Exactly like the old car. It turns out that the fourth generation hybrid is the result of a deep restyling?

It wasn't there! The fourth Prius is brand new. It is based on the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) modular architecture, on which most of the company's models will be based in the foreseeable future. The share of high-strength steels in the body structure has increased from 3 to 19%, the torsional rigidity of the body has increased by 60% - this is with a curb weight reduced by 50 kg. Instead of a rear beam, the hybrid received an independent suspension, and the traction battery moved from the trunk under the seat. In fact, the former in the new Prius is only an internal combustion engine, and even that was noticeably improved. The Japanese managed to reduce friction losses and increase resistance to detonation. The thermodynamic efficiency of this engine is 40% - a record figure in the entire industry.

Claimed consumption in the region of 3 liters per 100 km - right? And why do the passport values of urban and suburban cycles practically do not differ?

Three liters per hundred, of course, is cunning. At least, . The best result was 3.9 l / 100 km during the haul from Moscow to Dmitrov with an average speed of 55 km / h. The most "terrifying" values on the screen of the trip computer were 5.5 l / 100 km - however, to achieve such a result on the Prius, you need to ruthlessly "bludgeon". Under normal conditions, the consumption in the urban and suburban cycles is really almost identical and is about 4.3–4.5 liters per hundred. Thanks to the regenerative braking system, which works surprisingly efficiently in the city.

Is it possible to pay off the "hybridity" of the Prius due to low fuel consumption?

Let's figure it out together. As a starting point, let's take a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter engine in the maximum configuration of the Prestige. Such a car costs 1,329,000 rubles and, in terms of consumer qualities, is as close as possible to the Prius (the same wheelbase and space in the back seat, the same power, a similar level of finish and equipment). The declared city consumption of a 1.6-liter Corolla in the city is 8.2 l / 100 km. On the highway - 5.3 l / 100 km. Of course, in reality, these values will be higher than stated. So let's take 9 l / 100 km as an average consumption, assuming that our hypothetical owner operates the car mainly in the city (recall, Prius consumption does not depend too much on the cycle and averages 4.5 l / 100 km). Thus, with an annual mileage of 25,000 km, the savings will be 1,125 liters, or 45,000 rubles (we equate one liter of AI-95 to 40 rubles). To compensate for the difference in price between the Corolla (1,329,000 rubles) and the Prius (2,112,000 rubles), it will take more than 17 years. Therefore, buying a hybrid in order to save money is utopian.

Then what's the point of it? What qualities can be written without a shadow of a doubt in the asset of the Prius?

The combination of handling and ride is commendable. The Prius handles even the toughest road imperfections perfectly and remains absolutely alive and fun to drive. Small rolls, rich feedback on the steering wheel. The Prius is also really quiet: you can’t hear the engine at all (unless you want to turn it into a cut-off), and the noise from the road penetrates the cabin only when driving on abrasive asphalt. Add a pleasant, well-finished interior. Plus, some will probably write down a flashy outrageous appearance as an asset to the “Japanese”.

Good. But what about the obvious cons?

And here, many will also write down the appearance. After the price of more than two million rubles, this is perhaps the next deterrent. In addition, the Prius has a small trunk (only 276 liters according to our measurements). And if we talk about driving properties, the brakes are frustrating. An electric motor can unceremoniously intervene in the braking process at any moment, so that the effort on the pedals “walks”. More recently, I had a chance to experience, which is devoid of such a feature. So, the father of all hybrids has something to strive for. Hybridity as such is no excuse.

What are the prospects for the fourth generation Prius in Russia?

I will be extremely careful in forecasts, but I have no doubt that the fourth Prius will become more popular than its predecessor. The fact is that for the whole of 2016 in Russia, only 16 third-generation hybrids were sold by official dealers. This is an absolute bottom, which the new product cannot break through. Believe it or not, I've even been lucky enough to see a fourth generation Prius on the road. Judging by the license plates, it belonged to a private individual, not to the Russian representative office of Toyota.

We deliberately stood in the toughest traffic jams, drove a circle around the Moscow Ring Road at night, counted every ruble spent and discussed the economic feasibility of the Prius.

The wheelbase of the new Prius is exactly the same as that of the old car. It turns out that the fourth generation hybrid is the result of a deep restyling?

Claimed consumption in the region of 3 liters per 100 km - right? And why do the passport values of urban and suburban cycles practically do not differ?

