Toyota has long been at the forefront of hybrid technology. It is the goal of the engineers who have been working on hybrid technology to make it faster, stronger, and more affordable than ever. More importantly, it is the effort of Toyota’s research and development teams put into continually looking for new concepts and technology that has made Toyota a world leader in hybrid technology. Never content to rest on their laurels, Toyota has made a number of recent announcements about their latest developments.
“Prius Prime” the Latest Toyota Trademark
In the most recent news to come from this world leader in hybrid technology, it was announced that Toyota has registered a trademark for the name “Prius Prime”. It is worth noting that any time a company registers a trademark for a name, it tends to create a certain air of mystery. In most cases it can be very difficult to determine exactly what a carmaker has in mind when they go to the effort of registering a name.
Such is the case with the registration of the name “Prius Prime”, however it is considered to be relatively certain that this name will be used to expand the current Toyota Prius hybrid line at some time in the near future. One noted automotive journalist suggests that perhaps this is to be the new name for the soon to be released next generation Toyota Prius Plug-in as this name is a bit too unwieldy. One suggested possibility is that the new “Prime” is to be yet another member of the Prius family.
However, you should realize that just because a trademark has been registered does not mean that it will be used. In fact you might be surprised at how many names are registered for a trademark, yet never see the light of day. Many automakers will file for a trademark just to ensure no one else can use the name, yet over the course of time find they no longer have any use for them. In other cases they might reregister a series of names just in case they should ever decide to use them. However, with a new generation of Prius models on the horizon, nothing could be more intriguing.
Battery Powered Mail Delivery in Japan
While much of the research and development teams’ energy is being expended on hydrogen fuel cell technology, they are still hard at work creating new battery powered vehicles. One of these, the Toyota i-Road electric three-wheeler is already being tested in a real-world environment. These vehicles have begun use in a short inner-city environment as part of a car-sharing service. More recently it has been reported that a four seater version of this battery powered car will soon enter service as a postal delivery vehicle in a pilot program.
Toyota has named this vehicle the Coms and say that it has a range of up to 31 miles, which should be ample for completing mail delivery in a small radius around a post office. This small vehicle can handle a single driver and up to 132 pounds of mail. The best part is that due to its diminutive size, the Coms is easily able to navigate the small streets in most towns and cities. According to Toyota the Coms can be fully charged in only six hours.
While 31 miles may not seem like much in the way of range, this vehicle is perfect when used for its intended purposes. For those who need to go further or carry a heavier load, the next generation Toyota Prius is sure to meet these needs admirably.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Connect with us
