One of the most popular Hybrid cars on the market is the Toyota Prius. Compact and economical, it’s starting price is listed as just $22,400, putting it within the realms of reality for the everyday, albeit environmentally-conscious, individual.
The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 mpg in the city, and 49 mpg on the highway. That’s pretty good even for a hybrid, and is a step up from earlier Toyota Prius models.
But a new pricing structure is lined up for this hybrid, and the Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.
The lowest cost version is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.
It gets better though. A solar roof package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – but not for the V.
The solar roof system costs between $3,600 and $4,500, and uses solar energy to supplement the vehicle’s power and get even better mileage. This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control AC (for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?)
With this new combination of hybrid technology and solar power, a whole new range of fuel efficiency may be possible. The solar powered version is said to make mileages of up to 70 mpg possible under ideal circumstances.
If you live or often travel in a sunny climate, the solar roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and carbon emissions.
Under some (somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.
But at the very least, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s eco settings and follows basic speed guidelines can expect to stop for gas far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.
Nissan has finally gone 100% green electric with their newest automobile the Nissan Leaf. I understand that leafs are in fact green, however the name is rather uninspiring given the capabilities of the actual vehicle.
The Leaf can travel 100 miles on a single charge, offers zero-emissions of CO2 and can fully charge in a rather quick seven hours.
For drivers who need an even faster charge cycle, Nissan is also promising a “quick charge” mode that can put the cars battery at 80% complete in just 30 quick minutes.
The actual vehicle looks quite similar to the Volkwagen Beatle line with a modified hatch back design to set it apart. In my opinion, it’s got a retro meets future vibe that I rather enjoy.
Nissan is expected to start selling the Leaf at the end of 2010, of course by that point the Toyota Prius will probably be getting 3 times the mileage, either way it’s a step in the right direction for the foreign car manufacturer.
Toyota has launched a unique buzz marketing campaign to attract attention to the launch of the newest model of the 2010 Prius, setting up a bizarre display of giant flowers in the middle of Boston’s Prudential Square. So what is the point? What do flowers have to do with the Prius?
The 18 foot bright-colored flowers, which sprout up from benches big enough to seat 10 people, turn out to be more than just colorful seating. The flower petals themselves are actually solar cells, and the intent of these strange sculptures, which look like something out of Alice in Wonderland, are to provide free electricity for cell phones and laptops. The benches are even outfitted with free Wi-Fi.
So far, the giant artificial daisies have been set up temporarily in Boston. In a few days, they will be moved across the country and placed in other major cities, including New York, Chicago, Seattle, and LA.
People seem to be reacting well to this campaign, and it is drawing a lot of attention in Prius’ tech savvy market base, a collection of consumers who respond well to buzz marketing.
Toyota calls their flower-benches a harmonic relationship “between man, nature, and machine,” a creative tag-line also used to describe the third generation Prius itself.
At 50 mpg, the 2010 model Prius is the most efficient model introduced thus far. It also features a solar panel powered ventilation system, which explains the solar marketing gimmicks, and improved aerodynamics, achieving the lowest drag coefficient of any high-production car, ever. A bigger battery and electric motor allows more energy to be generated when braking and a Power Split Device allows more power generation and recharging during freeway driving.
Toyota has proven once again to have a great sense for their customers and an innovative spirit
Toyota has launched a unique buzz marketing campaign to attract attention to the launch of the newest model of the 
