AFTER 12 YEARS of speculation and the odd jibe from cynics, Toyota’s Prius is finally getting a plug.

The car that brought hybrid technology to the attention of the mainstream masses has always offered a mix of petrol engine and battery electric power. However, the electric charge has always been created from either spare energy in the engine or recouped through gathering the brake-force energy.

Now, with the third generation of the car – in full family guise – on our roads, Toyota has finally added the option of recharging the battery directly from the mains.

While the additional power source will be available only on 500 prototypes at first, all signs are that Toyota is preparing to roll out the plug-in option to the general public once electricity suppliers and governments get their acts together on providing recharging points.

Of the initial batch, 150 will come to Europe, with 20 destined for the British market. These will be leased to people who will then feed back their views and reports to the development team in Japan.

So what is different from the current Prius? Well, nothing much in terms of the appearance, except for what looks like a secondary filling cap on the front left wing. This is the plug-point for the car. Bootspace is also slightly compromised by the larger battery. And it’s here, under the boot floor, that the most significant changes have been made, with Toyota finally moving to a 5kW/h Panasonic lithium-ion unit.

Lithium is regarded as the future saviour of battery technology for electric cars, allowing more power to be stored for less weight. While this new battery does add 110kg to the car, it’s a worthwhile trade-off in terms of power.

Where the regular hybrid Prius with its nickel-hydride battery can power the car up to 50km/h on electric power for short bursts, the plug-in lithium battery version can reach speeds of 100km/h without needing to call on the petrol engine for support, and the car can run on battery power alone for between 12km and 20km.

Combine the extended speed range and distance and you see that for city or urban driving, this plug-in Prius is effectively an electric car. The big difference is because it’s hybrid, it also offers the chance to call upon a petrol engine for extended range. While we await batteries that can challenge combustion engines for range and the introduction of a proper recharging infrastructure, it’s the best combination on offer.

On a brief test drive we cruised along at 80km/h completely on electric mode and it was only when we floored the accelerator on the test track that the petrol engine kicked in. Lift off slightly and the engine gives way again to electric power.

On the most gentle of obstacle courses we also got the chance to test the car’s handling and though the Prius has never been dynamically enthralling, the added weight of the battery at the back made little difference to its ability.

In terms of recharging, Toyota promises it will fully recharge from the mains in 100 minutes. With a 12km range if you are pushing the car on, you can expect it to cut your fuel bill, particularly for short commuter runs.

If you take that away from an average journey and run the rest of the time on a mix of regular engine and Prius’s current hybrid system, it’s not unrealistic to suggest you could achieve figures in the realms of 70-80mpg. The estimated emissions level of 65g/km will certainly reap rewards in terms of motor tax.

It has been long overdue and admittedly Toyota lost some of the electric buzz to the likes of Opel’s Ampera, which for all the media attention is still a couple of years from delivery.

Mitsubishi will have its fully electric plug-in city car, the i-Miev, on sale in Ireland next year. For now we’ll have to wait and see if any of these plug-in Priuses make it to Ireland under the test programme.

First impressions behind the wheel suggest it will be another string to the Prius’s bow, making a car that remains something of an icon of green motoring even more attractive.

After several months of bad news about recalls and the loss of its leadership in electric car development, it could offer a much-needed boost to the brand, if they can get it into showrooms.

SOURCE: Irish Times

Toyota will start leasing 150 of its Prius plug-in hybrids in the United States this winter and plans retail sales of tens of thousands in two years.

The North American arrival, scheduled for around February, is part of a global rollout of 600 units.

With a longer electric-only cruise range than the standard Prius, the plug-in is Toyota’s answer to the Chevrolet Volt extended-range hybrid being launched next year by General Motors Co.

The plug-in Prius gets a lithium ion battery and will have an electric-only range of 14.5 miles before the gasoline engine kicks in and the car drives like the standard Prius hybrid.

