History of the Toyota Prius

The Prius is a hybrid vehicle that was introduced by Toyota in 1997. The project began in 1994, when Toyota wanted a more fuel efficient vehicle. They began looking at more than 100 hybrid designs before settling on the engine design for the Prius. Initially, it was only available in Japan until it was released to the worldwide market with the 2001 model year.

First Major Hurdle

Engineers were faced with a problem of figuring out how to make the battery packs last between 7 and 10 years. They were able to determine that by keeping the battery packs between 40 and 60 percent charged, that would extend their life with optimal performance.

Introduction in the United States

Toyota made some changes for the Prius it introduced into the United States, including a more powerful engine. Toyota also added some standard equipment, such as a continuously variable transmission and air conditioning.

First Major Redesign

In 2004, Toyota rolled out the third generation Prius, with a body style that was more aerodynamic with a more roomy interior.

Longer Warranty

Starting with the 2004 Prius, Toyota began offering a warranty on the battery pack for 8 years or 100,000 miles. In California, that warranty was extended to 10 years or 150,000 miles.

More Changes

The Prius continued to evolve with the 2006 model, as new options were offered, including a rear-view camera.