Toyota’s green lining in a gray cloud

FRUGAL BUT FUN It’s the kind of bragging even Mama Nature would love. Over its lifetime, the Prius emits 43 percent less C02 than a gasoline vehicle of comparative engine displacement. Photo by Tessa R. Salazar

THE OVERCAST sky didn’t dampen the mood of the reforestation volunteers in Tuguegarao and Peñablanca. And it surely wasn’t a depressing sight to see a dark gray Prius roaming about the city and the reforestation area, for beneath the gray hood, it’s mostly green.

The third-generation Prius, such as the one Inquirer Motoring drove to Peñablanca, features a 1.8-liter gasoline engine coupled with an electric motor that, combined, can provide a power output comparative to a 2.4-liter engine, yet gets fuel efficiencies that can reach up to a frugal 38 km per liter.

The 500-km, 12-hour route from Manila to Tuguegarao via Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela provinces yielded a best consumption of 4.7 liters per 100km (or 21.28 km per liter) as indicated in the digital information chart.

On a previous trip using the same route, the Prius gave out a fuel mileage reading of 24 km to a liter, running at an average speed of 38 kph. When the running speed went up to 45 kph at the highways, the fuel consumption went down to 16 km/liter, then down further to 12.416 km/liter at the 65 kph average. However, using the cruise controls along the expressways at a set speed of 100 kph and at Eco Mode, the fuel mileage improved to 18 km/liter.

Just like before, the Prius held its own against the forces of momentum on the mostly zig-zag roads of the North, considering that it was bulkier (more spacious than the CT200h).

The route was ideal for the three driving modes (Eco, Power, and EV for full battery operation up to a certain speed) due to different types of road and traffic conditions, but the Eco Drive was set all the way to maximize fuel savings. That mode was enough to manage the winding mountain passes. The easy-to-understand energy monitor showed where power was going to, or coming from.

Bobbit Mamawal, TMP vice president for customer service operations technical department, described the Prius’ hybrid as possessing the best power train, with consistent torque for a seamless performance. He said that a series parallel hybrid “is like two (Lance) Armstrongs together,” while a mild hybrid is “like a father and son out on a Sunday run.” He added that the third-generation Prius uses no fan belts anymore and uses only one watt electrical power for the daylighting by using LEDs. The co-efficient of drag has further improved from .26 to .25, with the profile and the spoiler looking even better.

The global demand for smaller cars, and hybrids like the Prius have soared. However, the local demand for hybrids have been hampered by the steep retail price, no thanks to the absence of tax breaks to bring the prices down to a more competitive level.

Nevertheless, the global consumer demand for Toyota hybrids helps minimize the auto industry’s overall environmental impact. Sales of more than 1.7 million Toyota hybrid models have contributed to a 9 million-ton reduction in CO2 emissions. And even during the production process, a Prius has a lower impact on the environment than a conventional vehicle. For example, the Prius’ use of ecological plastics helps reduce CO2 emissions compared to using petroleum-based plastics; Prius’ recyclable materials include the Toyota Super Olefin Polymer and Recycled Sound Proofing Products.

Collectively, the Prius, the other hybrid cars from upscale sister company Lexus, and the reforestation projects are part of the Toyota Earth Charter.

Lexus Manila’s Carlo Chungungco explains that the RX 450h is “equipped with part time four-wheel drive with rear drive provided by electric motors instead of the differential to save weight without compromising drivability.”