Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is the first commercial mass production and marketing of hybrid cars. Which went on sale in Japan in 1997 and worldwide in 2001. In late 2003, nearly 160,000 units had been produced for sale in Japan, Europe and North America. In Latin, prius means "before" or "first". The Prius (2000 to 2003 model years) is certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). With the 2004 model, the Prius was redesigned as a midsize gate and certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). For North America, it used to slot between the Echo and Corolla in the line, but now the slots beween the Corolla and Camry since the second generation of this vehicle was released. Prius has won numerous awards including Car of the Year Awards for Europe, Japan and North America.
How does it work?
The Prius has been called a true hybrid vehicle, designed from the ground up. Toyota Prius to the goal was to reduce the amount of pollution they produce and to be as energy efficient as possible. We used several methods to try to achieve this goal, including:
More efficient use of internal combustion engine (ICE), reducing gasoline consumption. The 1NZ-FXE engine uses the more efficient Atkinson cycle instead of the more common Otto cycle;
Two electric motors / generators, providing 50 kW (67 hp) @ 1200 to 1540 rpm and 400 N m (295 ft lbf) torque from 0 to 1200 rpm, which will contribute significantly to efficiency and economy;
50 kW IGBT inverter controlled by a 32-bit microprocessor, which converts energy efficiently between the batteries and the motor / generator.
Coefficient of friction less than 0.26 (0.29 for 2000 model), the reduction of air resistance, especially at high speeds;
Low rolling resistance tires 2000 model, reducing road friction;
Regenerative braking, a process for recovering kinetic energy when braking or traveling down a slope and storing the electrical energy in the traction battery for later use while reducing wear on brake pads;
Sealed 168-cell nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery providing 201.6 volts;
Continuously variable transmission - the Prius does not use a typical CVT, Toyota calls the division of power devices. Electric motors and gasoline engine are connected to a planetary gear set is always committed, and no change.
Fuel tank resin flexible, reducing the amount of hydrocarbon emissions in gasoline vapor escaped;
Vacuum flask coolant storage system that stores hot engine coolant, and then reused to reduce the heating time.
Weight reduction - for example, hatch and hood are aluminum instead of steel.
Touted advantages of the Prius in recent designs include high-energy performance never need to be connected, as ultimately all the energy from the gasoline engine. This means that the units as a traditional ICE automobile, with the onboard computer taking care and being able to change the engine and motors, and automatically determines when to charge the battery as well as more efficient use of engine or electric motors (or both) based on driving conditions. This also means you can not use electricity from external sources, and some see it as a serious drawback. The Prius recovers energy that is otherwise wasted when braking, the car's kinetic energy is partly recovered to recharge the battery instead of being wasted as heat. This also reduces brake wear.
The engine can be turned off once it is heated and the catalyst in the exhaust system has reached operating temperature. The Prius can be driven only by electricity, which is sometimes called "stealth mode" due to lack of engine noise. This further reduces gasoline consumption and wear on the engine. When conditions demand additional power the engine is started automatically.
The on-board computer ensures that the engine is running in the most efficient conditions. Normally, a gasoline engine is inefficient when the throttle is half open, creating a choking operating conditions. This effect, called pumping loss, is a major cause of the inefficiency of gasoline engines compared to diesel engines. The Prius minimizes pumping loss by running the gasoline engine senior par with the throttle fully open. Drive-by-wire throttle control technology and what Toyota calls Hybrid Synergy Drive (a torque combiner simple, relatively strong electrical and control equipment) are essential in this motor control.
Just as the immediate benefit of reducing fuel consumption and emissions, stopping the engine also improves the performance of the catalytic converter, as in a normal vehicle exhaust gas of an engine at idle tends to cool the catalyst below its temperature optimal.
Unlike conventional cars, the beginning and the frequent closure of the causes or the additional engine wear or emission problems, the engines, because they have enough power to quickly and turn the engine rpm to the maximum (around 1000) before the engine really begins to "fire." This avoids wear when the engine is "running" (with fuel and spark) at very low rpm, as in most vehicles.
