LiveWorld Transcripts

Toyota presents

Toyota Prius Demo Families
The Toyota Prius: The World’s First Production Hybrid Gasoline/Electric Vehicle

November 11, 1999

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Bedford: There are several reasons. The first is environmental. The second is that it's a limited resource. And the third is that gas can get expensive at any time.

DeWald: You can save money!

Curious1: Does your hybrid use the same technology as Honda’s?

Judy: No. The concepts are different in the fact that the Prius uses gasoline and electric motors in conjunction one another. The Honda Insight uses the electric motor only for assist, and the gasoline engine always has to be running. On the Prius, you can drive it purely electric.

DeWald: The gasoline engine turns off from time to time and you run on stored energy. Therefore, there's no emission, noise, or gas going anywhere. It has much more efficient gasoline usage. It has two doors more than the Honda Insight. It's a bigger car.

Rfoy: If the electric motor fails, can you drive the Prius using only the gas engine?

Judy: No. Since the engines work in conjunction, they are not meant to drive separately.

DeWald: You don't have a choice. The onboard computer makes those decisions for you. At some point it could be running on gasoline only, but you don't have to make that decision. You don't have to be a thinking man, just a driving man, or woman!

GoatsNboats: Does the Prius drive like a normal car?

Bedford: It drives easier than my regular car! Put it in gear, just focus on the driving! The car does the work.

DeWald: Its' very normal! Better than normal! If you're asking if it's odd, or weird, or if there are any surprises, it's very normal!

Judy: I agree with that!

Nelanj: What are some of the highlights of the Prius?

DeWald: Oh great! It is so wonderfully easy to handle and drive. It's a dream! There's so much space on the interior, and the visibility is fantastic! We live in the rainy part of the country, so that's a plus! The acceleration is great, and you don't have to worry about losing any power. You can get on the freeway, and stopping the brakes is great. I love the turning radius; it brakes short. It's a good-looking car, and the seats are comfortable. That's everything!

Judy: The onboard computer is a definite plus!

Bedford: I liked the digital speedometer readout. The placing is near the windshield, not behind your steering wheel. I appreciated that.

DeWald: Everyone that rode in the back seat said how there was a lot of room there.

Fntan: Do you have to plug the car in?

Judy: No. The car is not designed to be plugged in. The gasoline engine provides all the power to recharge the battery.

Belvedere: What is the best feature of the car?

DeWald: The best feature is the economical and environmental impact that it makes. For the environment, it saves on the non-renewable resource, and we use less of it.

Ds929: When the gasoline is running, does it charge the electric or do you have to go to a charging station?

Judy: The computer makes the decision whether the batteries need topped off or not. There are two ways in which the battery gets power. One is the gasoline, and the other is regenitive braking.

Ds929: What is the top speed on this car?

Judy: This car will do 100 mph.

Nicki: Will we be able to purchase the Prius, or will we only be able to lease the car?

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