Third Generation Hybrids

Toyota has recently come out with third generation hybrid cars, and with this comes more efficiency and better technology!I've heard many myths about hybrid cars and their ability to conserve energy and myths about how they drive, so i thought it would be appropriate to go find out for myself. My friend Amanda and I were able to test drive 2 of the 3 cars that they offer in hybrid, and we were very impressed. Amanda and me test drove the Prius and the Camry. According to Edgar Rivera, a McDonough Toyota Sales Professional, the Prius has the lowest emission standards out of all the hybrid cars and is considered an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle, which means it produces 70 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average vehicle. I was also informed that these hybrids did not have to be charged, because the cars use the energy used from braking to charge the battery.

The Prius also contained many other features such as a camera to help when backing up, a touch screen pad, which tells you when your car is using electricity or gas, the weather, mapping and other helpful settings. This car also had a Smart Key System, this system works by picking up a sensor on the key within a certain radius of the car. The doors will automatically unlock with the sense of the key and the engine can be started with a push of a button!

While test driving the Prius I noticed the ride was very smooth and it felt as if you were gliding because the hybrid engine doesn't contain gears like normal vehicles. I had many people tell me that hybrids did not pick up speed very quickly, but the third generation hybrids seemed to keep up with the ordinary vehicles. While entering the interstate on the entrance ramp I was able to hit 70 mph without flooring it before I even got off the entrance ramp.

My friend Amanda drove the Camry and the ride seemed just as smooth in the back seat as it did while I was driving the Prius. If your not already sold on the idea, you should also keep in mind that the government gives you 1,700 dollar tax credit for driving a hybrid, and the third generation hybrids get between 50 to 60 miles to the gallon, which is almost triple that of an average gas operated vehicle.