Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Manufacturer
Production
Toyota
1997present
Compact car (19972003)
Mid-size car (2003present)
Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Class
Layout
The Toyota Prius ( /pris/; plural: Prii, /pria/) is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the
Toyota Motor Corporation. The EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) rate the Prius as among the cleanest vehicles sold in the United States based on
smog forming and toxic emissions.[1]
The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. It was subsequently introduced worldwide in 2001. The Prius is sold
in more than 70 countries and regions, with its largest markets being those of Japan and North America.[2] In May 2008, global cumulative Prius sales reached the
milestone 1 million vehicle mark,[3] and in September 2010, the Prius reached worldwide cumulative sales of 2.0 million units.[2] The U.S. is the largest market, with
1 million Prii sold by early April 2011,[4] and Japan reached the 1 million mark in August 2011.[5] Since its launch in 2009, the third-generation model has sold more
than 1 million units worldwide by September 2011.[6]
Contents
[hide]
3.1 Safety
4.1 Safety
5 Prius family
6 Sales
7.1 EV mode
7.2 Battery
8 Environmental effects
o
8.3 Quietness
11 See also
13 External links
In February 2011, Toyota asked the public to decide on what the most proper plural form of Prius should be, with choices including Prien, Prii, Prium, Prius, or
Priuses.[8][9] The company says "it will use the most popular choice in its advertising"[10] and on February 20 announced that "Prii" was the most popular choice, and
the new official plural designation.[11] In Latin prius is the neuter singular of the comparative form (prior, prior, prius) of an adjective with only comparative and
superlative (the superlative being primus, prima, primum), consequently, like all 3rd declension words, the plural in Latin was priora (cf. Latin declension).
Begining in September 2011, Toyota USA began using the following names to differentiate the original Prius from some newer members of the Prius family: the
standard Prius became the Prius Liftback, the Prius v (known as the Prius in Japan, and Prius + in Europe), the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and the Prius c. The last two
are scheduled to be available in the market in 2012.[12][13]
19972001 (NHW10)
20012003 (NHW11)
Takaoka, later Toyota City (Motomachi),
Assembly
Japan[14]
Body style 4-door sedan
Production
In 1995, Toyota debuted a hybrid concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show, with testing following a year later.[15] The first Prius, model NHW10, went on sale on
December 10, 1997.[16][17] It was available only in Japan, though it has been imported privately to at least the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. [18] The
first generation Prius, at its launch, became the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid car. The NHW10 Prius styling originated from California
designers, who were selected over competing designs from other Toyota design studios.[17]
In the United States, the NHW11 was the first Prius to be sold. The Prius was marketed between the smaller Corolla and the larger Camry. The published retail price
of the car was US$19,995.[19] The NHW11 Prius became more powerful partly to satisfy the higher speeds and longer distances that Americans drive.[20] Air
conditioning and electric power steering were standard equipment.[21] The vehicle was the second mass-produced hybrid on the American market, after the two-seat
Honda Insight.[22] While the larger Prius could seat five, its battery pack restricted cargo space.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) classified the car as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV).[23] Prius owners were eligible for up to a US$2,000 tax
credit from their gross income.[22] In contrast with the NW10, Toyota executives stated that the company broke even financially on sales of the NHW11 Prius.[22]
European sales began in September 2000.[24] The official launch of the Prius in Australia occurred at the October 2001 Sydney Motor Show,[25] although sales were
slow until the NHW20 model arrived.
