36 — North Shore News - Friday. April 14, 2000 open YnAn IVUU Tony Whitney Contributing Writer A significant landmark in automotive technolo- gy will be reached later this year when two gasoline/electric hybrids arrive at the dealerships * Only 4 available * Fully loaded new hybrid cars are ont — the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. Hybrids like these offer considerable advantages over pure electric vehicles and might be the way to go untl tuel cell vehicles reach produc- tion. Even then, hybrids may well have won enough public 2000 Tj Sport * 4.05 16 engine ¢ cloth interior 36 mos lease, 3797 DP or trade, TP 14574 plus taxes/fees. approval to continue as a pop- ular class of their owr The big problem tric cars has always been bat- tery technology. Any battery capable of providing the kind of range and speed expected motorists has to be very large and heavy. Even then, range can be limited to 100 km or so and top speed to somewhere around 90 km/h Charging can take all night in some cases, 80 there’s offen a problem with getting enough power to get home after a normal work day. Many experts also point to the fact that electric cars are nat all they seem, because they shift the environmental burden from one sector to another. More electri means More power generating stations and then there’s the problem of battery disposal. Even so, electric cars are fun wo drive and I've enjoyed longish tesis of both the GM EV] and Ford Ranger Etectric pickup. Hybrid vehicles have many advantages over pure electric cars and offer remarkable fuel economy. I recently drove the Toyota Prius, so I'll use this as an example of what can be achieved with hybrids. e Way The super-economical Pr lows the current 17 in small cars towards practicali- ty, rather than si though it’s certain’ s duckling” in the styling stakes. It nas a very roomy five-pas- senger interior and [ found I ilv sit in the back despite my six-foot-plus stature. Although its batteries are Jocated beneath the trunk, the load area is very commodi- ous and possibly bigger than that of some conventional vehicles in this general class. The Prius is no “one off” concept vehicle and tens of thousands are now running around happily on the roads of Japan. You'll get the same kind of service out of it that you'd expect with a “nonnal” car — except that you won't be visiting vour local gas sta- tion all chat often. See Prius’ following page photo Wieck HYBRIDS such as the Toyota Prius offer considerable edvantages over pure electric vehicles. ‘OR ALL YOUR. Nissan Repairs 1124 West 15th Street, Berth Van Ph, 988-7671 Fx. 983-0315 20 yea SPRING SPECIA rs in the sente location “i peqiygalt @ Ail service by Govt. reg'stered technicians N