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Prius History

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by john1701a, Aug 30, 2004.

  1. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    The following is the first publish of this new webpage I created at... http://john1701a.com/prius/prius-history.htm

    What else should I add?


    1993

    The Partnership for the Next Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) was founded. It was a 10-year project setup by the Clinton administration to federally help fund research into developing family-sized vehicles that could deliver 80 MPG efficiency. All the American automotive companies were invited to participate, using the money the government provided. Toyota was denied the opportunity to join because they were a Japanese automotive company. Toyota, very upset by not being included, secretly began a project of its own.


    October 1995

    Toyota revealed a concept car, called "Prius". It used the a new propulsion system Toyota had created called EMS, which stands for "Energy Management System". That design consisted of an electric-motor connected to a regular gasoline engine using a Cone & Belt type CVT. The storage device for electricity was an ultra-capacitor, rather than a battery-pack.



    October 1997

    Toyota revealed the production version of Prius, exclaiming it would be available for purchase in just 3 months. It was no longer a concept vehicle, or even a prototype. It was the real thing, ready for sales to begin soon. That absolutely horrified the American automotive companies. Toyota already had a hybrid vehicle and they didn't even have prototypes developed yet. This model used THS (Toyota Hybrid System), a design advanced beyond EMS. It added another motor, replaced the ultra-capacitor with a battery-pack, and replaced the Cone & Belt CVT with the Planetary type.


    December 1997

    Sales of the "original" generation of Prius began. This included models years: 1998, 1999, 2000 (and 2001 in Japan only).


    December 1999

    Toyota announced the next version of Prius would be available for sale on the American market in the second half of 2000, and they displayed a locked 2000 model at Auto Shows throughout the United States.


    January 2000

    The American automotive companies demonstrated their PNGV prototypes, a significant step toward establishing hybrid vehicles in the United States. It appeared as though the age of hybrids was about to begin for all.


    June 2000

    A website dedicated to helping future Prius owners was founded. It later became known as http://john1701a.com


    July 2000

    The internet ordering system for Prius was established, allowing the opportunity for pioneers to order a Prius.


    August 2000

    Delivery of the "classic" model began. This immediately resulted in a massive backorder delay due to an overwhelming surge in consumer demand, significantly influenced by online discussions.

    This model was a major upgrade to the Prius design. The battery-pack became smaller & lighter, yet more powerful. (The packaging for the modules within the battery-pack was changed from the standard "D" to flat-rectangular. Besides the obvious physical benefits, that change also reduced the internal resistance, which is a significant electrical benefit.) The engine was modified to provide greater horsepower (from 58 to 72) and help increase acceleration speed (from 14.1 to 12.5 seconds). The Multi-Display was changed touch-sensitive, eliminating the need for external buttons. This was sold as model years: 2001, 2002, 2003. Sales were expanded to a worldwide market too, not just Japan anymore.


    Early 2001

    The plug was pulled on the PNGV project by the Bush administration. All federal funding halted. Nothing was required to be delivered anymore. So the research abruptly ended. The initiative was totally abandoned. All was lost. Hybrid enthusiasts were furious, inspiring endeavors to ensure hybrids would not be forgotten entirely.


    Mid 2002

    All the internet orders had finally been filled. Unspoken for Prius began to showing up on dealer's lots, available for immediate purchase... just like any other vehicle.


    Late 2002

    Toyota announced they were now making a profit from the sale of each Prius. The success of hybrids had now become apparent.


    April 2003

    Toyota announced another significant upgrade to Prius hybrid system, called HSD (Hybrid Synergy Driver), as well as a fundamental body change.


    September 2003

    Demand for the upcoming new Prius had already exceeded supply, enough though deliveries had not even begun yet.


    October 2003

    Delivers of the Prius "HSD" began. It was overwhelming success. The backorder list grew even bigger, forcing Toyota to increase production.
     