For any car, aerodynamic losses due to drag is much higher on the road at low speed city driving. A hybrid car does not, however, gets worse mileage in city driving because its engine is much less efficient at low power, such as when stopped in traffic, and because they often need to dump their kinetic energy during braking stop and go driving. The Prius is improved fuel efficiency in the city because the cycles of the engine dynamometer can close instead of running at low power, and run solely on battery power at low speeds and when stopped (including the cabin air heating / cooling and steering system). Also, the car's kinetic energy during braking can be captured and stored in the battery. According to EPA tests, 2004-2006 Prius gets 60 mpg (U.S.) in the city dynamometer tests, compared with 51 on the highway, and Natural Resources Canada estimates 58.8 mpg (U.S. .) (4.0 l/100 km) in the city and 56.0 (4.2 l/100 km) on the road. (Due to the particularities of these tests, few drivers get these values in the typical suburban mileage circumstances, but the "real world" with careful driving performance can come close.) This means that the great advantages of a hybrid is found mostly in city driving, though factors including driving style, the use of air conditioning, and short trips may offset some of this advantage. The hybrid has less of an advantage in higher speed highway driving typical of intercity driving, but gets better mileage in these circumstances, and you can use a smaller, more efficient engine that would otherwise be necessary (because the battery and the electric motor can provide the extra peak power needed to pass the hill and the lack of scale).
2004 to 2006 Prius
The Prius 2004 model is a complete redesign from previous generations of Prius. The new model is based on the new (second generation) Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD or also known as THSII), replacing the earlier Toyota Hybrid System (THS) technology. The first generation (1997 to 2003) could not run your air conditioner at 100% of the time unless the engine was running. While idling, the engine would have to start every minute, or if the air conditioning was working. In contrast, the model of 2004 introduced an electric compressor for cooling. This not only allows the use of air conditioning without starting the engine once in a while, when the car was completely still, but also allows a wider use of "stealth mode" (electric motor operation only ).
Its drag coefficient of 0.26 was the second lowest in the industry, after the smaller Honda Insight at 0.25.
Regenerative braking was improved, based on so little friction type brakes (except for panic stops) that some Toyota technicians quipped that the original brake pads could last the life of the car.
The 2004 Prius emerged as a midsize car with more room than the previous compact, redesigned as a "five-door" model (four doors and a tailgate). In general, the car remained conveniently narrow on the outside, rather flat face, and relatively tall (several inches taller than a Camry). The profile was much more, with a short nose pending transition to a highly sloped windshield and an arc of the roof that ends in a cut-off Kammback. The additional height allowed to erect a seat and a higher point of view, giving a better view of the road to the driver. There was also a surprising amount of rear seats more legroom, which resembles a much bigger vehicle. Times in the 60/40 split rear seats for easy transport of most packages.
With a smaller and lower voltage NiMH battery and an impetus to step the voltage converter with up to 500 V, the model 2004 is more powerful (2 seconds faster in 0 to 96 km / h acceleration) and is 15 % more fuel efficient than the previous generation Prius, with 60 miles per U.S. gallon (4.3 l/100 km) city and 51 miles per U.S. gallon (4.7 l/100 km) highway (according to the EPA). When driven properly, the displacement and mixed suburban drivers are reporting fuel consumption of 45 to 50 miles per U.S. gallon (5.2 to 4.7 l/100 km).
The multi-function display (MFD) shows fuel consumption bars for each segment five minutes of driving and this can encourage economical. The display also shows the instantaneous fuel consumption, which is useful for detecting when the vehicle has moved from ICE + electric power only. At this time, may be advantageous to accelerate quickly rather than drag the vehicle in an attempt to reach a more favorable position or range of speeds of electric-only mode.
A feature called Smart Key System (SKS) eliminates the traditional ignition key. The "smart key", which resembles a conventional keyless entry remote, has buttons to remotely lock and unlock the door and trigger the alarm system. There is no need to use any of the buttons to use the system for SKS. Approaching one meter in the car while in possession of the key (even inside a pocket or purse) causes the inside of the ceiling lights to disappear (if the switches are in position DOOR). When the person with the key in his possession touches either of the doors, tailgate or door, that door is unlocked and can be opened immediately. There are three areas in which the Smart Key System (SKS) operates with the driver's door unlock mode, the only way to unlock the door, and how to unlock all doors. Once inside, the car can start by pushing the "POWER" button while depressing the brake pedal, with security fob still hiding inside your pocket or purse. To stop the car, press the "POWER" button again. Once parked, the vehicle can be locked by a pushing a black button on the outside doorknob. The SKS system will detect keys left inside the vehicle when powered-off and not allow the vehicle to be locked into this situation.
