Everyone knows that it is unlikely that the future of the automotive industry relies on cars running on petrol or diesel. In fact, it is fair to assume that the coming few years or decade will probably spell the beginning of the end for all cars that depend purely on these environmentally unfriendly fuels. What we aren’t so good at predicting, however, is what will replace this technology. We know it will be something greener and more energy efficient (as our sources of fuel are fast running out on this poor planet), but as for more than that we simply can’t decide.
As such, car manufacturers all over the world are putting their eggs in very different baskets. Some cite solar power as a future possibility, whilst others predict that Fuel cells running on hydrogen will be the next big thing. Toyota, trying to predict what will be the next range of used Toyotas on the futuristic market, have decided that electric cars and hybrids are the way to go.
Hybrid technology is a reasonably safe bet at this moment in time, as the technology and future fuel networks (and nation filled with plugs for your cars!) already exist or can exist with minimal effort and less research. Whether this will last for year and years or be replaced as fast as it arrives simply waits to be seen, but Toyota are definitely on board the wagon and heading down the road fast.
On that note, welcome the Toyota drive system known as Hybrid Synergy Drive, which breaks us into the concept of electric cars gently and smoothly. We all worry that a single electric car battery won’t get us to our destination, and so until this technology is perfected and thoroughly tested it makes sense for us to opt for a car that has fuel and electricity so that we can definitely go the distance. Whilst the Prius, Toyotas flagship hybrid model, has been out for ages and is a staple at American used Toyota dealerships, a whole range featuring this technology in such a seamless integration is quite a revelation.
So, what benefits do Toyota claim to offer with their Hybrid Synergy Drive? Will it be coming to a range of Toyota models near you, or will they chicken out and only keep it with the Prius?
The range claims to offer high fuel and CO2 efficiencies, as you would expect from a car that doesn’t use petrol or diesel to power everything it does. This is done through making the most of start/stop technology and special engines designed for function and efficiency. Add to this a high energy battery (although not high energy enough to exist by itself), and you have a really economical system, saving us money and helping the environment. It also offers a quieter drive than normal thanks to the electric contribution, and this helps build on an excellent performance.
