Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle made in Japan. It is very popular with homosexuals, celebrities and environmentalists concerned about their public image. One reason the Prius sells more than other hybrids is because it looks different, and people recognize it as a hybrid. Some other reasons given for Prius ownership are: owners wanting to make a statement about themselves, concern over foreign oil dependence, and the myth of global warming.[1]
It actually takes more energy to produce a Prius than a Hummer.
Buyers of hybrid cars were initially given a federal tax break, but these ended on December 31, 2010.[2]
How it works
The Prius actually has two engines: a 76 HP, 1.5 liter four-cylander, gas-powered engine, and a battery-powered 67 HP motor. The electric motor gets the car going up to about 30 mph then the gas engine takes over. The battery is charged whenever the vehicle slows down. Toyota markets this complicated system as "Synergy Drive."
The system is designed to game the EPA fuel economy tests and produce very high mileage ratings. These numbers are impossible to obtain in real world driving. In actuality, the Prius gets mileage similar to any small car, but costs quite a bit more. The people who drive Priuses (The plural of Prius is disputed) don't care because they only buy the car as a liberal status symbol.
References
- ↑ Toyota's hybrid car more than a mixed success Maynard, Micheline, July 4, 2007, The New York Times, retrieved August 20, 2011
- ↑ Hybrid Car Tax Credits: Incentives Fade into Memory Hybridcars.com, retrieved August 20, 2011