The Volt also uses a lithium ion battery pack to power an electric motor for about 40 miles. After that a small gasoline engine recharges the battery but never runs the car.

Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada said Toyota plans retail sales of several tens of thousands of units in two years, after leasing them in the United States, Japan and Europe.

In the meantime, Toyota may tweak the technology and the design, especially for overseas markets where drivers may need bigger batteries to travel longer distances.

“We will see what happens in the field,” Uchiyamada said at the launch of leasing in Japan. “We may have to adjust the number of batteries carried on board. So please stay tuned.”

The plug-in Prius is nearly identical to the third-generation Prius launched earlier this year. It has the same electric motor and 1.8-liter gasoline engine as the standard Prius.

But the plug-in gets lithium ion batteries, instead of nickel-metal hydride ones. That allows for higher voltage and more energy storage.

Toyota said the retail plug-in Prius would be “affordable,” but the company didn’t give details on its retail or lease pricing. The leased cars will be used by governments and businesses.

SOURCE: Autoweek.com

It’s the little things that count.

In the continual search to squeeze every last little erg of energy from its hybrid systems, Toyota has been continually tweaking the systems used in the Prius and using this knowledge in other Toyota and Lexus models. The culmination of these new developments can be found in the third-generation 2010 Prius.

These new systems are aimed at reducing parasitic losses and increasing electric-only operation – resulting in lower fuel consumption and emissions. They also allow for faster cabin warm-up, increased precision of accessories and lower maintenance.

It all centres on the engine. Like the internal combustion engine in virtually every hybrid, regardless of manufacture, that in the Prius operates on what is known as the Atkinson cycle, named after James Atkinson who invented an alternative to the Otto cycle engine in 1882.

The power stoke in the Atkinson cycle engine is longer than the compression stroke, resulting in greater efficiency, i.e. mileage – but less power. The reduced power is a fair trade for improved mileage in a hybrid because the added torque from the electric motor more than makes up for it.

To further reduce the amount of fossil fuel required, Toyota has eliminated the accessory drive belts from the Prius engine. Normally the water and power steering pumps and the air conditioning compressor are turned/operated by a belt connected to the crankshaft. Obviously it takes power to turn these pumps and fuel has to be used to produce that power.

Toyota, and several other companies, have replaced these conventional pumps with electrically driven units, thus eliminating the belts and their parasitic drag on the engine.

A side benefit is that an electrically driven water pump, instead of turning all the time because it is connected to the engine, can be turned on and off as required. For example, in cold-start conditions there is no need to circulate cold fluid. By waiting for the fluid within the engine to become heated before engaging the pump, warm-ups are faster – both for the engine and the passenger compartment.

By regulating exhaust gas recirculation and taking advantage of the lower exhaust temperature inherent in the Atkinson cycle engine, Toyota engineers have been able to reduce the need to richen the mixture during high-load conditions, such as climbing grades, passing or during sustained high-speed driving.

The “cooled EGR” system allows precisely controlled amounts of spent exhaust gases to enter the intake stream, lowering exhaust gas temperatures from about 880 degrees C to 150 degrees, improving volumetric efficiency.

But there is a time when hot exhaust gases are a distinct benefit to hybrids – during cold weather.

The vast majority of the reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emissions result from shutting the engine off while the vehicle is stationary. This occurs most often in city or heavy traffic conditions, which is why hybrids are most effective in those settings. They are programmed to shut down once the vehicle has been at rest for a second or two and restart instantly when the driver’s foot is taken of the brake pedal.

But in cold winter weather, engine heat is required to keep the passenger cabin at a comfy temperature. The cold also means greater demand on the electric motor during restarts, especially until the engine is warm. At very cold temps, the batteries so essential to hybrid operation also become less efficient. So Toyota engineers developed a system that uses exhaust heat to raise coolant temperatures more quickly.

Exhaust heat is captured just downstream from the catalytic converter where it is hottest. A control valve forces this hot air stream to circulate in a closed chamber, heating coolant in a surrounding container. Once the engine gets up to proper operating temperature, a valve closes and the exhaust stream bypasses the recovery system and continues out the pipe in the normal manner.

