Special Sub-Topic: Hybrid Vehicles - Test Your SQ Click Here To Play: Hybrid Vehicles - Test Your SQ

The world's first commercially mass-produced and marketed hybrid automobile was the Toyota Prius. It became available on the Japanese market in what year?

1997. While the Honda Insight was the first hybrid-electric vehicle to reach the US market in 1999, Toyota pulled out all stops to get its Prius to market in Japan in October, 1997.

Which of these vehicle models introduced a hybrid version beginning with its 2007 model year?

Toyota Camry. The GMC Sierra was proposed for 2008; the Toyota Highlander began production of its hybrid model for 2006, and as of late 2006, Honda had not yet announced plans to hybridize its CR-V.

What were the EPA mileage estimates for the 2005 Toyota Prius?

60 city, 51 highway, 55 combined. Unlike conventional gasoline-powered vehicles, hybrids get higher mileage in city driving because the electric motor is utilized more in low-speed driving than in highway driving.

Which television comedy spoofed the supposed smugness of hybrid vehicle owners with its 2006 episode, "Smug Alert"?

South Park. A cloud of smug threatens the city of South Park in this good-natured jab at the smugness of hybrid vehicle owners.

The first annual Hybridfest was held in July of 2006 in what US city?

Madison, WI. The first Hybridfest featured 180 hybrid vehicles and attracted over 2000 attendees.

Hybrid vehicles convert energy that is normally lost through braking into electrical energy. What is the term that is used for this recycling of energy?

Regenerative braking. Since kinetic energy is converted to electrical energy, rather than heat and friction as in conventional vehicles, the brakes on a hybrid vehicle often show virtually no wear even at 60,000-100,000 miles.

On August 5, 2005, four drivers, taking turns at the wheel, set out to see just how far they could drive a Toyota Prius on one tank of gas. They finished 48 hours later, having driven how many miles?

1397. The challenge was set up specifically to maximize mileage and conditions are unlikely to be duplicated in real life (i.e., rolling hills, closed loop, speed maintained below 40 mph, etc.), but it's still an impressive accomplishment. The Prius fuel tank holds 11.9 US gallons.

An early gas/electric hybrid vehicle was designed and produced by Woods Motor Vehicle. These vehicles ran on an electric motor up to speeds of 15 mph, when the main engine took over; about 600 of them were produced. During what years were they manufactured?

1915-1918. The Woods Dual Power was a parallel hybrid with both an electric motor and internal combustion engine. With a top speed of only about 35 mph, however, its appeal was apparently limited.

While the first modern hybrids were compact or sub-compact passenger cars, the demand for sports-utility vehicles in the US led to the introduction of three hybrid SUVs in 2006 for the US market. One was the luxury model Lexus RX400h. What were the other two of these pioneer models?

Ford Escape and Toyota Highlander. The other SUV models mentioned were not introduced until later model years.

Some of the perks offered to US hybrid vehicle owners include tax breaks, free parking, and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane passes. What was the first state to implement HOV passes for hybrids?

California. These perks have, unfortunately, provoked some resentment among non-hybrid owners stuck in the standard vehicle lanes. It is the hybrid vehicle's low emissions, more than its mileage rating, that qualifies it for this privilege.