Prius History
Last Updated: Sun. 12/07/2008
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 in Japan. This included models years:
1998, 1999, 2000 (and 2001 in Japan only). Worldwide sales would not begin
until 3 years later.
Prius Generations:
|
Original |
Classic |
Iconic |
||
|
Engine HP Engine kW Engine RPM Redline Motor HP Motor kW Motor Torque 0-60 MPH (seconds) Tire Width Tire Diameter Battery-Pack Energy (W/kg) Battery-Pack Voltage Battery-Pack Weight (lbs) Battery-Pack Section Type Battery-Pack Section Count Hybrid-System Voltage |
58 43 4000 40 30 225 14.1 165 15 600 288 125 D-Cell 40 288 |
70 52 4500 44 33 258 12.5 175 14 900 273.6 110 Module 38 273.6 |
76 57 5000 67 50 295 10.1 185 15 1250 201.6 99 Module 28 500 |
|
|
CLASSIC: Touch-Sensitive version of the Multi-Display
was introduced. |
||||
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 began displaying 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.
April 2000
On Earth Day, Toyota announced upcoming test-drive & purchase information for
Prius in the United States.
May 2000
The first mega-size (nearly 9,000 members by September 2004)
online discussion forum was established. Those interested in Prius had
found a very effective way of sharing information with each other. They
even attracted the interest of two Toyota executives in charge of the rollout of
Prius in the United States, which ultimately provided a method of getting
answers to very important questions about the hybrid system design.
(We whole-heartedly thank them for their participation!)
June 2000
Toyota debuted a purchase website, where those interested in purchasing a Prius
would begin the process by filling out an online request form. This
method, later termed a "pioneer purchase", was the only way to initially get a
Prius. The quantity was so limited, this was a good way of making sure
those interested would get one as quickly as possible. Each Prius coming
off the boat from Japan was assigned & delivered to a specific person with a
"sold" status. Unassigned purchases from a dealer's lot was only possible
at that time by purchasing a used demo model.
Also, an owner website dedicated to helping other Prius owners was founded. It later became known as https://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.
January 2002
The online purchase request process ended. No further orders would ever be taken. Once deliveries of those in the queue were complete, regular purchases from the dealer's lot would begin.
The first non-commercial online discussion forum created for Prius was founded, called http://priusonline.com
Mid 2002
All the internet orders had finally been filled. Unassigned 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 Drive), as well as
a fundamental body change.
July 2003
"Pioneer" orders for the 2004 model began. It was a special opportunity
for owners that had taken the initiative to become "pioneer" purchasers of the
classic model, where they could take delivery of the Iconic model before anyone
else. 3 weeks later, the ordering process was opened up to everyone.
September 2003
Demand for the upcoming new Prius had already exceeded the anticipated supply, even though
deliveries had not even begun yet.
October 2003
Deliveries of the Prius "HSD" began. It was overwhelming success. The
backorder list grew even bigger, forcing Toyota to increase production.
November 2003
A new type of online discussion forum dedicated to Prius was founded, called
http://priuschat.com
December 2003
Toyota announced an increase in Prius production, but it still wasn't enough to
satisfying the rapidly growing demand.
May 2004
Just like with the classic model, this Prius had begun to accumulate a long list
of very prestigious awards, including: