Best Hybrid Cars

Toyota Hybrid Technology. Toyota actively produces hybrid vehicles since 1997. Toyota leads in the number of hybrids with modifications as a normal Prius, jeeps (Lexus RX400h), and luxury cars (Lexus LS 600h).

Over 500 thousands Prius cars were sold worldwide in 2006. Ford (Escape Hybrid), Nissan (Altima Hybrid) licensed Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.

Toyota Motor actively promotes hybrid technology on the car market and is the first company that began mass production and sale of hybrid cars (Toyota Prius). Later the company started to complete Camry and Lexus models with hybrid power plant. The company cited its own hybrid technology as Hybrid Synergy Drive, but for Lexus this name sounds like Lexus Hybrid Drive. Prius became most-selling model in the United States. Toyota has three lines of hybrid cars based on a Hybrid Synergy Drive system: Prius, Highlander and Camry. The popular minivan Toyota Sienna in hybrid version is planned for release in 2010 and the company plans to transfer full range of its products to Hybrid Synergy Drive by 2030.

Electric cars. Earlier Toyota Motor announced its intention to commence the development of electric vehicles. Now the company tests Toyota Plug-in HV in Japan, USA and Europe. This model is based on the Li-ion battery (like Chevrolet Volt). It is believed that the electric cars impact less damaging on the environment than hybrid cars.