| Any consumer looking to purchase a hybrid vehicle | | | | an eco-friendly car. In fact, the major issue of the |
| knows the name Toyota Prius Hybrid, and knows | | | | Prius had previously been issues with the battery's |
| that it is the foremost and oldest hybrid vehicle on | | | | longevity, and now that it had been solved, the |
| the market. When I say old, though, I don't mean | | | | current Prius hybrid cars contain batteries that are |
| decrepit. On the contrary, this particular hybrid looks | | | | able to last around seven to ten years. Unfortunately, |
| as sleek as the name sounds, a futuristic look that is | | | | though, the hope was that with hybrid cars, the |
| sleek and new. This particular hybrid was the first | | | | batteries would be able to last much longer than they |
| released to the public in 1997, and has remained one | | | | currently can, in order to make the vehicle as useful |
| of the more distinctive, well-known hybrids. An initial | | | | as possible. |
| look at the Prius shows the car's unique upright | | | | In Japan, the Toyota Prius took off as an immediate |
| headlights, the interestingly functional and trendy | | | | hit, and that prompted the company to decide that |
| bonnet and bumpers, showing just how unique the | | | | marketing the hybrid in offshore markets would be |
| vehicle is. Even if you were to completely ignore the | | | | much more profitable, as countries, especially the U.S., |
| unique look of the vehicle, though, no matter how | | | | were looking for eco-friendly vehicles. The problem |
| head-turning it may seem, the Toyota Prius is still one | | | | was that while the US market wanted these |
| of the absolutely most intriguing hybrid vehicles | | | | eco-friendly vehicles that had boosted car sales in |
| available now. | | | | Japan, the general population was unaware of most |
| The very history of the Toyota Prius is quite | | | | of the benefits that the Prius could offer. As a result, |
| interesting. In 1994, the concerns of environmentalists | | | | the car was resigned in 2004 and this gained interest |
| on fuel emissions and pollution led the Japanese | | | | from the US market. Technically using a marketing |
| Toyota Motor Corporation to develop a car that | | | | perspective, the car was a financial success, as well |
| would be stylish, sophisticated, and also deal with | | | | as leading the way for other hybrid vehicles. |
| these environmental concerns. The first and | | | | In the creation of the Prius, Toyota created its very |
| immediate plan from the manufacturing team at | | | | own treasure trove, an investment that would last |
| Toyota was that of a hybrid engine. Now, while it | | | | the company. This hybrid was a breakthrough in |
| was a noble endeavour, the first hybrid engine had a | | | | automotive technology, and because it was so |
| slew of problems, and so an additional three years | | | | successful in the US, it set the bar that other hybrids |
| were given so that the design could be approved for | | | | have had to compete again, even amongst other |
| construction and later produced for the market. | | | | Toyotas. Considering the name itself, Prius, which is |
| It wouldn't be until December of 1997 that the Prius | | | | Latin for "going before," this car certainly is a true |
| Hybrid was ready for production, and the vehicle | | | | predecessor for all other hybrids, and each one of |
| premiered to a market that was desperately seeking | | | | them should seek to improve off of this vehicle. |