There is no conventional ignition switch must be activated to start the Prius, that function had been replaced by a simple round of "POWER" button on the dashboard. Models with SKS, the driver only has to sit inside the vehicle (with the fob in your possession), press the brake with your foot and push the "POWER" to start the vehicle. On cars that are not equipped with SKS, the driver uses the lock / unlock buttons on the fob, and puts the remote fob into a slot on the board to the car to start.
The vehicle is classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle), 90% cleaner than conventional gasoline-only cars. It comes with an advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle (AT-PZEV) certification by CARB (California Air Resources Board).
As an interesting note, an option package offered in Japan and Europe gives the Prius the ability to carry out parallel and reverse parking assisted by the on-board computer - the first time that this capability has been provided in a vehicle production. Eighty percent of Prius buyers in Japan have chosen this option. The system is not smart, however, lack the particular vision that allows the avoidance of obstructions or pedestrians, so it is very limited.
Passengers of the Prius (TSpirit model only, not T3 or T4) can use their Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone through the car's audio system without taking the phone from his pocket. However, not all Bluetooth phones are compatible with the Prius.
The 2006 Prius made some cosmetic changes, along with advanced air bags, a rear view camera, an improved audio system, and a new higher-resolution LCD screen.
Aftermarket upgrades
Several improvements to the Prius include batteries, chargers, stealth mode and solar panels.
Stealth Mode
When the vehicle is turned with the "Start" button, which is ready to lead immediately to the electric motor, electric pumps, while the previously saved hot engine coolant to warm the engine before the internal combustion engine starts. The delay between the car and starting from the internal combustion engine is approximately seven seconds. The Asian and European versions of this vehicle, an "EV" mode that keeps the electric car after the start, in most low-load driving conditions. The American model does not have the "EV" button, although the "EV" mode is still supported internally by the Prius high-voltage management computer. Although some have speculated that EV mode was not included in the models in North America in the interest of keeping the warranted battery life of 100,000 miles (160,000 km) in the United States and 150,000 miles (240,000 km) in California and several other states, keep in mind that engineers EV mode is automatically canceled when you need to recharge the battery from the internal combustion engine. The Prius is designed to protect the battery discharge extreme and excessive load and use the motor as necessary to maintain optimal conditions for long battery life. In addition to information on discussion groups online, the Prius + Project offers instructions for do-it-yourselfers who want to activate the button, and after-market components provider Coastal Electronic Technologies offers a kit.
Extra batteries
Evolving from the button project, The California Cars Initiative (CalCars) converted a Prius in 2004, adding larger batteries, and private enterprise systems EDrive U.S. Amberjac and projects in the UK announced plans to sell the conversion kits in 2006. Newer versions use a new, advanced security, proprietary format lithium battery technology Valencia (VLNC, NASDAQ) Saphion called. The energy density and more efficient use of these batteries provide around 20x the available power from the standard NiMH battery, but only twice the weight. The evidence shows that in terms of achieving> 30 miles (50 km) in all electric mode at speeds below 34 mph (55 kph). The internal combustion engine starts only at high speeds or when more acceleration is needed. Fuel economy (as demonstrated by several journalists) is enhanced to 100-160mpg (U.S.) (40-68 km / liter) depending on the source of the driving section. City driving can be possible without using the ICE at all, eliminating the use of almost all the liquid fuel in exchange for electricity.
Chargers
CalCars initiated efforts to promote the idea of plug-in hybrids to be built by car manufacturers, and documented the emissions benefits of plug-in hybrids not only in California, the network of clean energy, but also in the field national (50% of coal as fuel) power grid. Also, this would be relatively ineffective without the additional battery capacity or reprogramming of the management of the batteries (which could be detrimental to their service life).
Toyota recently announced that it intends to build a plug in a hybrid vehicle in the future, unspecified time.
Solar Panels
Solar panels to provide power from batteries while the vehicle is in motion or otherwise outside the network. Solar panels are also useful when the Prius is parked for long periods of time in a sunny spot, whether or not a charger is not plugged into an outlet. Some drivers have claimed up to 10% mileage improvements with the addition of solar panels, although the individual results depend on the size and efficiency of solar panels, and weather conditions. The drivers of Australia and the southwestern states, for example, see some of the biggest improvements in its mileage Prius. One of the advantages of solar panels is that they do not deplete the ICE or the redemption of the components.