Three liters per hundred, of course, is cunning. At least, we did not even manage to come close to these indicators. The best result was 3.9 l / 100 km during the haul from Moscow to Dmitrov with an average speed of 55 km / h. The most "terrifying" values on the screen of the trip computer were 5.5 l / 100 km - however, to achieve such a result on the Prius, you need to ruthlessly "bludgeon". Under normal conditions, the consumption in the urban and suburban cycles is really almost identical and is about 4.3-4.5 liters per hundred. Thanks to the regenerative braking system, which works surprisingly efficiently in the city.

Is it possible to pay off the "hybridity" of the Prius due to low fuel consumption?

Let's figure it out together. As a starting point, let's take the Toyota Corolla sedan with a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter engine in the maximum Prestige configuration. Such a car costs 1,329,000 rubles and, in terms of consumer qualities, is as close as possible to the Prius (the same wheelbase and space in the back seat, the same power, a similar level of finish and equipment). The declared city consumption of a 1.6-liter Corolla in the city is 8.2 l / 100 km. On the highway - 5.3 l / 100 km. Of course, in reality, these values will be higher than stated. So let's take 9 l / 100 km as an average consumption, assuming that our hypothetical owner operates the car mainly in the city (recall, Prius consumption does not depend too much on the cycle and averages 4.5 l / 100 km). Thus, with an annual mileage of 25,000 km, the savings will be 1,125 liters, or 45,000 rubles (we equate one liter of AI-95 to 40 rubles). To compensate for the difference in price between the Corolla (1,329,000 rubles) and the Prius (2,112,000 rubles), it will take more than 17 years. Therefore, buying a hybrid in order to save money is utopian.

Then what's the point of it? What qualities can be written without a shadow of a doubt in the asset of the Prius?

Good. But what about the obvious cons?

And here, many will also write down the appearance. After the price of more than two million rubles, this is perhaps the next deterrent. In addition, the Prius has a small trunk (only 276 liters according to our measurements). And if we talk about driving properties, the brakes are frustrating. An electric motor can unceremoniously intervene in the braking process at any moment, so that the effort on the pedals “walks”. More recently, I had the opportunity to experience a hybrid BMW X5 xDrive40e, which is devoid of such a feature. So, the father of all hybrids has something to strive for. Hybridity as such is no excuse.

What are the prospects for the fourth generation Prius in Russia?

The future of the Toyota brand is hybrid cars. While electric vehicles are not perfect and move without recharging up to a maximum of 150 km. The batteries of hybrid vehicles are recharged by the internal combustion engine, providing comfort and economy when driving over any distance.

Hybrid car device

The device of a hybrid car (for example, Toyota Prius) is based on a series-parallel circuit. For such vehicles, the torque to the wheels can be supplied both from the motor and from the motor-generator. At the same time, the power of the units varies depending on the degree of charge and the capabilities of the motor.

The design is based on an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, two generators and a power divider. The latter device allows you to get under way and move at low speeds exclusively on an electric motor. The internal combustion engine at this point will only provide the operation of the generator.

The hybrid vehicle is charged by a separate alternator, so the electric motor-generator is only used to drive the drive wheels. During high loads, such as climbing uphill or driving at high speed, the gasoline engine is actively involved in the work. The power divider controls the transfer of torque from the internal combustion engine to the wheels, redistributing part of it to charge the battery and generator.

Working principle of a hybrid car

The principle of operation of a hybrid car (for example, a Toyota Prius) is as follows: the start, initial acceleration and driving at low speeds are provided by an electric motor-generator, and at increased loads, a gasoline engine is connected. The computer regulates its operation so that the highest efficiency rates are provided.

The power divider gear, which transmits torque to the drive wheels, is rotated by an electric motor. The main principle of operation of a hybrid car is to form the gear ratio of the transmission by a power divider, it is he who distributes the level of involvement in the operation of each of the motors.

Such a scheme of a hybrid car is called series-parallel. She combined all the advantages of series and parallel circuits. As a result, the engineers of the Japanese auto concern were able to create the most reliable unit, because the torque is controlled using electronics, excluding the participation of multiple mechanical components and mechanisms.

The regenerative braking system also transfers kinetic energy to the generator, replenishing the battery reserve. For emergency braking, a conventional friction braking system is used.