20032009 (Japan)
2004present (China)
Tsutsumi, Japan (Toyota City)
Kariya, Aichi, Japan (Fujimatsu)
Assembly
Changchun, Jilin, China (Chinese domestic
market only)
Body style 5-door liftback
Production
In 2004 the Prius was completely redesigned as a mid-size liftback, sized between the Corolla and the Camry, with redistributed mechanical and interior space
significantly increasing rear-seat legroom and luggage room. The 2004 Prius is even more environmentally friendly than the 2001 model (according to the EPA),
and is 6 inches (150 mm) longer than the previous version.[26] Its more aerodynamic Kammback body balances length and wind resistance, resulting in Cd=0.26.[27]
The development effort, led by chief engineer Shigeyuki Hori, led to 530 patents for the vehicle.[28]
The Prius uses an all-electric A/C compressor for cooling, an industry first.[29] Combined with a smaller and lighter NiMH battery, the XW20 is more powerful and
more efficient than the XW10.[30] In the U.S., the battery pack of 2004 and later models is warranted for 150,000 miles (240,000 km) or 10 years in states that have
adopted the stricter California emissions control standards, and 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or 8 years elsewhere.[31][32] The warranty for hybrid components is
100,000 miles (160,000 km) or 8 years.[33]
It is classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) and is certified by California Air Resources Board as an "Advanced Technology Partial Zero
Emission Vehicle" (AT-PZEV).[34]
From 2005 to 2009, the second generation Prius had been built by FAW-Toyota in the city of Changchun for the Chinese market.[35] It was reported that a total of
2,152 Prii were sold in 2006 and 414 in 2007. The relatively low sales was blamed on high price, about US$15,000 higher than the equivalent in Japan or the U.S.,
caused by high duties on imported parts.[36] In early March 2008, Toyota cut the price of Prius by up to eight percent or US$3,000 to RMB 259,800 (US$36,500). It
was thought that the sales dropped as a result of both a lack of acceptance and increased competition. The Honda Civic Hybrid was exported to China from 2007.[37]
[edit] Safety
Euro NCAP test results for a RHD, 5-door hatchback variant on a 2004 registration:[38]
Test
Score
Overall:
N/A
Adult occupant:
Child occupant:
Pedestrian:
Safety assist:
N/A
Points
N/A
34
43
13
N/A
[edit] Safety
Euro NCAP test results for a 2009 registration:[51]
Test
Score
Overall:
Adult occupant:
88
Child occupant:
82
Pedestrian:
68
Safety assist:
86
The standard Prius with the Prius Alpha, which will be called Prius v in North America and Prius + in Europe.
At the January 2011 North American International Auto Show, Toyota revealed the 2012 model year Prius v, an extended hatchback wagon, which is derived from
the third-generation Prius and features over 50 percent more interior cargo space than the original Prius design. Toyota also unveiled the Prius c concept, which in
production form is expected to be cheaper and smaller than the current Prius hatchback. Toyota expects the Prius v to go on sale in North America by mid- to late
2011, and a car based on the Prius c concept to enter production in the first half of 2012.[59]
Toyota plans to offer the North American Prius v with a nickel-metal hydride battery pack similar to the 2010 model year Prius, and with two rows of seats to
accommodate five passengers. The European and Japanese versions will be offered with a lithium-ion battery, with three rows of seats with accommodations for
seven passengers.[60] The European version, named Prius +, is scheduled to be launched by mid 2012.[61]
In May 2011 Toyota introduced the Prius Alpha in Japan. The Alpha is the basis for the five-seat Prius v planned for launch in North America, and the seven-seat
Prius + planned for launch in Europe. The Prius Alpha is available in a five-seat, two-row model and a seven-seat, three-row model, the latters third row enabled by
a space-saving lithium-ion drive battery in the center console. The five-seat model uses a NiMH battery pack. Deliveries of the Alpha were delayed due to the
effects of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami on production.[61][62]
[edit] Sales
The Prius is sold in more than 70 countries and regions, and has its largest markets in the United States, Japan, and Europe.[2] In May 2008, Toyota announced that
its worldwide cumulative sales of the Prius had passed the 1 million mark;[63] worldwide cumulative sales surpassed 2 million units in September 2010.[2]
As of April 2011 the U.S. accounted for almost half of the Prius global sales, with one million Prii sold since 2000.[4] However, the Prius experienced two
consecutive years of sales decreases from its peak in 2007 to 139,682 units in 2009,[64] and rebounded in 2010 to 140,928 units.[65] Sales in Japan reached 1 million
Prii in August 2011.[5]
Cumulative Prius sales in Europe reach 100,000 in 2008 and 200,000 units by mid 2010, after 10 years on that market. The U.K. is one of the leading European
markets for Prius, accounting more than 20 percent of all Prii sold in Europe.[66] Toyota Prius became Japan's best selling vehicle in 2009 for the first time since its
debut in 1997 as its sales almost tripled to 208,876 in 2009.[67] In that year it overtook the Honda Fit, which was Japan's best-selling car in 2008 excluding Kei cars.
