technology. But, perhaps even more importantly, vehicles that are inspired by the Toyota Earth Charter, designed with a heart that beats in harmony with the environment.

"We actively promote environmental initiatives that take into consideration the entire lifecycle of a vehicle by including production, logistics, vehicle usage, disposal and recycling."

Our society depends almost entirely on fossil fuels for energy. We consume coal, oil and petrol in vast quantities, whilst simultaneously discharging CO2 into the atmosphere. If we carry on this way, we will face a shortage in the latter half of the century. It is therefore imperative that we make our cars more fuel efficient and use the planet's reserves more wisely. We must also develop cars that run on fuels other than petroleum as fast as we can. At Toyota, we are dedicated to this cause.

Image The Ultimate Eco-car

Our mission: The ultimate eco-car       

1.HSD: Hybrid Synergy Drive, 2.FCHV: Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle
3.HV: Hybrid Vehicle, 4.THS: Toyota HybridSystem, 5.DPNR: Diesel articulate NOx Reduction, 6.D-4: Direct Injection 4-stroke, 7.DPR: Diesel Particulate active Reduction System, 8.EV: Electrical Vehicle, 9.CNG: Compressed Natural Gas, 10. VVT-i : Variable Timing with Intelligence
      
Toyota Prius Hybrid: The ultimate green car

The Toyota Motor Corporation responded to the need for a fuel-efficient, low-emissions vehicle by creating the one of the world’s leading alternative fuel vehicles. The Toyota Prius has garnered widespread acclaim since its global debut in 2001, and its reputation for world-beating fuel consumption and emissions continues to grow.

In South Africa, the manufacture of this advanced hybrid vehicle is based upon exceptional fuel efficiency, progressive hybrid technology, environmental awareness and aesthetic appeal. These fundamental elements inform every aspect of the Prius design, resulting in a vehicle that combines futuristic hybrid technology with advanced, eco-friendly innovation.

The Toyota Prius Hybrid car meets – and exceeds – all contemporary motoring expectations for a vehicle in its size and class. Merging design sophistication with energy efficiency, it is the ultimate vehicle for those seeking both performance and a clean, green alternative fuel vehicle.

Fuel efficiency

One of the greatest advantages of owning a Toyota Prius Hybrid vehicle is its exceptional fuel efficiency – a result of advanced hybrid technology, and a feature which contributes to its celebrated “green” status.

The earth’s supply of fossil fuels, used to generate the petroleum that goes into our cars, is finite; at some point, it will run out. Moreover, as conventional cars continue to emit harmful toxins into the environment – the by-products of these fuels – the planet becomes more and more polluted, and the irreversible effects of global warming more severe.

Reducing a vehicle’s fuel consumption is key to cutting its emissions – and by implication, its harmful effect on the environment. A hybrid car, which does not run solely on petroleum, not only offers reduced emissions and relieves pressure on our supply of fossil fuels, but is also far more fuel efficient than traditional vehicles.

The petrol-electric hybrid system, such as that used in the Toyota Prius Hybrid, fuses the high-speed power of an internal combustion engine with the efficiency and cleanliness of an electric motor that never needs to be independently charged. A high-performance battery stores energy that would usually be wasted whilst driving or stopping – and then uses this power when starting up, or to supplement engine power when accelerating.

In this way, optimum fuel efficiency is achieved – and the Toyota Prius Hybrid is able to offer the world’s best fuel economy and ultra low emissions .

Image Advanced hybrid technology

The technology behind the Toyota Prius Hybrid system has been in development for more than three decades, engineered to optimise fuel consumption and reduce energy wastage. The latest Toyota Prius Hybrid cars run on Toyota’s hybrid energy system, based upon a combined hybrid – or series-parallel – structure.

The series-parallel system is powered by a combination of petrol and electricity. This highly-advanced mechanism harnesses electric power to boost engine performance and reduce fuel consumption , thereby resulting in a vehicle that is not only energy-efficient but also environmentally-friendly.