Engine (ICE) of a hybrid vehicle

The motor of a car operating on the principle of a hybrid is primarily based on the principle of efficiency. For the Toyota Prius, Toyota engineers were able to produce a 1.8-liter unit with a capacity of 98 horsepower. Now the Toyota Prius hybrid consumption is approximately 4.5 liters per 100 km (5 liters in the city and 3.9 liters on the highway). In the cold season, regardless of the driving mode, fuel consumption increases by an average of 2 liters per 100 km. For refueling, the manufacturer recommends using AI-95 gasoline.

It is worth noting that it will take a little more than 10 seconds to disperse the car to a hundred. In this case, the maximum speed of the car will be 180 km / h.

The Toyota hybrid engine type was selected in terms of maximum efficiency. In modern hybrids, it is 40%. Such indicators made it possible to obtain the use of a motor operating on the Atkinson cycle. The main feature of such a gasoline engine is that the compression of the fuel lags behind the piston stroke. It starts a little later than the start of the piston movement to the top of the sleeve. Thanks to this trick, some of the fuel-air mixture is returned to the intake manifold.

This type of internal combustion engine gave the modern Toyota Prius engine the following advantages:

increase in the stroke of the piston;
increase in efficiency;
reduction in fuel consumption;
optimal design for operation in a narrow range of revolutions of the crankshaft;
122 horsepower of the total power of the propulsion system.

Toyota car electric motor

Toyota Prius has two electric motors: control and traction motor-generators. Both engines are powered by batteries.
Traction motor-generator provides auto start and initial acceleration. The control motor generator is responsible for charging the hybrid vehicle and also acts as a starter.

As a rule, the Toyota Prius moves around the city in the start / stop mode solely due to the electric installation.

The power of the Toyota Prius electric motor is determined by the following characteristics:

60 horsepower;
56 kW;
163 N*m.

Recent Prius models have added the ability to charge from an electrical outlet, making them even more economical. Minus one - a full charge of the battery will be 6 hours, so while the use of a vehicle without the participation of an internal combustion engine is inconvenient for traveling long distances.

Accumulator battery

There are two batteries on board the Toyota Prius:

1. Auxiliary vehicle battery with a capacity of 45 Ah.

2. The main nickel-metal hydride high-voltage battery with a capacity of 6.5 Ah and a voltage of 201.6 V, consisting of 168 cells.

A feature of the device of the main battery of the car is that they are equipped with their own cooling system.

At one time, the Toyota Prius was a pioneer among hybrid cars. Today, hybrid installations have been improved so that they are also installed on other more massive Toyota models, nevertheless, the Prius is deservedly included in the ranking of the best hybrid cars. The popularity of such a motor scheme can be explained by its environmental friendliness, efficiency and reliability, proven over the years.

Toyota Prius is currently the best-selling hybrid car on the planet. Since 1997, over 2 million hybrids have been sold. For the first three years, the car was sold exclusively in Japan. Today Toyota Prius can be bought in Russia. The mass hybrid survived three generations. In 2014, another restyling of the model took place.

The principle of operation of the Toyota Prius hybrid power plant is as follows. A 1.8-liter petrol engine with just 99 horsepower sends torque to a generator, which in turn charges a nickel-metal hydride high-voltage battery. The Prius battery powers the electric motors that power the car. The most interesting thing is that the latest generation of the hybrid can also be charged from a regular household outlet, which makes the car even more economical. Also, when braking, kinetic energy, through the recuperation system, slightly recharges the battery. That is, the Prius has two braking systems, regenerative and conventional friction, which starts to work with heavy braking.

Many are primarily interested in the dynamic performance and fuel consumption of the Toyota Prius. It's no secret, the Prius's acceleration to hundreds takes just over 10 seconds, and fuel consumption in the city is 3.9 liters, on the highway this figure is slightly less and is 3.7 liters. AI-95 gasoline is used as fuel. The maximum speed of a hybrid car today is 180 km/h

Toyota Prius gasoline engine works autonomously, that is, the computer system itself decides when to turn it on and when to turn it off. In urban traffic jams, the car usually moves on electric traction. As such, the car does not have a gearbox. The electric motor quickly picks up any speed. The power of the electric motor is 60 hp, plus 99 comes from the gasoline unit.

Appearance Toyota Prius determined by the desire to save fuel, so such a streamlined silhouette of the body of the car is not easy. The drag coefficient is 0.25, an important indicator when overcoming air resistance. This determines the entire shape of the body. The latest restyling brought the front of the car to the common denominator of the current corporate style. Therefore, the front end is very similar to the exterior of the Corolla. We are watching photos of the European version of the Prius.

