Acronym/Glossary (Updated)

1701a - the original Starship Enterprise - Federation USS Enterprise Class Heavy Cruiser NCC-1701a

ABS - Anti-Lock Braking System

AFV - Alternative Fuel Vehicles

AT-PZEV - Advanced Technology Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicle (Meets PZEV standards and includes ZEV enabling technology)

ASL - Automatic Sound Leveling

Avatar - the image under usernames

AVC-LAN - Audio Visual Communications Local Area Network uses a star style bus centered on the MFD (Multi Function Display) running at a Max of 17.8k bps connecting the components of the Audio Visual Systems including:
Audio Head Unit
MFD Multi Function Display
Navigation ECU
Gateway ECU

B Gear - Engine Braking, (it isn't actually a gear) when you shift the transmission to this setting the engine will be used to slow down the car, it works similar to a "Jake Brake" used on the large semi-trucks (except the one for Prius is completely silent).

BEAN - Body Electronic Area Network using a daisy chain style bus running a Max of 10k bps connecting the Body components including:
Body ECU
Meter ECU
Transponder Key ECU
Transmission Control ECU
A/C ECU
Power Source Control ECU
Smart ECU
DLC3
Gateway ECU

BSOC - Battery State of Charge

CAFE - Corporate Average Fuel Economy (sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon (mpg), of a manufacturer’s fleet of passenger cars or light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 lbs. or less, manufactured for sale in the United States, for any given model year.)


CAN - Controller Area Network using a multi star style bus connection through 2 junction connectors and connecting main bus line at 500 kbps with a max of 1M bps provides connection for the main components of the HSD including:
HV ECU
ECM
EPS ECU
Battery ECU
Skid Control ECU
steering angle sensor
Yaw Rate and Deceleration Sensor
Gateway ECU

CARB - California Air Resources Board

CAT - Catalytic Converter

CBG - Cleaner Burning Gasoline

Cd - coefficient of drag

CEL - Check Engine Light

Classic - The term used to identify the 2001, 2002, 2003 model years of Prius (also the 2001 in Japan only)

CNG - Compressed Natural Gas

CO2 - Carbon Dioxide

CVT - Continuously-variable Transmission

DIN - Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standardization; similar to US ANSI)

DLC3 - Data Link Connector 3 sits over by your right knee and allows connection with the CAN and allows for obtaining Diagnostic Trouble Codes from any of the components of the system and allows for reprogramming of ECUs

DMV - Department of Motor Vehicles

DRL - Daytime Running Lights (sometimes DTR Lights)

DSP - Digital Signal Processing

DTC - Diagnostic Trouble Code

DVD - Digital Versatile Disc - the source disk for the navigation system, it contains the software and database for the mapping system

E10 - a mixed fuel - 90% gasoline, 10% ethanol

E85 - a mixed fuel - 85% Ethanol (gas blend)

ECU - Electronic Control Unit

ECU (expanded) - Electronic Control Unit any of the various computer control units in the car. Includes:

HV ECU High Voltage ECU This is the brains of the HSD receiving and sending signals from all parts of the HSD turning driver request (shift, accelerator, break) into action by parts of the HSD system.

ECM Engine Module controls the ICE (spark, fuel injection, valve timing etc) delivering the proper amount of power to the system under direction of the HV ECU and informs HV ECU of ICE state.

Transmission ECU after receiving On signal from HV ECU monitors the Parking Switch (button) and when pressed it locks the hybrid trans axle and locks when brake is pressed and car is placed in D, R, N

Skid Control ECU Controls regenerative brake effect by MG2 and the hydraulic system to mimic a conventional hydraulic system as well as functions of Brake Assist, ABS (Antilock Brake System) and VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)

ECB ECU = Electronically Controlled Brake integrated into the Skid control ECU to calculate required brake force based on peddle effort and force.

EPS ECU = Electronic Power Steering ECU controls the power assist to steering column calculated from input from the Skid Control ECU and various sensors

Battery ECU monitors the SOC (State Of Charge) and battery temperature communicates with the HV ECU and controls the HV battery cooling fan.

Power Source Control ECU Controls the push button start system receives signals from switches and ECUs communicates to the HV ECU power on power off

Air Conditioning ECU calculates the compressor speed based on input from sensors using a nonlinear fuzzy logic system controls blower speed

Meter ECU Transmits vehicle speed signal, receives information if smart key is in vehicle and sound the warning sound in car on request of other ECUs (the source of the annoying beeps)

Body ECU receives door lock and unlock request and monitors if smart key is in vehicle transmits this to Smart ECU over a serial connection.

Transponder ECU Controls the HV immobilizer by recognizing the key ID code also works with Smart ECU in cars equipped with SKS. Transmits an HV stat authorization to the HV ECU

Smart ECU Checks ID code received from wireless transponders in the car and transmits the code to the Transponder ECU

Navigation ECU provides navigational features as well as Voice recognition and Bluetooth connection.

Gateway ECU provides communication between the 3 LANs (Local Area Network)

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency - a Federal group headed by the Executive Branch

EV - electric vehicle, the EV button refers to getting the Prius into electric only mode via a control, bypassing the computer's control over the engine/motor.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

FCC - Federal Communications Commission - controls frequencies for Homelink, Bluetooth, wireless phones and of course radio, television, satellite communications.