This system allows the use of the engine stop feature more quickly on cold days – improving mileage on those short hauls to work.

Individually, these approaches make only incremental improvements. Collectively, they make a big difference.

SOURCE: The Globe and Mail

Just how far has the automotive world come in the past few years? The Toyota Prius has just won Consumer Guide Automotive’s best buy status. And it’s not just a mainstream consumer magazine that is recognizing hybrids, Car & Driver magazine, a publication that is about as oil drenched and horsepower addicted as they come, has just awarded the Ford Fusion Hybrid a spot on its coveted 10 Best Cars For 2010 list.

Consumer Guide Automotive has been cranking out reviews for new and used cars for over 40 years, and their 2010 Best Buy and Recommended Awards is aimed for the general car buying public to make car buying easier. It’s about as wide ranging an inventory of recommendations as you could ask for, suggesting the best overall values in 18 vehicle categories.

“This once fringe technology has finally matured,” said Tom Appel, Associate Publisher at Consumer Guide Automotive speaking of Toyota’s Prius.

The standouts on the list are hybrids and alt-fueled cars. In addition to the list-topping Prius, there are a record setting 23 hybrid or diesel fueled cars that receive recognition. Another notable car on the list was Ford’s Fusion, which was given “Best Buy” honors in the midsize car category by Consumer Guide. They did not specify which Fusion, but it’s worth noting that the Fusion Hybrid has been a real stand-out since its introduction.

At least that’s the way Car & Driver feels about Ford’s hybrid sedan.

When C&D announced their 28th annual list of 10Best cars sold in America this week, it was hard not to notice that the Ford Fusion Hybrid was on the list. It was one of only two American made cars (the other being the 2010 Cadillac CTS / CTS-V) and was only the second hybrid ever given the honor. The other being the Toyota Prius, that made the list in 2004.

Car & Driver was fairly up front about the inclusion of the Fusion Hybrid, saying putting it on the list was “A positive sign of the times for a US car manufacturer … ‘ The rest of the list is about what you’d expect from Car & Driver: the Porsche Boxster / Cayman, the BMW 3-series / M3 and Honda Accord made the list, and of course the evergreen Mazda MX-5 (a long running favorite of ours here at Autopia).

Maybe, finally, things are starting to turn a corner. Perhaps with people like the staff of Car & Driver coming on board, there will not only be more acceptance of hybrids and alt-fuels by the car buying public in general, but also acceptance by the dyed-in-the-wool hot rodders out there too.

SOURCE: Wired

A top executive with the U.S. arm of Toyota Motor Corp said on Monday the automaker may expand the Prius nameplate into a marketing sub-brand for a broad family of low-emission, high-mileage hybrid vehicles.

Speaking at the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit, Bob Carter, the group vice president and general manager of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc, said the proposal was controversial within the company and that a final decision on the idea was more than a year away.

But as long as Prius was expanded only into a sub-brand and not a separate franchise, Carter said the change “was one that I support.” He said he believed his boss, Jim Lentz, the president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, supported the idea, too.

“Prius has become such an icon in the market that it is my desire, and the desire by many of us … that we nurture Prius beyond one vehicle and more into a family of vehicles,” Carter said.

Life beyond Prius’ current incarnation as a sedan comparable to the company’s Camry might include making it bigger “to meet the needs of larger families” and “smaller to meet the needs of people who do not need the space of a mid-sized sedan,” Carter said.

He said Toyota currently claimed about three-quarters of the hybrid market and that it expects to sell globally “in excess of 1 million hybrids per year in the relatively near future.” He said that by the 2020s, hybrids would be either optional or standard equipment on every vehicle Toyota sells.

Carter said consumer demand for clean, efficient vehicles remained high despite a dramatic retreat in fuel prices over the past year.

