TOYOTA PRIUS: A wagon & SUV version of it

Toyota's Prius has remained the best-selling hybrid of all time even as competitors like Ford and GM step up the competition. But the Prius can't do it all--for anyone with a large family, it's just not big enough. Perhaps that's why Toyota is hatching a plan to produce a line of Prius vehicles, with either a wagon or SUV first in line for a mass rollout.

Few details have been released, but Toyota is reportedly thinking about installing a lithium-ion battery pack in the vehicle--a surprise considering that Toyota has repeatedly claimed that lithium-ion batteries aren't cheap or reliable enough for mass use. The new wagon/SUV will be bigger and heavier than the Prius sedan, and will likely have a larger power system (read: a larger battery pack).

Beyond those scraps of information, Toyota is staying mum. The new Prius could be a plug-in or a regular hybrid, and pricing is still up in the air--though Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper says that it will retail for about $22,000. But whenever Toyota decides to release the new, larger Prius, we can expect a rapid increase in the number of hybrid-owning soccer moms.

Toyota will provide 150 test versions of the plug-in Prius to European fleets, and the same number in the States. The first Prius Plug-Ins will be delivered by the end of the year, but Toyota hasn't said when retail customers will be able to get their hands on a factory-built plug-in Prius.

[Resources: Fast Company article : Rumor: Toyota Planning Prius Wagon and SUV]

Rachel Avalon - World's first green model

Rachel Avalon wears an EcoSkin dress and SmartGlass earrings.Image by Todd Westphal.


Rachel’s core environmental connections come to her through what she puts in her body; like many of us, food and nutrition helped her understand how connected we are to the health of the planet. Growing up with a mom who was passionate about gardening and other environmental concerns, as well as the increasingly obvious realities of global warming and other human-caused eco problems put her on the path to green awareness and outreach. 

What she says:

Scientists have proven that agricultural chemicals and petro-packaging materials are contaminating the soil, water, air and the food we ingest. It’s no coincidence that cancer rates are on the rise and that other species are suffering as well. Of course, there are more pieces to the puzzle. I believe GMOs are also a major threat to nature’s infinite wisdom and design along with the brutal reality of factory-farming.

Not only is there a total lack of reverence towards life that is embedded in those business practices, but most of the meat people eat in this country is pumped full of antibiotics, hormones, and corn. That undermines everyone’s health plus ecosystems as far reaching as the oceans. There is no doubt in my mind that we need to support organic farming and eat less or no meat. In fact the U.N. published a report a couple years ago stating that Americans could have a greater impact on climate change and pollution by adopting that priority than by driving hybrids. I say, let’s do both!

Reva NXR - low running & maintenance cost

REVA Electric Car Company (REVA) said a few days ago that the REVA NXR will enter production in 2010. The car will be sold as a 2011 model. It is a 3 door, 4 seater car for city families. While this is the first car which will come to our homes from the Reva stable, a much more promising product is the Reva NXG which goes into production in 2011. NXG is a 2 door hatchback with removable convertible style top and a range of 200 kms.


Specifications for Reva NXR

Battery: Litium Ion
Recharge time: Complete in 8 hours
90% recharge in 90 minutes
15 minute recharge gives 40 km of driving
Range: 160 km ( Can easily give 320 km of driving a day using instant charging )
Top Speed: 104 km/h


Specifications for Reva NXG

Battery: Litium Ion Phosphate
Recharge time: Complete in 8 hours
90% recharge in 90 minutes
15 minute recharge gives 40 km of driving
Range: 200 km ( Can easily give 400 km of driving a day using instant charging )
Top Speed: 130 km/h

Here are 5 reasons to buy a Reva:

1. Amazing Range -The average inter city travel of an average driver in Delhi is 39.78 Km. With a range of 200 kms in NXG and 160 km. in NXR, most of the problems related to electric vehicles being short ranged and only useful for neighbourhood shopping can go to sleep once and for all.
2. ReViVe Technology – The REVA support centre assesses information from the car via telematics (information and communication technology) to calculate the amount of reserve energy available for that particular car. Then, within a few minutes the digital display will indicate ‘Revive’ and the ‘distance to empty’ gauge will display the additional amount of range available and the driver can continue their journey. It puts an end to ‘Range anxiety’.
3. Tons of Torque – With a powerful motor and a short burst system which provides extra torque for a short period of time. And a a top speed of 130kms brings it in the league of ‘normal’ cars.
4. No Noise and No Pollution – A car which is clean on your environmental conscious and has no engine noise.
5. Dirt cheap compared to other cars on running and maintenance costs – with a cost of 40 paisa per km, it has one of the lowest running costs. Also, with crude reluctant to come below Rs. 50, it makes more sense to invest in the Reva. One sure shot way to beat inflation.

And not to mention the cool looks that draw instant admiration and the unique features like remote AC control which allows you to turn it on some time before you enter the car and Integrated communications console.
And to make it an irresistible buy, Reva Company offers an on road service which recharges your car in case you run out of charge and are stranded.