The Toyota hybrid system combines two sources of power, a petroleum engine and an electric motor. The Prius finds the right balance between electric motor power and petrol engine power providing you with a quiet, efficient, low CO2 emission drive yet with all the power of a conventional car.

When pulling away from a standstill the Prius uses its electric motor alone, then when driving normally the car makes the most efficient use of its electric and petrol engines to provide the most optimum fuel efficiency.

If faster acceleration is required a combination of the two engines is used to deliver surprising power. When decelerating, the system cuts out the petrol engine and the battery that powers the electric motor is automatically recharged with energy that would normally be lost through braking and heat.

Clever hey?