Photo Toyota Prius

Salon Toyota Prius for passengers is not much different from a conventional car. However, the driver lives in a different reality. Dashboard, center console, gear lever, or rather the drive mode selector. All this at first glance is very unusual. Monitors and scoreboards constantly display information about the mode of operation of the electric motor, hybrid power plant. Interior trim materials, according to the manufacturer, are also very environmentally friendly. Photo salon Prius Further.

Photo salon Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius trunk it also differs little from the luggage compartment of a conventional hatchback, and the ability to fold the rear row of seats makes the car very practical in everyday life. The volume of the luggage compartment is 445 liters, which is a good indicator considering that there is a high-voltage battery under the trunk floor. Prius trunk photo see below.

Photo trunk Toyota Prius

Specifications Toyota Prius

Specifications of Toyota Prius very interesting. The hybrid is less than 4.5 meters in length, while the wheelbase is 2.7 meters, which makes the interior of the car very spacious. The mass of the machine is almost 1.5 tons. The ground clearance of the Prius is not large, only 140 mm. Although why a high ground clearance for a car that was created as an exclusively city car, under the wheels of which there should always be smooth asphalt.

The Prius 4-cylinder gasoline engine is a 16-valve DOHC with a variable valve timing system VVT-i, a displacement of 1.8 liters. With a power of 99 hp. torque is 142 Nm. We add to this an electric motor that produces 60 hp. at 207 Nm of torque and we get a fairly dynamic car.

Toyota Prius transmission It has exclusively front-wheel drive. In addition to the gasoline unit and electric motor, under the hood of the car is also a hybrid continuously variable transmission. Therefore, in the engine compartment, as they say, "the apple has nowhere to fall." Below are the detailed dimensions of the Prius.

Weight, volume, clearance, dimensions Toyota Prius

Length - 4480 mm
Width - 1745 mm
Height - 1490 mm
Wheelbase - 2700 mm
Front and rear wheel track - 1525/1520 mm
Overhang front / rear - 925/855 mm
Cabin length - 1905 mm
Cabin width - 1470 mm
Cabin height - 1225 mm
Toyota Prius trunk volume - 445 liters
Fuel tank volume - 45 liters
Tire size - 195/65 R15
Ground clearance or ground clearance Toyota Prius - 140 mm

Options and price Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius price in the basic version today is 1,245,000 rubles. For the money, you get a well-packaged 5-door hatchback. The initial configuration of "Elegance" includes a fairly large set of options, including -

15" alloy wheels
Power folding side mirrors with heating and repeaters
LED daytime running lights
Fog lights
Rear View Camera
6.1 inch color LCD display in the center console
Climate control
Tilt and reach steering column
Touch control system on-board computer on the steering wheel (Touch Tracer)
Front airbags
Curtain in the luggage compartment
Smart Entry Vehicle Access System (Driver's Door)
Polyurethane multifunction steering wheel
Starting the engine "Push Start" (button start)
Eco drive support monitor
Head Up Display
Audio system with CD/MP3/WMA support 6 speakers
Side airbags
Curtains for all rows of seats
Driver's knee airbag
Emergency Brake Assist (BAS)
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Rear light-emitting diode (LED) lights
Traction Control (TRC)

But this is not the limit, there are two more configurations, these are “Prestige” for 1,451,000 rubles and “Lux” for 1,595,000 rubles. A feature of the Prestige package is the presence of LED headlights, rain and light sensors, cruise control, an advanced audio system and a leather interior.

The “Lux” version will please with the presence of a sunroof and a solar panel on the same roof. The energy of the solar battery in this configuration goes to the operation of the automatic air conditioning system in the cabin. That is, you can leave the car in the parking lot under the hot sun, and the system itself will cool the interior.

The price of a hybrid Toyota Prius is, of course, higher than that of a conventional car. However, according to the manufacturer, over several years of active operation, it will be possible to save quite a lot of money on fuel. This is especially important in countries where gasoline is quite expensive.

Video Toyota Prius

Video review and test drive of the Prius, we are watching a rather interesting video.

Market prospects for sales of hybrid cars in our country are not as bright as in Japan, Europe or the USA. But hybrid technology does not stand still and continues to evolve. Recall that once mobile phones were not available to the general public, because they cost a lot of money, but the situation quickly improved. Let's hope that hybrid cars will become more affordable just as quickly.

