Frequetly Asked Questions about the Toyota Prius, Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid
Q. What kind of reliability can I expect from the hybrid battery?
A. The Toyota Synergy Hybrid System (including the battery) comes with an 8 year / 100,000 miles warranty.
Q. When did Toyota start making hybrid vehicles?
A. Toyota began selling the first-generation Prius in Japan in 1997, with worldwide sales begining in 2001.
Q. How many Toyota Hybrids are on the road
A. Over 2 million vehicles using Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (including Lexus) have been sold worldwide.
Q. I know that the hybrid vehicles get great gas mileage - but how much less do they pollute
A. One important measurement of pollution from cars is the amount of smog-forming emissions. Toyota hybrids emit 80% less of these than the average new car.
Q. What happens when the battery charge runs out?
A. The Prius actually has two batteries. A standard lead-acid battery for starting the car, as well as the hybrid battery which helps power the car. When the hybrid battery's charge is depleted, the car simply runs off of gas while the battery is recharged. The lead-acid battery starts the car - so running the hybrid battery down will not prevent you from being able to start your car.
Q. Do Toyota hybrid vehicles really get better gas mileage in the city? Why?
A. The stop-and-go nature of city driving provide more opportunities for battery regeneration. This is why the Prius does twice as good in city driving as many other passenger vehicles.
Q. Why does the Prius have such a unique look?
A. The Toyota Prius was the first mass-produced vehicle engineered from the ground-up to be a hybrid vehicle. Lines on the body are designed to maximize fuel economy. The 2010 Prius has the lowest drag coefficient of *any* mass-produced car in America.
Did you know that the new 2010 Prius makes use of Eco-Plastics? These plastics are made from natural materials - and represent the future of environmentally friendly plastics.
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