Toyota is the unquestionable leader of the automotive industry for hybrid vehicles. It all started over two decades ago with the debut of the Toyota Prius. The iconic liftback showed that a hybrid vehicle could be both a practical reality and appealing to automotive customers. Since then, the Toyota hybrid lineup has greatly expanded. Toyota offers more hybrid vehicles than any other automaker. The heart of Toyota hybrid vehicles is the time-tested Toyota Hybrid System. Read more to find out how it works.
Overview of the Toyota Hybrid System
The components and layout of the Toyota Hybrid System vary for each Toyota Hybrid model, but they all include an electric motor, a gasoline engine, a power control unit, a power split device, a generator, and a battery pack, as well as a special type of transmission for channeling the power to the wheels. The Toyota Hybrid System maximizes efficiency by seamlessly transitioning between gasoline and electric power according to the driving situation.
The balance of power output for the Toyota Hybrid System shifts more heavily towards the gasoline engine if a Toyota hybrid vehicle is driving at highway speeds. When the gasoline engine is operating, it charges the battery. When driving in city traffic or low-speed driving situations, the Toyota Hybrid System can operate on electric-only power for short distances for zero-emissions driving. Toyota hybrid vehicles also come equipped with brake regeneration technology, which utilizes the energy that’s emitted when the brakes are applied.
Read More: Feature Highlights of the 2021 Toyota Prius 2020 Edition
What hybrid vehicles does Toyota offer?
In addition to the Prius, Toyota offers many other hybrid models. This includes the RAV4 Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, Corolla Hybrid, and Avalon Hybrid. Also, Toyota offers plug-in hybrid versions of the RAV4 (RAV4 Prime) and Prius (Prius Prime), which have a higher electric-only range.
