4 Questions Everyone Asks About Hybrid Vehicles
January 12 2021, Western Toyota
Hey everyone,
Steve Cave, General Sales Manager here at Western Toyota. Hybrid technology and other electrified drivetrains are completely changing the automotive world right now, and everything is getting greener. But what's the difference for you? I'm here to answer 4 of the questions everyone is asking about Hybrid vehicles.
1. How does a Hybrid vehicle actually work?
Just like a gas-powered vehicle, you do not plug in an ordinary hybrid vehicle. The battery charges automatically while you drive, through regenerative braking. You won't even notice it happening!
The only time you need to plug in a hybrid vehicle is if it is specifically designated a 'Plug-in Hybrid'.
As electrification becomes more common, these acronyms will be helpful:
EV - Electric Vehicle
These are powered 100% by electricity.
HEV - Hybrid/Electric Vehicle
These are powered by traditional engines wiht supplemental power coming from an electrified drivetrain.
PHEV - Plug-in Hybrid/Electric Vehicle
These are like HEVs but typically offer a larger battery and will operate in a battery-only mode for a longer period of time.
All of these different drivetrains allow you to substantially reduce carbon emissions and save on fuel. Based on the 2021 RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD, an average driver travelling 25,000km per year, with 60/40 city/highway driving will save about $650 per year at the pump and emit 28% less emissions.
2. Is it Reliabile?
YES! In over nine million (you read that right, 9,000,000) hybrids built and sold by Toyota reliability has never been an issue. In fact, 98% of all Toyota vehicles sold since 2001 have never had the original hybrid battery replaced. And all new Toyota Hybrid vehicles come with a 10-year, 240,000km hybrid battery warranty. In one case, a Vancouver taxi driver put over one point five million kilometers on the original battery of their Toyota Prius.
3. Does hybrid technology work well in cold weather?
Yes. Toyota has a cold-weather testing facility in Timmins, Ontario. Every Toyota Hybrid is tested here to make sure it's up to our rigourous quality and performance standards. Fun fact? Timmins is just as far north as Corner Brook, and records colder average temperatures in the winter than we do.
Also, our most popular hybrid, the RAV4 Hybrid is built in a Canadian factory in Cambridge, Ontario by Canadians and for Canadians. It's ready for a Newfoundland winter!
4. How much does upgrading to a hybrid cost?
Toyota has made major strides in making HEVs more affordable as well as expanding availbility across our lineup. By 2025 all Toyota vehicles will have an available electrified drivetrain.
Our most popular vehicle, the RAV4 XLE Hybrid costs only $1,660* more than the same trim level RAV4 XLE without hybrid technology.
On previous generation RAV4 models, the cost to add hybrid technology was over $4,500.
Today, you can choose Toyota Hybrid Technology on:
- Corolla
- Camry
- Prius and Prius Prime
- RAV4 and RAV4 Prime
- Venza
- Highlander
- Sienna
...with more to follow.
Drop by Western Toyota today and speak with one of our product advisors to reserve your Hybrid vehicle.
If you'd like more information on Toyota hybrid vehicles, contact a member of our team. If you'd like to read more online, toyota.ca offers some good material for learning more about this exciting technology.
*as of January 2021