FCHS - Fuel-Cell Hybrid System (Toyota's vision of the future--supposedly compatible with the THS)

FCHV - Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle

FE - Fuel Efficiency

Fob - this is actually not an acronym but describes the electronic "key" for the Prius. Fob comes from the use of pocketwatches. At one time a man would keep his pocketwatch attached to his vest or jacket by a chain. Eventually a decorative element was added to the chain, it was called a fob. This was then adapted to mean anything decorative attached to a chain, like a key fob. Later fobs took on a utilitarian function as electronic door locks would be opened with fobs.

GHG - Greenhouse Gas

GPS - Global Positioning System

H2 - Hydrogen

HEV - Hybrid-Electric Vehicle

HID - High Intensity Discharge, a type of headlight

HOV - High Occupancy Vehicle - nickname for carpool lanes in many states

HSD - Hybrid Synergy Drive

HV - High Voltage or Hybrid Vehicle

ICE - Internal Combustion Engine

IE - Internet Explorer - a web browser common on PCs, but not fully supported on Macs.

IG-ON - when you press the Power button twice without your foot on the brake.

IMA - Integrated Motor Assist - Honda's hybrid technology

JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group - is a compressed picture file format, file can be viewed using QuickTime and web browsers

KB - Knowledge Base

km - kilometer

km/H - Kilometers Per Hour

LED - Light Emitting Diode - an alternate mode of illumination, instead of incandescent bulbs, they last longer because there is no filament that can be damaged in low impact situations and use less energy, they also light quicker when energy is applied to them but are not as bright as typical bulbs used for illumination so at this time are limited to use as brake lights.

LEV - Low Emissions Vehicle (The least stringent emission standard for all new cars sold in California beyond 2004)

LMPG - Lifetime Miles Per Gallon

LOTR - The Lord of the Rings

LPG - Liquid Petroleum Gas (Propane)

LSD - Limited Slip Differential

MeOH - Methanol

MFD - Multiple Function Display (the screen)

MG1 - the smaller motor-generator and ICE starter that is connected to the "sun" gear in the planetary gear set. It can run forwards and backwards, and under ECU control can generate mechanical force (e.g. when acting as "starter" for the gas engine) or can turn mechanical force from the engine into electricity.

MG2 - the larger "traction" motor-generator that is connected to the "ring" gear in the planetary gear set. It can also run forwards and backwards. It is DIRECTLY connected to the front drive wheels, and can supply power to move the car, and when regenerative braking occurs it converts motion power from the wheels back into electricity.

MIL - Malfunction Indicator Light

MPG - Miles Per Gallon - standard measure of fuel efficiency in USA

MPH - Miles Per Hour - standard measure of speed for cars

MSRP - Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

NAV - the navigational system option found in some Prius

NCF - New Car Features

NDF - Non-Documented Feature

NiMH - Nickel Metal Hydride (battery)

NOx - Nitrogen Oxide or Nitrogen Oxides

NVH - Noise, Vibration, Harshness

OBD - On Board Diagnostics

OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer

PbA - Lead Acid (battery)

PDF - Portable Document Format, file can be viewed using Adobe's Acrobat Reader (a free program) as well as most web browsers that include the Acrobat plug-in.

PGU - Planetary Gear Unit the power transmission and distribution device of the HSG directs power between the ICE, MG1, MG2 and the wheels as directed by the HV ECU.

PPM - Parts Per Million

Priustoric - All that transpired before the Prius

PSD - Power-Split-Device--the planetary gear set which divides power between the ICE and the two electric motor-generators. It also functions as the continuously-variable transmission

PTC - Positive Temperature Coefficient

PZEV - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle or Practically Zero Emission Vehicle - a SULEV tailpipe emissions vehicle that has no evaporative emissions when not in use.

RFG - ReFormulated Gasoline

RSS - basically a fast easy way to summarize a dynamic website using formattable text that is platform independent.

SAB - side air bags

SKS - Smart Key System (formerly SS/SE)

SMR - System Main Relay connects and disconnects the HV power between the HV Battery and the inverter assembly.

SOC - state of charge, referring to the battery's state of charge when viewing the Energy screen

SRS - Supplemental Restraint System

SS/SE - Smart Start and Smart Entry system

Stealth Mode - (also "EV mode") driving the Prius on electric power only

SULEV - Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (90% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle)

SUV- Sport Utility Vehicle

THHT - Toyota Hand-Held Tester.....plugs in to OBD II interface to read car's computer codes

THS - Toyota Hybrid System.....refers to Toyota's method of combining gas and electric power

THS-II - Toyota Hybrid System II = Hybrid Synergy Drive

TRAC - Toyota Rent a Car

Turtle mode - driving the Prius with low battery, or battery too hot or two cold, so that an orange "turtle" icon shows near the speedometer, warning to avoid forceful acceleration

ULEV - Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (50% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle)

VIN - Vehicle Identification Number

VOC - Volatile Organic Compound

VSC - Vehicle Stability Control (sometimes referred to as Vehicle Skid Control), an option on the Prius that provides traction control

XM - a brand of satellite radio

YG - Yahoo!Group

ZEV - Zero Emission Vehicle - Zero tailpipe emissions, and 98% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle (currently the only vehicle that qualifies is electric)