Today I drove a Toyota Prius for the first time. I wish I could say it was the new Third Generation Prius to debut around April but it wasn’t. The Prius originally went on sale in Japan in 1997 and hit the U.S. market in 2000, according to Wikipedia. The popular and iconic Second Generation was unveiled in 2003, so I am decidedly behind the curve in taking one for a test drive. But I don’t think I’m alone in that respect.  While the Prius  is pretty well-known in popular culture, the number of people who actually own or who have driven a gas-electric hybrid is still relatively small. If you haven’t driven one or been able to learn about it, get a friend to let you drive theirs or stop by a dealer for a test drive. While the key-less unlock and key-less start features are impressive, the ability to at times burn no gas is the real show-stealer. It’s a game changer of a car. I’m sure I’ll write more about it, but here are a few takeaways:

• This product is the perfect example of the digital revolution and the second green revolution coming together. The feedback on consumer behavior and energy consumption is similar to smart meters and allows the driver to understand and adjust his or her driving behavior. Half computer and half car, the Prius (Latin for “to go before”) foreshadows the possibilities for using digital technology  in other fields.
• The push button “ignition” feels awfully weird at first. There’s no turning a key. It feels more like you’ve pressed the power button on your computer. In a sense, you have.
• Upon coming to a stop, the silence is a little unsettling. The electric motor simply hums and there is no gas engine operating and therefore no noise.
• Keeping the “smart key” in your pocket or in the cup holder and still being able to start the car is also a fun sensation. A sensor in the key fob communicates with a sensor in the car to allow for a wireless, key-less start.
• One of the most rewarding moments is watching the energy flow diagram that appears on the LCD screen in the middle of the dashboard. If coasting down hill, for example, energy generated from the wheels powers an electric motor that recharges the nickel metal hydride battery. In this case, you are neither using gas power or electrical power. Instead, you’re using the natural kinetic energy produced by the wheels to help re-charge the battery. When you lightly press down on the accelerator, the battery kicks in. Again, in this mode no gas is being burned. Eventually the gas engine kicks in to help the car accelerate and climb hills. All this switching between systems happens seamlessly. It is fascinating engineering.

Cars like these are not only exciting to learn about and to drive but have the obvious benefit of significantly cutting down on gas consumption. This not only saves the car owner money but, in large enough numbers, can go a long way toward cutting our reliance on imported oil and lessening exhaust emissions.

- Justin Manger