“It’s almost as if the consumer is saying, ‘Yes, I understand fuel prices are low today but I am buying this car with the intention of driving it five or six years and I don’t have confidence that fuel prices will stay low,’” he said

Carter said Toyota, which already offers seven hybrids in its Toyota and Lexus lines, planned to introduce 10 more globally in the coming years.

Source: Reuters

In addition to getting higher gas mileage, there’s good safety news about three 2010 small cars – including two hybrids – from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Honda Insight and Toyota Prius hybrids and the Kia Soul all received the Insurance Institute’s top rating of Good (on a scale of Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor) in front, side and rear crash testing. They are all going to be Top Safety Picks. To be a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle has to earn good ratings in all three tests and must offer electronic stability control.

Electronic stability control comes as standard equipment on all Soul and Prius models. It is standard equipment on the more expensive models of the Insight, the EX and EX with the navigation system; it is not even available as an option on the least expensive model, the LX.

The Insurance Institute did not conduct its own front and side crash tests of the Prius. Because the previous generation of the Prius received good ratings in the two tests, it was eligible for the agency’s crash test verification program. Under this program, the Insurance Institute asks automakers to provide their crash test data and film of the crash tests for a particular vehicle. The Insurance Institute’s engineers then verify the data, said Russ Rader, a spokesman for the institute. During the year they will then randomly crash test a couple of vehicles from the program as a spot check to ensure they are getting accurate information from the automakers.

Here are some detailed findings from the crash tests:

• In the Insight’s frontal crash, the driver dummy’s head hit the side curtain air bag, which deployed, keeping the head away from stiff structures in the vehicle that could cause injury. In the Insight’s side impact there was a possibility of rib fractures, but the risk of other significant injuries was low.
• In the Prius’ frontal crash test, the driver dummy’s head hit the B-pillar (the one next to the shoulder), but the impact was relatively low. The dummy’s head also hit the steering wheel through the air bag and that impact was hard.
• On the frontal impact in the Soul, the dummy’s head leaned part of the way out the open side window and hit the top and rear portions of the window frame, but the force was low. The dummy’s head also hit the steering wheel through the front air bag, indicating that head injuries would be possible.

It is important to keep in mind that the frontal impact results are valid only when comparing models of about the same weight. A Prius and an Insight would do a good job of protecting occupants if they were in a crash with each other or other vehicles of similar size. If they were in a crash with even a slightly larger vehicle, which a recent test done by the institute showed, the same results would most likely not apply. Side crash test results, however, apply no matter what size vehicles you are comparing.

SOURCE: New York Times

The British Army has recently taken delivery of 50 “green cars” as part of its long-term plans to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions produced by its vehicles.

The deal, brokered by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) through its leasing partners Lex and VT Group, concerns 50 Toyota hybrid vehicles, which switch automatically between petrol engine and electric motor, depending on driving conditions.

The cars produce 104g/km of CO2, compared to the 154g/km emissions produced by the vehicles they are replacing.

The Army is working towards a government target to ensure all cars procured between 2007 and 2011 produce on average less than 130g/km of CO2.

The Army has also ordered another 1,250 vehicles, which are due by the end of the year, emitting 119g/km of CO2.

Brigadier Mark Armstrong, who leads the Army’s sustainable development projects, said that with the delivery of hybrid vehicles, the Army was already ahead of schedule in terms of emission targets set for 2011.

It is expected that with further deals to come before 2011, CO2 emissions will be well below the 130g/km target.

SOURCE: Leasing Life

The 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid is probably one of the biggest success stories for electric cars. Prius is selling so fast that it could rival the 2010 Honda Insight as the most selling hybrid automobile. So far, there have been 110,000 cars sold since its release date in Japan.

Prius is a third-generation vehicle which has prompted higher demand for Toyota. Major dealerships are flooded with orders, and while it’s a different market than in North America, it does give some indication on how well the hybrid could do in the United States. Prior to going on sale, Toyota received 80,000 pre-orders.