The Toyota Prius is the first commercial mass production and marketing of hybrid cars. Which went on sale in Japan in 1997 and worldwide in 2001. In late 2003, nearly 160,000 units had been produced for sale in Japan, Europe and North America. In Latin, prius means "before" or "first". The Prius (2000 to 2003 model years) is certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). With the 2004 model, the Prius was redesigned as a midsize gate and certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). For North America, it used to slot between the Echo and Corolla in the line, but now the slots beween the Corolla and Camry since the second generation of this vehicle was released. Prius has won numerous awards including Car of the Year Awards for Europe, Japan and North America.
How does it work?
The Prius has been called a true hybrid vehicle, designed from the ground up. Toyota Prius to the goal was to reduce the amount of pollution they produce and to be as energy efficient as possible. We used several methods to try to achieve this goal, including:
More efficient use of internal combustion engine (ICE), reducing gasoline consumption. The 1NZ-FXE engine uses the more efficient Atkinson cycle instead of the more common Otto cycle;
Two electric motors / generators, providing 50 kW (67 hp) @ 1200 to 1540 rpm and 400 N m (295 ft lbf) torque from 0 to 1200 rpm, which will contribute significantly to efficiency and economy;
50 kW IGBT inverter controlled by a 32-bit microprocessor, which converts energy efficiently between the batteries and the motor / generator.
Coefficient of friction less than 0.26 (0.29 for 2000 model), the reduction of air resistance, especially at high speeds;
Low rolling resistance tires 2000 model, reducing road friction;
Regenerative braking, a process for recovering kinetic energy when braking or traveling down a slope and storing the electrical energy in the traction battery for later use while reducing wear on brake pads;
Sealed 168-cell nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery providing 201.6 volts;
Continuously variable transmission - the Prius does not use a typical CVT, Toyota calls the division of power devices. Electric motors and gasoline engine are connected to a planetary gear set is always committed, and no change.
Fuel tank resin flexible, reducing the amount of hydrocarbon emissions in gasoline vapor escaped;
Vacuum flask coolant storage system that stores hot engine coolant, and then reused to reduce the heating time.
Weight reduction - for example, hatch and hood are aluminum instead of steel.
Touted advantages of the Prius in recent designs include high-energy performance never need to be connected, as ultimately all the energy from the gasoline engine. This means that the units as a traditional ICE automobile, with the onboard computer taking care and being able to change the engine and motors, and automatically determines when to charge the battery as well as more efficient use of engine or electric motors (or both) based on driving conditions. This also means you can not use electricity from external sources, and some see it as a serious drawback. The Prius recovers energy that is otherwise wasted when braking, the car's kinetic energy is partly recovered to recharge the battery instead of being wasted as heat. This also reduces brake wear.
The engine can be turned off once it is heated and the catalyst in the exhaust system has reached operating temperature. The Prius can be driven only by electricity, which is sometimes called "stealth mode" due to lack of engine noise. This further reduces gasoline consumption and wear on the engine. When conditions demand additional power the engine is started automatically.
The on-board computer ensures that the engine is running in the most efficient conditions. Normally, a gasoline engine is inefficient when the throttle is half open, creating a choking operating conditions. This effect, called pumping loss, is a major cause of the inefficiency of gasoline engines compared to diesel engines. The Prius minimizes pumping loss by running the gasoline engine senior par with the throttle fully open. Drive-by-wire throttle control technology and what Toyota calls Hybrid Synergy Drive (a torque combiner simple, relatively strong electrical and control equipment) are essential in this motor control.
Just as the immediate benefit of reducing fuel consumption and emissions, stopping the engine also improves the performance of the catalytic converter, as in a normal vehicle exhaust gas of an engine at idle tends to cool the catalyst below its temperature optimal.
Unlike conventional cars, the beginning and the frequent closure of the causes or the additional engine wear or emission problems, the engines, because they have enough power to quickly and turn the engine rpm to the maximum (around 1000) before the engine really begins to "fire." This avoids wear when the engine is "running" (with fuel and spark) at very low rpm, as in most vehicles.
