4th-Gen Toyota Prius Spends 73% Of Time In Electric Mode In Rome Commutes
Vehicles running on electric power with zero emissions are where it’s at. Zero emissions is the name of the clean air game now. Toyota led the way with conventional hybrids, and is slow to get on the zero emissions bandwagon, but the Prius is still having some positive effect for commuters across the world.
Toyota reports that “Toyota has successfully taken the efficiency of its most famous hybrid to new heights.” The city commute for the 4th-generation Toyota Prius is a zero-emission commute most of the time. Research at the University of Rome confirms the 4th-generation Prii achieved remarkable results — diving 73% of the time on electricity only.
The way to turn around air pollution is for each and every vehicle to move towards zero emissions. While most of us here on CleanTechnica don’t consider a conventional hybrid green enough, this is an uplifting finding. Toyota Motor Italy commissioned the research, and noted some findings:
- Data gathered from more than 2,200km of driving on a typical Rome commuting journey reveal that the test Prius cars spent an average 73.2 per cent of the journey time (62.5 per cent of the journey distance) producing no tailpipe emissions. These figures included periods when the car was stationary, with the engine automatically switched off.
- The comprehensive study involved 20 drivers of different ages and levels of hybrid driving experience making the same 37km journey across Rome and back, at different times of day
- Almost 45 percent of the energy required was generated by Prius’ electric motor, with one-third of the drive power produced by the regenerative braking system
It is 18 years since the launch of the original model of the Prius, one wonders how many miles were driven on electricity. The secret ingredient that catalyzed the cleaner performance in the 4th-gen hybrid is Toyota’s latest Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain. “The new Prius has achieved the greatest leap yet in emissions and fuel economy performance between successive generations of the world’s best-selling hybrid,” the company notes.
But where are Toyota’s fully electric models?
Related Stories:
- Chevy Volt Sales Neck & Neck With Toyota Camry Hybrid, & It Beats Almost Every Other Hybrid
- 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Struts Its Stuff In New York
Images via Toyota
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