Toyota has set its monthly goal at 10,000 new Prius hybrids. If the automaker succeeds the goal, it will become the top-selling car in the country. The Prius is currently battling the 2010 Honda Insight is holding the top spot.

One of the reasons for the sudden increase of sales is partly because the Japanese government is offering new hybrid tax credits. The government also approved a new incentive on Friday, which gives the consumer a cash back rebate for trading in cars 13 years or older. This is one way to get consumers to switch from convention gasoline vehicles to new green cars.

It is now up to the IRS if it wants to extend a hybrid vehicle tax credit for the Prius. There has been some talk of issuing similar government incentives when the Toyota hybrid is released in the United States. The Obama Administration is raising the minimal MPG rating on new cars to 35.

Hybrid cars can save money for consumers, but it depends on the driver. Certain techniques such as coasting to stops before braking will increase mileage on the automobile. Toyota also offers an eight-year warrant which covers all hybrid components for the vehicle.

Toyota is also increasing production for its Prius Hybrid to meet higher demand. The May sales reports will be an interesting study.

SOURCE: NewsOxy

Orders in Japan for Toyota’s new Prius hybrid have topped a booming 110,000, a major dealership chain said Saturday, in what is turning out to be a rare bright spot in the gloomy auto market.

The third-generation Prius officially rolled out in Japan just two weeks ago. But dealers are already flooded with orders, including some placed weeks in advance, according to the dealership.

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s biggest automaker, said two weeks ago that it received 80,000 advance orders, and has not updated that number.

But the Toyota Tokyo Corolla dealer said Saturday that nationwide orders at Toyota dealerships in Japan, including those of rivals, have soared to 110,000. Dealers tally their customer orders differently from the way manufacturers do.

But any way you slice it, the Prius is a hit. Toyota has set its monthly sales target for Japan at 10,000 new Prius cars — a figure that should make it the top-selling car in the country.

As the orders stack up, the company looks on track to meet or even surpass its goal and take that crown — an astonishing accomplishment for a hybrid, although the Prius is fighting competition from another new hybrid, Honda Motor Co.’s Insight.

Hybrids are in demand partly because the Japanese government began offering tax exemptions for the cars to encourage their sales earlier this year.

Parliament gave consumers added incentive Friday when it approved a cash-back rebate for trading in cars 13 years or older for greener cars.

Hybrids also promise savings on gas. In Japan, where frequent stop-and-go traffic lowers the fuel efficiency of gas-engine cars but actually raises it in hybrids, the Prius is promising nearly 90 miles per gallon (38 kilometers per liter). In heavy traffic, hybrids rely on their electric motors and thus burn no gas.

The overall Japanese auto market has been languishing for years, with vehicle sales falling to their lowest level in more than three decades last year. Demand has worsened since the U.S. financial crisis sent this nation into a recession.

Toyota, which also makes Lexus luxury models and the Camry sedan, has said it is increasing Prius production to meet demand.

But it is still expecting a 550 billion yen ($5.7 billion) loss for the fiscal year through March 2010, its second straight year in the red, because of the global auto slump and the unfavorable exchange rate in a strong yen.

SOURCE: Associated Press

The new 2010 automobiles will soon change the future in transportation as conventional vehicles make the switch to hybrid cars. The new cars also qualify for government incentives to use as a 2009 hybrid car tax credit. Hybrid cars can achieve better fuel efficiency and are led by car manufacturers including Ford Motor Company, Toyota, Honda, and General Motors.

If you’re in the market to buy a new eco-friendly car, you may want to check out the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Toyota Prius, or the Honda Insight. These hybrids are the ones we reviewed so far, and I’m sure the list will keep building as we test-drive and gather more information. Owning one of the environmental safe vehicles will also qualify for government incentives to obtain a 2009 hybrid car tax credit.

