While the Prius wasn’t the very first hybrid to be sold in the U.S. (the original Honda Insight beat it by a few months), it has proven by far the most popular to date.
And with more 1 million Prii sold since it launched in the U.S. 11 years ago, the Toyota Prius is now a regular on used car lots and websites across the U.S.
To help you, we’re covering the basics first and then dealing in-depth with each vehicle on its own page.
Follow the links to navigate among the different models.
How it works
All Prius models are powered by Toyota’s hybrid drivetrain, consisting of a gasoline engine and a pair of electric motors delivering power to the wheels through a planetary gearbox.
Effectively a computer-controlled continuously-variable transmission (CVT) the Prius on-board computer determines if the car will be powered by the gasoline engine, the electric motor, or a combination of both.
In low power-demand situations, the CVT can send excess power from the car’s engine to the on-board hybrid battery pack by turning one of the motors into a generator.
Gentle braking or deceleration also sends power from the wheels through the CVT to the battery pack by turning one or both motors into generators.
Due to the way the CVT works, sometimes the engine speed of the Prius does not match the speed of the car.
Disconcerting to many first-time Prius drivers, it doesn’t take long to get used to and is caused by the car’s on-board computer running the engine at its most efficient speed for the power demand at the time--making up the difference with electric torque
Support, service
All three generations of the Toyota Prius are still well supported by both official Toyota garages and a number of independent garages.
Some of the independent garages -- including Carolyn Coquilette's Luscious Garage in San Francisco -- offer upgrade services, including turning your standard Prius into a Plug-in Hybrid that can drive from 10 to 50 miles on all-electric power (depending on which conversion you choose).
However, with Toyota not officially supporting such upgrades, you should examine the consequences of upgrading your car before you commit to such an upgrade.
There’s also a very lively owners’ community, with regional Prius owner’s clubs in most major U.S. cities and many online forums dedicated to the brand.
Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1065557_buying-a-used-toyota-prius-heres-what-you-need-to-know
Chicago Toyota Prius