For any car, aerodynamic losses due to drag is much higher on the road at low speed city driving. A hybrid car does not, however, gets worse mileage in city driving because its engine is much less efficient at low power, such as when stopped in traffic, and because they often need to dump their kinetic energy during braking stop and go driving. The Prius is improved fuel efficiency in the city because the cycles of the engine dynamometer can close instead of running at low power, and run solely on battery power at low speeds and when stopped (including the cabin air heating / cooling and steering system). Also, the car's kinetic energy during braking can be captured and stored in the battery. According to EPA tests, 2004-2006 Prius gets 60 mpg (U.S.) in the city dynamometer tests, compared with 51 on the highway, and Natural Resources Canada estimates 58.8 mpg (U.S. .) (4.0 l/100 km) in the city and 56.0 (4.2 l/100 km) on the road. (Due to the particularities of these tests, few drivers get these values in the typical suburban mileage circumstances, but the "real world" with careful driving performance can come close.) This means that the great advantages of a hybrid is found mostly in city driving, though factors including driving style, the use of air conditioning, and short trips may offset some of this advantage. The hybrid has less of an advantage in higher speed highway driving typical of intercity driving, but gets better mileage in these circumstances, and you can use a smaller, more efficient engine that would otherwise be necessary (because the battery and the electric motor can provide the extra peak power needed to pass the hill and the lack of scale).
2004 to 2006 Prius
The Prius 2004 model is a complete redesign from previous generations of Prius. The new model is based on the new (second generation) Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD or also known as THSII), replacing the earlier Toyota Hybrid System (THS) technology. The first generation (1997 to 2003) could not run your air conditioner at 100% of the time unless the engine was running. While idling, the engine would have to start every minute, or if the air conditioning was working. In contrast, the model of 2004 introduced an electric compressor for cooling. This not only allows the use of air conditioning without starting the engine once in a while, when the car was completely still, but also allows a wider use of "stealth mode" (electric motor operation only ).
Its drag coefficient of 0.26 was the second lowest in the industry, after the smaller Honda Insight at 0.25.
Regenerative braking was improved, based on so little friction type brakes (except for panic stops) that some Toyota technicians quipped that the original brake pads could last the life of the car.
The 2004 Prius emerged as a midsize car with more room than the previous compact, redesigned as a "five-door" model (four doors and a tailgate). In general, the car remained conveniently narrow on the outside, rather flat face, and relatively tall (several inches taller than a Camry). The profile was much more, with a short nose pending transition to a highly sloped windshield and an arc of the roof that ends in a cut-off Kammback. The additional height allowed to erect a seat and a higher point of view, giving a better view of the road to the driver. There was also a surprising amount of rear seats more legroom, which resembles a much bigger vehicle. Times in the 60/40 split rear seats for easy transport of most packages.
With a smaller and lower voltage NiMH battery and an impetus to step the voltage converter with up to 500 V, the model 2004 is more powerful (2 seconds faster in 0 to 96 km / h acceleration) and is 15 % more fuel efficient than the previous generation Prius, with 60 miles per U.S. gallon (4.3 l/100 km) city and 51 miles per U.S. gallon (4.7 l/100 km) highway (according to the EPA). When driven properly, the displacement and mixed suburban drivers are reporting fuel consumption of 45 to 50 miles per U.S. gallon (5.2 to 4.7 l/100 km).
The multi-function display (MFD) shows fuel consumption bars for each segment five minutes of driving and this can encourage economical. The display also shows the instantaneous fuel consumption, which is useful for detecting when the vehicle has moved from ICE + electric power only. At this time, may be advantageous to accelerate quickly rather than drag the vehicle in an attempt to reach a more favorable position or range of speeds of electric-only mode.
A feature called Smart Key System (SKS) eliminates the traditional ignition key. The "smart key", which resembles a conventional keyless entry remote, has buttons to remotely lock and unlock the door and trigger the alarm system. There is no need to use any of the buttons to use the system for SKS. Approaching one meter in the car while in possession of the key (even inside a pocket or purse) causes the inside of the ceiling lights to disappear (if the switches are in position DOOR). When the person with the key in his possession touches either of the doors, tailgate or door, that door is unlocked and can be opened immediately. There are three areas in which the Smart Key System (SKS) operates with the driver's door unlock mode, the only way to unlock the door, and how to unlock all doors. Once inside, the car can start by pushing the "POWER" button while depressing the brake pedal, with security fob still hiding inside your pocket or purse. To stop the car, press the "POWER" button again. Once parked, the vehicle can be locked by a pushing a black button on the outside doorknob. The SKS system will detect keys left inside the vehicle when powered-off and not allow the vehicle to be locked into this situation.
