http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/66260/prius_hits_113mpg.html
Prius hits 113mpg
Tyota is charging ahead in the race for domination of the hybrid car
market, according to Auto Express spies.
The firm's next Prius will be so efficient it will be the first
production car capable of returning more than 110mpg. The newcomer is
being developed to try to improve European sales. While the car has
been a success in the US, it has met a mixed reaction on this side of
the Atlantic, due to the popularity of diesel models.
But now we've been told that engineers working on the new Prius have a
fuel economy target of 40km/litre - a mind-boggling 113mpg.
"The whole electrical system has been redesigned to improve economy"
said one Toyota engineer. "We are working on
a prototype that runs solely on the electric motor in slow traffic, but
switches to engine and motor drive when higher speeds are needed." The
secret lies with the batteries. The current Prius uses nickel-hydride
items, which currently offer the best balance between cost and
performance.
But engineers are working on new lithium on cells, which are lighter,
smaller, generate more power and last longer. Subaru and Mitsubishi
both plan to sell electric cars by 2010, but Toyota hopes to get its
new model on the road as early as 2008.
And improved economy isn't the firm's only goal, as engineers are
working on reducing the current car's 10.9-second 0-62mph time by more
than a second.
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