Rising oil prices caused by unrest in Libya and the Middle East led to increased sales for the Prius for the first quarter of 2011, but the 2011 Japan earthquake led to
a production stoppage. Production restarted several days later, but problems are expected to continue due to shortages from parts suppliers.[68]
Year
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Jan-Sept
401.3 254.2
2010
Total through
2,011.8 826.9
Sept 2010
2010
315.7[70]
2011
143.2[5]
(through Aug)
Cumulative
total through 2,360 1,002
Aug 2011
Other
0.01
0.2
0.2
0.4
1.9
2.9
5.3
7.0
7.7
8.4
105.9
103.3[69]
35.5
5.8
939.1
917.5
206.1
39.7
140.9[65]
83.9[71]
1,039
The Toyota Prius Hybrid Synergy Drive is a series-parallel full hybrid, sometimes referred to as a combined hybrid.
The Prius is a power-split or series-parallel (full) hybrid, sometimes referred to as a combined hybrid, a vehicle that can be propelled by gasoline and/or electric
power. Wind resistance is reduced by a drag coefficient of 0.25 (0.29 for 2000 model) with a Kammback design to reduce air resistance. Lower rolling-resistance
tires are used to reduce road friction. An electric water pump eliminates serpentine belts.[72] In the U.S. and Canada, a vacuum flask is used to store hot coolant when
the vehicle is powered off for reuse so as to reduce warm-up time.
[edit] EV mode
When the vehicle is turned on with the "Power" button, it is ready to drive immediately with the electric motor, while electric pumps warm the engine with
previously saved hot engine coolant[73] before the internal combustion engine is started. The delay between starting the car and starting the internal combustion
engine is approximately seven seconds. A button labelled "EV" maintains Electric Vehicle mode after being powered on and under most low-load driving
conditions. This permits driving with low noise and no fuel consumption, and is advertised as a quiet option for short journeys, for example in residential areas at
night, in the Asia manual.[citation needed] The car automatically reverts to normal mode if the battery becomes exhausted. Prior to the 2010 model, the North American
model did not have the "EV" button, although the "EV" mode is still supported internally by the Prius Hybrid Vehicle management computer.[citation needed]
[edit] Battery
Prius cutaway model showing forward engine connected to rear high voltage battery
The Prius uses electric motors in the hybrid propulsion systems, powered by a high voltage battery in the rear of the car. There has been some public concern over
whether the levels of electromagnetic field exposure within the cabin are higher than comparable cars, and what health effects those fields may present, popularized
by a 2008 The New York Times article.[81] However, Toyota[81] and several independent studies[82][83] have indicated that aside from a brief spike when accelerating,
the electromagnetic fields within the Prius are no different than that of a conventional car and do not exceed the ICNIRP[84] exposure guidelines.
[edit] Quietness
See also: Electric vehicle warning sounds
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.[85] Blind pedestrians are a primary concern, and the National Federation of the Blind advocates audio emitters on hybrid
vehicles,[86] but increased risks may also affect sighted pedestrians or bicyclists who are accustomed to aural cues from vehicles. However there is also a lack of
aural cues from vehicles that have a conventional internal combustion engine, where engine noise has been reduced by noise-absorbing materials in the engine bay
and noise-canceling muffler systems. In July 2007, a spokesman for Toyota said the company is aware of the issue and is studying options.[87] In the USA both
state[88] and federal legislation[89] have been proposed, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held a public hearing.[90] Different groups and
companies are looking at solutions.[91][92] In 2010, Toyota released a device for the third-generation Prius meant to alert pedestrians of its proximity.[93]
Web site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius