Next Prius to offer 94 MPG

[Nomad559]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/10/next-prius-to-offer-113-mpg

The next Toyota Prius will offer an astonishing 113 mpg, according to a report by the U.K.’s AutoExpress magazine. (Note: 113 mpg in the U.K. is equal to 94 mpg here in North America). “The whole electrical system has been redesigned to improve economy” said a Toyota engineer was quoted as saying. “We are working on a prototype that runs solely on the electric motor in slow traffic, but switches to engine and motor drive when higher speeds are needed.”

The 0-62 mph time will also be improved by more than a second, according to the report, bringing it to well under 10 seconds. Much of the improvement can be attributed to the use of lithium-ion batteries instead of nickel-hydride units. The lithium-ion batteries are smaller, lighter, and have greater electrical output.

:)

[wuushew]

1. Will the new battery type add appreciably to the cost?

I am guessing that such a large increase in the mpg would easily offset any price increase over the life of the car.

[NJ Democrats]

2. 94 MPG?

Holy shit! :applause:

[madokie]

5. My neighbor has an electric car he built himself and it takes care

of all his daily commutes, they have a gasoline powered one for the occasional trips. Drives 50 miles or so on less than a dollar of electrical power to recharge. Built his own charger too.

[mom cat]

7. Would he be willing to share his plans?

[madokie]

12. I'm sure he would, I'll confirm and pm you to let you know if you like.

Peace, there is a better world, we just have to find it, find it we will.

[tandot]

3. That would be great. I wonder how much it will cost?

My 98 Toyota Corolla gets about 37 mpg and has already over 110,000 miles. Sooner or later I'll have to buy a new car. A hybrid would be perfect!

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. way cool!

[populistdriven]

6. Buying one will be sticking it to the oil companies, Can I order one now?

[originalpckelly]

8. Watch Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

When everyone starts buying these kind of cars all over the world. They are kept afloat by the oil revenues. I saw a newspaper editor from Kuwait say this on C-Span during a Congressional delegation visit to the country.

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. !

:evilgrin:

[Clark2008]

9. Are they going to be less ugly?

I swear, if auto makers want people to purchase hybrids, I wish they'd make them look like - I don't know - CARS instead of space ships or wedges of cheese or bubbles or something.

PS. I know the important thing here is the environmental concerns, but I honestly cannot see myself driving this bubble. And I'm a tiny woman who would probably look OK in a bubbly-looking car. Can't say the same for my husband, however.

[Innoma]

11. I hafta agree on this one...

I'm in the market for a new car, but as much as I theoretically like the Prius, its downright ugly (but still nicer looking overall than the woefully hideous Citroen-wannabe Honda Insight). Its almost as if these cars are intentionally stylistically hobbled, almost daring you to purchase one.

Now, wrap up a Prius-like car in some halfway alluring sheetmetal, and the hybrid revolution would be here in a nanosecond. How difficult can it be?