There is no conventional ignition switch must be activated to start the Prius, that function had been replaced by a simple round of "POWER" button on the dashboard. Models with SKS, the driver only has to sit inside the vehicle (with the fob in your possession), press the brake with your foot and push the "POWER" to start the vehicle. On cars that are not equipped with SKS, the driver uses the lock / unlock buttons on the fob, and puts the remote fob into a slot on the board to the car to start.
The vehicle is classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle), 90% cleaner than conventional gasoline-only cars. It comes with an advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle (AT-PZEV) certification by CARB (California Air Resources Board).
As an interesting note, an option package offered in Japan and Europe gives the Prius the ability to carry out parallel and reverse parking assisted by the on-board computer - the first time that this capability has been provided in a vehicle production. Eighty percent of Prius buyers in Japan have chosen this option. The system is not smart, however, lack the particular vision that allows the avoidance of obstructions or pedestrians, so it is very limited.
Passengers of the Prius (TSpirit model only, not T3 or T4) can use their Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone through the car's audio system without taking the phone from his pocket. However, not all Bluetooth phones are compatible with the Prius.
The 2006 Prius made some cosmetic changes, along with advanced air bags, a rear view camera, an improved audio system, and a new higher-resolution LCD screen.
Aftermarket upgrades
Several improvements to the Prius include batteries, chargers, stealth mode and solar panels.
Stealth Mode
When the vehicle is turned with the "Start" button, which is ready to lead immediately to the electric motor, electric pumps, while the previously saved hot engine coolant to warm the engine before the internal combustion engine starts. The delay between the car and starting from the internal combustion engine is approximately seven seconds. The Asian and European versions of this vehicle, an "EV" mode that keeps the electric car after the start, in most low-load driving conditions. The American model does not have the "EV" button, although the "EV" mode is still supported internally by the Prius high-voltage management computer. Although some have speculated that EV mode was not included in the models in North America in the interest of keeping the warranted battery life of 100,000 miles (160,000 km) in the United States and 150,000 miles (240,000 km) in California and several other states, keep in mind that engineers EV mode is automatically canceled when you need to recharge the battery from the internal combustion engine. The Prius is designed to protect the battery discharge extreme and excessive load and use the motor as necessary to maintain optimal conditions for long battery life. In addition to information on discussion groups online, the Prius + Project offers instructions for do-it-yourselfers who want to activate the button, and after-market components provider Coastal Electronic Technologies offers a kit.
Extra batteries
Evolving from the button project, The California Cars Initiative (CalCars) converted a Prius in 2004, adding larger batteries, and private enterprise systems EDrive U.S. Amberjac and projects in the UK announced plans to sell the conversion kits in 2006. Newer versions use a new, advanced security, proprietary format lithium battery technology Valencia (VLNC, NASDAQ) Saphion called. The energy density and more efficient use of these batteries provide around 20x the available power from the standard NiMH battery, but only twice the weight. The evidence shows that in terms of achieving> 30 miles (50 km) in all electric mode at speeds below 34 mph (55 kph). The internal combustion engine starts only at high speeds or when more acceleration is needed. Fuel economy (as demonstrated by several journalists) is enhanced to 100-160mpg (U.S.) (40-68 km / liter) depending on the source of the driving section. City driving can be possible without using the ICE at all, eliminating the use of almost all the liquid fuel in exchange for electricity.
Chargers
CalCars initiated efforts to promote the idea of plug-in hybrids to be built by car manufacturers, and documented the emissions benefits of plug-in hybrids not only in California, the network of clean energy, but also in the field national (50% of coal as fuel) power grid. Also, this would be relatively ineffective without the additional battery capacity or reprogramming of the management of the batteries (which could be detrimental to their service life).
Toyota recently announced that it intends to build a plug in a hybrid vehicle in the future, unspecified time.
Solar Panels
Solar panels to provide power from batteries while the vehicle is in motion or otherwise outside the network. Solar panels are also useful when the Prius is parked for long periods of time in a sunny spot, whether or not a charger is not plugged into an outlet. Some drivers have claimed up to 10% mileage improvements with the addition of solar panels, although the individual results depend on the size and efficiency of solar panels, and weather conditions. The drivers of Australia and the southwestern states, for example, see some of the biggest improvements in its mileage Prius. One of the advantages of solar panels is that they do not deplete the ICE or the redemption of the components.