While GM might be heading for bankruptcy on June 1, 2009, it’s clear what direction the car manufacturer is heading. It has three prototypes of a new electric vehicle known as the Chevy Volt. The Volt can plugin to any 110 volt outlet to recharge.

Only time will tell if hybrid cars will reduce America’s dependency for foreign oil. However, one thing is for sure, that the battery electric cars are fuel efficient. The bottom line is, this will save time and the price at the pump for automobile owners. The other matters to consider are the distances and mileage a person drives each day.

America experienced the worst gas crises in 2008. Prices soared to nearly $5.00 per gallon in some states, while the national average was about $4.50. Small cars were costing drivers as much as $80 to fill up at the pump. Skeptics argue that the automakers are 20 years behind while foreign countries are price gauging.

Some people have often wondered how hybrid cars work. This would be another topic of discussion, but one that is very fascinating. Most people believe that running a cord between the electrical outlet to the vehicle will do the trick. However, some car manufacturers are coming up with some new techniques.

Some car makers are using the brake pedal as a way to power accessories such as air conditioning by sending the energy directly to the battery to store a recharge. This method is utilizing all possible ways to produce energy from the driver without taxing comfort ability and the driving experience.

SOURCE: NewsOxy

Motorists will have a wider range of choices of eco-friendly vehicles after Japan’s top hybrid makers decided to market their products in competition with Hyundai-Kia models. With Toyota and Honda poised to release their versions, Hyundai-Kia’s first commercial production of more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicles is also underway.

Toyota’s signature model, the Prius, will be available in Korea in October. The newest edition, which was released Monday in Japan, posted 75,000 sales orders even before its launch. Honda is also biding its time before introducing its hybrid, the New Insight, to Korean customers.

Hyundai-Kia Automotive plans to launch liquefied petroleum injection hybrid editions of its sedans, the Avante and the Forte, in July and September, respectively.

The Prius has a fuel efficiency of some 30 kilometers per liter, well ahead of the 17.2 kilometers of the Avante. That’s also linked to the reason Hyundai-Kia decided to go for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) instead of gasoline in the development of hybrid models. Since LPG is cheaper than gasoline, low fuel costs can offset the disadvantage in fuel efficiency.

Hyundai-Kia is also currently working on a gas hybrid of the Sonata sedan. The launch of this new model is scheduled for later this year, before debuting in the U.S. market early next year. Backed by this advantage, prices will play the decisive factor for Japanese makers, industry watchers say.

If Toyota offers relatively reasonable prices, and the yen becomes cheaper against the won, prices of the Prius could come down to around 30 million won, according to industry sources. In Japan, the latest Prius model starts at 2.05 million yen. Avante and Forte hybrids, on the other hand, are expected to go for about 25 million won.

Experts say Japanese models could dominate the hybrid market if their prices are set below the 30 million won mark. The Japanese vehicles have already proved themselves over a decade-long history in global markets. Nearly 1.25 million Prius sedans have been sold worldwide since it was first launched in 1997.

“With the price set under 30 million won, the Prius could even make inroads into the Korean mid-sized sedan market, beyond the hybrid one,” Prof. Kim Pil-soo of Daelim College said. Still, it remains to be seen whether Toyota will introduce a cheaper or high-end edition here. In Japan, the highest-class Prius model is sold at over 40 million won.

Toyota Korea said the price policy for the vehicle is still flexible.

“Nothing has been confirmed about the price,” a Toyota official said. “For now, I can only say it will be decided at a level not too far ahead or behind those of our possible rivals in the market.” Hybrid vehicles are regarded as having the biggest potential for market expansion. Last year, a total of 496,000 were sold worldwide, growing over three times in four years from 163,000 in 2004.

Currently, Japanese makers take up more than 90 percent of the global market, with Toyota accounting for more than 80 percent.

SOURCE: Korea Times

Kyocera Corporation announced that it is supplying solar modules for the new Toyota Prius solar ventilation system, an optional feature on the next generation of the popular hybrid car, which was unveiled yesterday in Japan.

