Playing With Hybrids | Green Energy News

December 19, 2004 – Vol.9 No.39

PLAYING WITH HYBRIDS.

Hybrid cars were developed, initially, to deliver better fuel economy and lower emissions than comparable conventional cars.

But boys will be boys, motorheads love a new toy and soon enough someone will try to see how fast a hybrid can go. The heck with fuel efficiency.

Soon enough was during the week of August 14-17, 2004 when a crew from Toyota North America drove a modified Prius to a top speed of more than 130 miles per hour across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Big wheels, a tweaked transmission, higher voltage to the car’s electric motor and some weight removal helped the otherwise stock car streak across the three-mile course.

The car set the first hybrid speed record. Now, of course, others can challenge the record. (Bet on Honda’s Accord Hybrid with its 255 horsepower to become the next speed champ.)

Visit Toyota media at http://pressroom.toyota.com/ .