    #1 john1701a, Aug 30, 2004
  2. jrawles

    jrawles New Member

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    John, A great start but you need to mention all the awards the 2004 Prius has won not the least of which is the Motor Trend Car of the Year.
    I can't remember all the other awards but priuschat group members ought to be able to compile the list fairly quickly.
     
    #2 jrawles, Aug 30, 2004
  3. jkash

    jkash Member

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    #3 jkash, Aug 30, 2004
  4. Batavier

    Batavier Member

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    February 2004: introduction in The Netherlands

    21 August 2004: Batavier gets his Prius... :D

    But other than that, I think the important things are in there. If you add the awards as well it would be even better.
     
    #4 Batavier, Aug 30, 2004
  5. swepri

    swepri New Member

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    #5 swepri, Aug 30, 2004
  6. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    #6 DaveinOlyWA, Aug 30, 2004
  7. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    update:

    here is a page with some pics of the Estima

    http://english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/toyota/e...1_6/photo/9011/

    i guess it gets 25 mpg which is great for a 7 passenger van. the diesel model gets 30 mpg.

    any idea when that might be coming here? i know of a few people that would have jumped on it in a second. especially since the quality looks to be on par with the Prius...(the interior pics look very similiar to a Prius expecially the driving position and controls.

    the added dual sunroofs and dual air controls plus the 4 captains seats is very nice.
     
    #7 DaveinOlyWA, Aug 30, 2004
  8. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    November 24, 2003???

    PriusChat goes online. :-D
     
    #8 TonyPSchaefer, Aug 30, 2004
  9. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    VERY IMPORTANT DATE Tony!!
     
    #9 DaveinOlyWA, Aug 30, 2004
  10. Canuck

    Canuck Member

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    Probably answered in a previous post but does anyone know what the word "Prius" refers to other than the Toyota vehicle? :|
     
    #10 Canuck, Aug 30, 2004
  11. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    There have been some discussion as to what Prius actually means. Toyota has indicated that they are using the word in its Latin sense to mean "to go before" indicating that the Prius is the first true hybrid vehicle.

    Others have argued that 'prius' doesn't really mean that.

    I just googled for Latin-English translators and they all translated 'prius' to mean some form of "first", "prior" "before", etc.

    I also found on the Merriam-Webster Online site this phrase which tickled my fancy:
    "quos deus vult perdere prius dementat" = "those whom a god wishes to destroy he first drives mad"
     
    #11 TonyPSchaefer, Aug 30, 2004
  12. Canuck

    Canuck Member

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    :D :D Tony that Merriam-Webster quote is great --- think I'll plagiarize that one for my non-business card to hand out to all my friends who ask why I purchased a Prius.
    Thanks
     
    #12 Canuck, Aug 30, 2004
  13. bookrats

    bookrats New Member

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    John: Excellent!

    The only thing I'd tweak would be for Oct & Dec 1997: I'd make it clearer that this version of the Prius was not sold in the U.S. (It was sold in Japan only, right?)
     
    #13 bookrats, Aug 30, 2004
  14. karmavore

    karmavore New Member

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    Great list, great additional suggestions, though for anal language and economic reasons, I would modify this entry somehow:

    "Demand for the upcoming new Prius had already exceeded supply, enough though deliveries had not even begun yet."

    I know what you're getting at, but with no supply, your personal interest alone had already created a national shortage. :D

    How about:

    "Demand for the next-generation Prius is exceptionally strong, again outpacing Toyota's ability to produce the vehicle. Waiting lists of several months and multiple-thousand dollar market adjustments become commonplace."

    Also, I think it's typical to write everything in the present tense for timelines. Again, these are just little critiques! Keep adding to the list, many of these events are unknown to me.

    Brad
     
    #14 karmavore, Aug 30, 2004
  15. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    This needs an update with Gen3, the upcoming Prius v and the plugin.
     
    #15 usbseawolf2000, Aug 20, 2011
  16. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Someday I'll read through my +500 pages blogs (here) to compile a summary.
    .
     
    #16 john1701a, Aug 21, 2011
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