No terms of the supply contract were announced.

The system ventilates the air inside the car using electricity generated by a solar module on the rooftop to power fans while the car is parked during the daytime. This feature is meant to moderate the build up of heat within the vehicle on sunny days.

Kyocera said it has set up a dedicated production line for the solar modules that have been tested to confirm resistance to heat, vibration and shock.

A high level of aesthetic quality was also required of the solar modules to be mounted on the roof of the new Prius model. Kyocera said the panels will be a uniform dark navy blue.

Since 2002, Kyocera has made solar cells utilizing what it calls Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) technology. RIE creates microscopic ridges on the surface of the cell using plasma and reactive gases. Kyocera says the subtle ridges allow the solar cells to better absorb sunlight reflected on the surface, therefore enhancing output and conversion efficiency

Kyocera Corporation, which marks its 50th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations this year, is ranked #418 on the Forbes magazine’s 2009 “Global 2000” listing of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.

SOURCE: Sustainable Business News

A fleet of Vauxhall Vectras owned by the British Army has been replaced by the more eco-friendly Toyota Prius.

The vehicles, which use both petrol and an electric motor, were recently collected from a Bolton-based dealership.

Director of Infrastructure Brigadier Mark Armstrong said that vehicles belonging to the armed forces are changed over on a constant basis.

‘When we change our vehicles we are looking for value for money but also having in mind those targets the Government has set us on sustainable operations,’ he remarked.

Brigadier Armstrong added that HQ Land Forces was now ahead of schedule in terms of meeting green targets set by the government.

By 2011, all vehicles used by the army from 2007 must substantially reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide.

Next month sees the first ever Armed Forces Day taking place.

Held on June 27th, the event will commemorate members of the armed forces and will see celebrations organised in cities including Manchester, Plymouth, Nottingham and Edinburgh.

SOURCE: GET

Bell Cab introduced the city’s first hybrid taxis in Los Angeles in what politicians hope is the just the first of many in the city’s fleet of 2,303. Controller-Elect and current Transportation Committee Chair, Councilmember Wendy Greuel requested the city to create a green taxi plan and today challenged other cab companies to follow suit. “Taxi’s in Los Angeles might be different colors on the outside, but my goal is for them all to be green on the inside,” she said.

As Curbed LA notes, “we’re kind of late to this game: already, 14 percent of San Francisco’s 1,438 taxis are hybrids, while hybrids make up 15 percent of New York’s 13,237 fleet.”

The average taxicab in the City of Los Angeles produces 36.7 pounds per year of smog and 42.4 tons of Green House Gases per year, according to Greuel’s office. The new Toyota Prius hybrid’s produce only 4 pounds of smog and 15.9 tons of Green House Gases per year.

SOURCE: The LAist

Researchers presenting their findings at the meeting of the Acoustical Society of America say that hybrid vehicles are so quiet they may present a danger to pedestrians. Karen Hopkin reports

Excerpt from the Scientific American Podcast:

Hybrid cars are good for the environment. But scientists say that they might be bad for pedestrians. Because hybrids are so quiet, it can be hard for walkers to hear them until it’s too late. Listen to this. [quiet car sound]

That’s a Toyota Prius moving at five miles an hour. If you didn’t hear anything, well, that’s what worries scientists at the University of California, Riverside. They recorded the sounds made by an approaching hybrid vehicle and by a car with a standard, internal combustion engine. They then asked listeners wearing headphones to determine whether the car was coming from the left or the right.

Turns out people could hear the standard vehicle from about 36 feet away. But the hybrid was able to sneak up to just 11 feet away before listeners knew where it was coming from. And when the scientists added some background noise, people couldn’t pinpoint the direction of the Prius until it had already passed them by, results they’ll be presenting at the May meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in Portland, Oregon. The solution, they say, is to require a “minimum sound” for all late model cars. No annoying beeps or alarms. Just something to supply that new-car sound.

SOURCE and PODCAST at: Scientific American