The hybrid car is not a new invention. The first step towards hybrid vehicles was taken in 1665 when Ferdinand Verbiest, a Jesuit priest, began work on plans for a simple four wheeled vehicle that could be powered by steam or horse drawn. The first cars with a hybrid engine appeared at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Moreover, some developers have managed to move from projects to small-scale production. Starting in 1897 and over the next 10 years, the French Compagnie Parisienne des Voitures Electriques produced a batch of electric and hybrid cars. In 1900, General Electric designed a hybrid car with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine. And the "hybrid" trucks left the assembly line of the Walker Vehicle Company of Chicago until 1940.
Of course, all these were only prototypes and small-scale cars. Now, however, an acute shortage of oil and the economic crisis have spurred the development of hybrid engines. Now let's take a closer look at what a hybrid engine is and what is the use of it? A hybrid engine is a system of two engines - electric and gasoline. Depending on the operating modes, both petrol and electric can be switched on simultaneously or separately. This process is controlled by a powerful computer, which decides what should work right now. So, when driving along the tracks, the gasoline engine is turned on, since the battery on the track will not last long. If the car is moving in urban mode, then an electric motor is already used here, both of them work during acceleration or heavy loads. While the petrol engine is running, the battery is being charged. Such an engine, even taking into account the fact that the system uses a gasoline engine, can reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere by 90% and at the same time, gasoline consumption in the city is significantly reduced (only a gasoline engine works on the highway, so there is no savings there).

Let's start with how the car moves off. At the beginning of the movement and at low speeds, only the battery and electric motors are involved. The energy stored in the battery goes to the energy center, which, in turn, sends it to the electric motors, making the car move smoothly and silently. After picking up speed, the internal combustion engine is connected to work, and the moment on the drive wheels is supplied simultaneously from electric motors and internal combustion engines. In this case, part of the energy of the internal combustion engine goes to the generator, and now it feeds the electric motors, and gives off the excess of its energy to the battery, which has lost part of the energy reserve at the beginning of the movement. When driving in normal mode, only front-wheel drive is automatically used, in all others - all-wheel drive. In the acceleration mode, the torque to the wheels comes mainly from the gasoline engine, and the electric motors, if necessary, increase the dynamics, complement the internal combustion engine. One of the most interesting moments is braking. The electronic “brains” of the car decide for themselves when to apply the hydraulic braking system, and when regenerative braking, giving preference to the latter. That is, at the moment the brake pedal is pressed, they transfer the electric motors to the “generator” mode of operation, and they create a braking torque on the wheels, generating electricity and feeding the battery through the energy center. This is the highlight of the “hybrid”.

In classic cars, braking energy is completely lost, leaving as heat through the brake discs and other parts. The use of braking energy is especially effective in urban areas, when you often have to brake at traffic lights. Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) integrates and manages all active safety systems.
One of the first successful cars equipped with a hybrid engine that went to the masses was the Toyota Prius developed by Toyota, which consumes 3.2 liters of gasoline per 100 km (in the city). Toyota also released an SUV with a Lexus RX400h hybrid engine. The cost of such a car, depending on the configuration, ranges from 68 to 77 thousand dollars. It should be noted that the first versions of the Toyota Prius were inferior to cars of the same class both in speed and power, but the Lexus RX400h is no longer inferior to its classmates in either speed or power.

The world's leading automotive concerns have also turned their attention to hybrid engines as a solution to the problem of fuel economy and environmental pollution. So the Volvo Group announced the creation of a hybrid engine for trucks, tractors, semi-trailers and buses. The company's developers expect that their brainchild will allow you to get 35% fuel savings.
With all this, it must be said that hybrid cars "with a bang", so far, have gone only in North America (Canada and the USA). And in America, the demand for them is growing more and more, since until recent years cars that consumed a lot of fuel were popular there, and since fuel began to rise sharply and steeply in price, the Americans sharply thought about saving it and, as a solution to the problem, they began to use cars with hybrid engines. In Europe, the appearance of hybrid engines was taken calmly, since there they drive an economical and more environmentally friendly than a gasoline engine, the good old diesel. Unlike the USA, more than 50% of cars in Europe are equipped with diesel engines. In addition, diesel cars are cheaper than hybrid cars, simpler and more reliable. After all, everyone knows that the more complex the system, the less reliable it is! And precisely because of their complexity and capriciousness, there are practically no hybrid cars in the post-Soviet space. Official dealers do not bring them here. And any owner of such a car will inevitably face the problem of service stations. We do not have service stations that would deal with hybrid cars. And you can’t fix such a machine yourself!