Winston-Salem Business Magazine - October 2007 - (Page 30) Toyota Prius Recover energy and store it in the battery - A hybrid car can use the energy generated by braking and store it in the battery to use later. It does this by using “regenerative braking.” That is, instead of just using the brakes to stop the car, the electric motor that drives the hybrid can also slow the car. In this mode, the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the batteries while the car is slowing down. Sometimes shut off the engine A hybrid car does not need to rely on the gasoline engine all of the time because it has an alternate power source — the electric motor and batteries. So the hybrid car can sometimes turn off the gasoline engine, - for example when the vehicle is stopped at a red light. These cars really do squeeze every last mile out of a gallon of gasoline. The Toyota Prius, for example, gets 60/51 miles per gallon and better mileage around town than on the highway. The Toyota Prius comes with an impressive array of options for such a small cost effective vehicle. The Smart Key System allows for programmable lock/unlocking of the doors and ignition. The Smart Key Transponder is kept in your pocket or bag and when the transponder comes within a three-feet radius of the vehicle the code is checked and the doors are automatically unlocked. Starting the vehicle only requires pushing a button as the vehicle has already recognized the transponder and authorized the code. The Onboard Display System can be used as a keypad for dialing on your BlueTooth enabled phone or viewing the backup display. The same display is used for the Voice-Activated DVD Navigation System and the JBL Audio Display. Steering wheel-integrated controls to adjust the audio in the vehicle as well as answer your Bluetooth enabled phone. The shift lever is mounted on the dash and is engaged simply by moving it with your finger into the desired position. The shift lever communicates electronically with the transmission and is therefore a small, lightweight device compared to the shift levers in gas operated vehicles. The following is a listing of all of the options on the fully loaded Prius: Driver and front passenger front seatmounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags, anti-theft system and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver, Smart Key System, backup camera, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) , High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and integrated fog lamps, JBL® AM/ FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations, auxiliary audio jack, MP3/WMA playback capability and hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® wireless technology, voice-activated DVD navigation system, and leathertrimmed seats and steering wheel. Gone are the days when the hybrids had to be plugged in to recharge their batteries. The Prius automatically recharges its batteries using regenerative braking, or by running the onboard generator. The driver never needs to worry about recharging the battery. Another great feature of buying a hybrid is that you may be able to get a federal tax credit. At present the tax credit is approx. $2000 - $3000 but will drop as more hybrids are sold. A hybrid can almost pay for itself in a company where reps are driving most of the day and the mileage is a major factor. When we test drove the Toyota Prius we were very impressed with the power the car has. It really is like driving a normal gas powered vehicle. These cars really do squeeze every last mile out of a gallon of gasoline. The Toyota Prius, for example, gets 60/51 miles per gallon and better mileage around town than on the highway. 30 OCTOBER 2007
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