Over many years, Toyota has perfected the design and performance of the series-parallel hybrid. By combining two vital technologies – namely, a power split device (also known as a hybrid transaxle) and advanced energy management capabilities, this system delivers the energy-saving advantages of a series hybrid as well as the acceleration benefits of a parallel hybrid. Together, these technologies continually optimise the flow of mechanical and electrical power, leading to optimal efficiency and safe, comfortable vehicle operation .

The second generation Prius, currently available on the South African market, boasts the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which merges superb environmental performance with increased power. The “strong hybrid” system of the Hybrid Synergy Drive is able to use its petrol and electric motors in any combination, and is even able to run only on its stored electricity. Designed and implemented by Toyota, this hybrid car system has been created to lighten the environmental load in every possible way.

Environmental awareness

When the Toyota Motor Corporation began refining its hybrid system more than three decades ago, its aim was to create alternative fuel vehicles that would reduce the carbon impact on the environment whilst helping to conserve precious fossil fuels.

Since creating the world’s first successful hybrid vehicle, Toyota has sold more than one million hybrid cars, resulting in an aggregate reduction of 3.5 million tons of CO 2 emissions. Moreover, 1.3 million kilolitres of petroleum has been saved. Toyota continues to enhance its hybrid vehicle systems and fuel cell technology to ensure that the environment continues to be protected into the future.

The Toyota Prius Hybrid: Surprising emission facts!

Driving the following distances in a Toyota Prius Hybrid vehicle produces fewer harmful emissions than:

    * emptying a 240ml can of cooking spray – when driving 5 850km between New York and Paris.
    * painting a 46m 2 wall – after driving 240 000km.
    * spilling 1 cup of unleaded petrol – after driving 38 500km.
    * using 118ml of nail polish remover – when driving 13 500km between Durban and Tokyo.
    * using an entire can of air freshener – when travelling by hybrid car from Cape Town to Rome.
    * emptying a can of insect repellent – when travelling between Johannesburg and Cape Town eight times in your Toyota

Image Prius Hybrid car.

Indisputably, the Prius is the cleanest production car in the world. Toyota’s unwavering commitment to responsible manufacturing is upheld in every aspect of the vehicle’s life cycle, and beyond. From the materials used during production, driving, maintenance and, finally, disposal, the Prius reduces CO 2 emissions by a whopping 35 percent. The vehicle also has a recyclability potential of roughly 90 percent.

Sophisticated design

Toyota Prius Hybrid cars have become the vehicle of choice among discerning motorists around the world. The Prius, whilst recognised for its fuel efficiency and low emissions, also boasts sophisticated design – proving that eco-friendly motoring and aesthetic appeal can indeed go hand-in-hand.

Reflecting the progressive hybrid technology housed within it, the futuristic exterior of the Prius merges progressive design with eco-friendly performance. Offering a sleek fusion of energy efficiency, safety, superior features and performance, the Toyota Prius Hybrid balances environmentally-friendly motoring with a superior driving experience. And it has the stylish looks to boot!

South Africa ’s greenest car

The Toyota Prius Hybrid remains the only car of its type in South Africa today. With its vastly improved fuel economy, advanced hybrid technology and enhanced motoring comfort, Prius Hybrid cars truly are the car of the future – today.
Towards the ultimate eco-car

We are working towards a vehicle that is 100% pollution free, and have already overcome many challenges.
In 1996, we released our first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, the original Toyota Prius - technology that we consider to be core to the eco-cars of tomorrow. We've also introduced a fuel cell hybrid, which has been seen as the closest thing yet to the ultimate eco-car (this vehicle is not, however, currently available to all).
   
This year, the revolutionary Prius 2 hits South Africa’s shores. This innovative vehicle uses Hybrid Synergy Drive, an integrated Hybrid System that ensures the optimum mix of electric motor and petrol engine power.
It generates up to 89% fewer tailpipe pollutants than conventional internal combustion engines, and 2.5 timesthe average fuel efficiency of conventional vehicles.



 
 
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