the American Dream: Prius

the American Dream: Prius by ric gustafson


In 1997, Toyota came out with the first gas electric hybrid car. This car was called the Prius. The car ran on batteries until a small gasoline engine kicked in. In 2004, a new Prius came out with better tires, more room, more power and better gas mileage.
In 1996, General Motors came out with the EV1. It was a two seater and could not haul a family. In August 1995, Toyota hired Hiroshi Okuda as their new president. In December of that year, he wanted a team to develop an idea for a hybrid car. One of their main problems was the battery. Okuda wanted a battery that would last the life of the car. Between 1995 and 1997, Prius production people worked on the car's flaws. They developed  a system with a single gasoline engine and two electric motors. The car had two radiators, one that cooled the engine and the other the electric motor.
Toyota unveiled the Prius in October 1997. Before the Prius hit the US market in 1999, Honda came out with it's own hybrid named the Insight. Beginning in 2002, some Hollywood stars bought Prius's as a status symbol. In 2004, General Motors Hummer took over some of Prius's glory.
In 2011, the new Honda Insight, the CR-Z, the Ford Fusion, Ford Escape and the Chevrolet Volt began to give the Prius competition.


Thank you for reading these stories of vehicles that changed America.


research help: ' Engines of Change' by Paul Ingrassia


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric