So the Prius has electric steering, brakes, and A/C. What else is electric, and/or not like a conventional car?
I've been told (I don't have a list) that electric steering is pretty widespread. One size fits all, and the car makers tune it to various models by changing the values in a few digital registers. Anything propelled with electric motors is going to have regenerative braking. Is there anything resembling a fan belt in the Prius? If I understand it right, the internal combustion engine shares a common shaft (via clutches?) with the two motor-generators.
There's two sets of planetary gears on the Prius. Set #1 is connected to (a) the ICE, (b) MG1, and (c) a shaft to the second planetary gear. Set #2 is connected to (a) the shaft from the first planetary gear, (b) MG1, and (c) the wheels. The computers in the car determine how the torque from the ICE is distributed into the shaft, the two motors, and to and from the batteries. As far as clutches go: The only thing that vaguely resembles a clutch is this thing between the ICE flywheel and a short shaft that connects to the first planetary gear set. It looks like a clutch, slips like a clutch, but, unlike a clutch, has no mechanism to release the pressure plate under electronic or other control. The purpose of this thing is to limit the max torque applied from/applied to the ICE. It's presumed that this thing slips when the ICE starts up or stops, and possibly under other conditions, thus preventing the car from jerking. KBeck.
Another difference is the lack of alternator and starter. It also has an electronic on/off button, instead of a traditional ignition relay that connects the battery to the starter.
Let's add a new one (that I think few know) - no parking 'praul' - its an electric parking brake (EPB)
It also has a virtual or simulated neutral instead of a real neutral. The ring gear always spins at the same rate as the wheels. Also, reverse is electric only, and not really a gear. The ICE does not have a reverse idler gear.
You're right about that. But I think he meant the parking shifter position or parking button which puts the vehicle in park. In other cars it could be hydraulic or achieved non-electrically?
As for your first statement, it should but not necessarily. IIRC, the Zap Xebra doesn't have regenerative braking. http://priuschat.com/forums/other-cars/30811-zap-xebra.html mentions it doesn't have it as do many other sources on the net. Perhaps a Xebra owner can chime in to confirm and state why. The 3rd gen Prius has no belts.
While the brake is electrically powered, note the brake pedal is also electronic, or drive-by-wire. The throttle pedal is also drive-by-wire. I would like to add that the steering is only electric-power assisted. You can still steer, like in a conventional vehicle, if you lose power, as it is mechanically connected to the steering rack by a pinion at the end of the steering shaft. The same can not be said of the brakes, but it can use the 12V auxiliary battery as a backup.
If all electric power fails the brakes work as any other hydraulic brakes but with no power assistance. If the 12V battery is OK then power assistance comes from that.
Ugh... never trust wikipedia. Anyways, thanks for the clarification. I looked it up further and there's also a bank of capacitors that in an emergency will discharge (charge comes from 12V battery), in case everything fails. Then, finally the brakes will work as a unpowered hydraulic brakes.
The A/C is not just electric. It's also variable capacity and is more efficient. While not unique, auto up windows, SKS (smart key system) and VSC (Vehicle stability Control) are not in all cars. If you get into the higher Prius models, you can also get adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and parking assist which are not that common in other cars.
