How does the Prius get such good mileage compared to its fellow hybrids?

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perryloung

I have just started doing research on hybrid cars and the second car on the list was only 40 mpg compared to the Prius's (average and city, not highway) 48 mpg. BTW that car is the Honda Civic hybrid.

is it the size of the car, is it built differently, etc etc...
please help...tell me all the info you know about it, and if you own one, how you like it. :o)

Answer
The Prius gets better gas mileage than other similar hybrids because it has a smaller gasoline engine.

For instance, the Highlander Hybrid gets only 18 city / 24 highway because it has a 3.5L gasoline engine coupled to its Hybrid Synergy Drive.

The Prius on the other hand has only a 1.5L gasoline engine coupled to its Hybrid Synergy Drive, so it gets 48 / 45.

Comparison to other types of hybrid systems (Such as Honda's Integrated Motor Assist) is well-explained by Geog_nerd.

Personally, I prefer Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive to Honda's IMA system, because the Toyota HSD is a more reliable setup.

The Honda IMA uses a belt-driven CVT transmission, which is a more complex transmission, using pulleys and friction belts-- More things to wear out. The Prius HSD uses just one planetary gearset (using metal toothed gears-- No belts, no gear shifting, no clutches), which is a lot simpler, which in turn means it's more solid and reliable.

This is the reason why the NYC Taxi Fleet uses Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicles (Highlander Hybrids) and Ford's similar Power Split Device vehicles (Ford Escape Hybrid) rather than Honda IMA hybrids-- The HiHys and FEHs have taken daily abuse heaped on them by cabbies but can still run 200,000 miles with no problems. I doubt you can do that with Chris N's turdy Honda IMA hybrids, who obviously has absolutely no clue how the various hybrid systems work.

EDITED TO ADD:

Damp_55: The Prius has a 1.5L engine, not a 1.0L.

top gun: Toyota isn't the only car maker offering a full hybrid. Ford also offers the Ford Escape Hybrid, which uses a full-hybrid Power Split Device drive system very similar to the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive. Nissan also offers the Altima Hybrid, which also uses the Toyota HSD.

What's the best way to start looking for hybrid SUVs?

notgreenwi

I'm new to looking at hybrid cars and am not sure what I should be looking for. Any suggestions?

Answer
You can start by going to http://www.hybridcars.com
This site will give you all the info you want about Hybrids in general.

MY PICK:

Ford Escape Hybrid. It's the 'greenest' SUV

It also has a large federal tax incentive available & it has actually gone DOWN in price each year of its production ('05-'06-'07-'08)
Here's a price comparison for you.
http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/escape/...
(note; the '08 Hybrid Escape qualifies for a federal tax incentive of $3000 , which has NOT been applied to the prices shown in this example)

I've driven one extensively & it is really FUN to drive.

In my experience, I DOUBLED my MPG (hybrid vs non-hybrid V6 Escape, both 4X4 ) & I drive like a complete idiot!

Also New York City taxi drivers have put HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of miles on theirs (withno problems, btw) & if they can survive that kind of abuse ( LOL ) I think they can handle anything.

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What are the pros and cons of hybrid cars and gas powered cars?

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Q. What are the pros and cons of hybrid cars and gas powered cars? I need as much info as you can get..please help me.

Answer
i love you

I'm interested in a hybrid car, will the batteries pollute a landfill when they are used up?

rehabdoc67

I read about how good hybrid cars are for the environment but I'm worried that in a few years we will have landfills loaded with toxic batteries contaminating the groundwater. Is any information available about this?

Answer
Questions that make ya go hmmm... :)

Before looking anything up, my personal thought was that since these cars are about HELPING the environment, I would *imagine* that hybrid owners would be encouraged - even expected - to trade in their used up batteries in order that they could be sent back to manufacturers for recycling! You would think that they could just melt down any metal or plastic and reuse them, as well as recycling any other components in some way just as used oil can be recycled - despite the unaware people that vacantly dump it in the sewer drains. :(

Ok, that's personal opinion... now for facts...

In looking around for the info, it seems that other people have asked about and discussed this elsewhere online, so we get to glean whatever we can from that...

One person says: "There is no "battery disposal" with hybrid vehicles. They last as long if not longer than the car itself." Further discussion from that person only showed that beyond the life of the car itself, he didn't see the point. :( He only offered that "disposal of a hybrid car w/battery is no worse than a regular car." Gee, how comforting. :P

However, I looked further, and found THIS (much more reassuring) -

"Hybrids use NiMH batteries, not the environmentally problematic rechargeable nickel cadmium. "Nickel metal hydride batteries are benign. They can be fully recycled," says Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal.

...and even better: "Toyota and Honda say that they will recycle dead batteries and that disposal will pose no toxic hazards. Toyota puts a phone number on each battery, and they pay a $200 âbountyâ for each battery to help ensure that it will be properly recycled." *cheer!*

So it would seem then that just like owners of cars with regular batteries, it will still come down to the level of environmental responsibility and concern held by the owner of said hybrid... which of course we would hope would be answered by the fact that he/she took the measure of owning a hybrid in the first place for the same reasons. :)

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