This isn’t an award to be taken lightly. The council takes the assessment of more than 1,200 available cars in 2024, measuring the pollutants generated and emissions and ensuring the vehicles exceed all standards. This plug-in hybrid Toyota edged out the greenest electric vehicle, which is the Lexus RZ 300e. Its kind of interesting that Toyota-branded vehicles hit these top two spots.

This Prius offers plenty of power

Being the greenest car doesn’t mean that the Prius Prime is fun or exciting. Thankfully, the new styling, improved power, and excellent handling tackle that challenge for us. This new version of the Prius Prime uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gas engine and electric motor to deliver 220 horsepower. This power is sent to the front wheels, making this car more efficient during the drive.

In addition to excellent power, the Prius Prime can be driven up to 44 miles on electric power, which is an improvement over the 25 miles provided by the previous version.

What does the Toyota Prius Prime SE include?

The SE trim is the base model of this Toyota plug-in hybrid car. To be called the greenest car, the Prius Prime must also be affordable, which means the base model receives this distinction. Also, the XSE and XSE Premium models can only travel up to 39 miles on electric power.

The Toyota Prius Prime SE gives you:

• • Toyota Safety Sense 3.0
    • Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection
    • Low-speed automatic emergency braking
    • Lane-departure warning
    • Lane-keeping assist
    • Lane-change assist
    • Front cross-traffic detection
    • Road sign recognition
    • Adaptive cruise control
    • Automatic high-beam headlights
    • Blind-spot monitoring
    • Rear cross-traffic alerts
    • Rear seat reminder
    • Safe Exit Assist
    • Traffic Jam Assist
  • Bi-LED headlights
  • Rain-sensing wipers
  • 17-inch alloy wheels
  • Heated power side mirrors
  • Active grille shutters
  • Smart Key keyless entry
  • Push-button starting
  • Heated tilt/telescoping steering wheel
  • Single-zone climate controls
  • 7-inch digital instrument cluster
  • 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • SiriusXM satellite radio
  • Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Rearview monitor
  • Toyota connected services
  • 6-speaker audio system
  • 6 USB-C charge ports

  The only available options for the base SE trim is the front and rear park assist with automatic braking.

  What does the next trim offer?

  Moving up to the XSE trim reduces the electric driving range by five miles but gives you more than the Toyota Prius Prime SE. This middle trim of Toyota’s popular PHEV gives you:

  • 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support
  • SofTex simulated leather upholstery
  • Automatic headlights
  • 19-inch wheels
  • Heated front seats
  • Smart Key entry system
  • Folding rear-seat armrest with cupholders
  • Wireless charging pad
  • Auto-dimming interior mirror
  • Front and rear park assist with automatic braking

  The XSE trim provides more options than the base SE model. This middle trim can be had with:

  • Digital Key
  • Fixed glass roof
  • 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen

  Does the XSE Premium trim appeal to you?

  If you want the most equipment available for the Toyota Prius Prime, you’ll skip the SE and XSE trim and head for the XSE Premium. This top trim gives you:

  • Fixed glass roof
  • Power hatchback
  • Driver’s seat memory settings
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • Digital Key
  • 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen
  • 8-speaker JBL audio system

  This top trim can also be upgraded with some great options. Some of these are:

  • • Digital rearview camera mirror
    • Heated rear seats
    • Solar-charging roof
    • Advanced Technology Package
      • 360-degree camera
      • Advanced Park self-parking assistant

  The Digital Key is a really cool feature

  Eventually, features like Digital Key will be standard, but for now, you can have this in the top two trims of the Prius Prime. This feature turns your phone into a key and allows you to share access with other drivers. If your friends need to borrow your car, they can, and you get to control how long they have access to your Prius Prime.

  Added electric power from the solar roof

  The top trim can be had with a solar roof that adds enough extra power to the battery to run a few of the items you need to enjoy while driving. This isn’t a replacement for a battery charger for the electric drive system, but it can give you a little more juice for the climate system or lights.

  The Toyota Prius Prime SE is the greenest car offered right now, with the higher trims coming in close to the base model. Will you choose a Prius Prime as your daily driver?

The post Toyota’s New Car Wins the Title for Greenest Car first appeared on Ride4Watts.com.

The post Toyota’s New Car Wins the Title for Greenest Car appeared first on Ride4Watts.com.

Until the infrastructure exists to support EVs in a similar manner to gas-powered vehicles, charging time, charger locations, and driving range will continue to be a serious consideration. Of course, there are other aspects of EVs that you’ve got to think about as well. Because these vehicles are new to the market, many automakers offer incentives, and the federal government also has a tax break for most EVs.

Here are some things you want to consider when you’re ready to buy an electric car.

Where do you go, and what do you take with you?

The early days of EVs offered nothing more than fully-electric hybrid vehicles, with Tesla being the only outlier. Today, EVs come in all shapes and sizes. There are off-road SUVs, pickup trucks, sedans, family-sized SUVs, and hatchbacks. The only thing missing is an all-electric minivan, but that’s probably coming. With this wide array of options, it’s important to know what you need and where you go when selecting the right EV to drive.

Where will you get fuel?

Owners of gas-powered cars don’t typically worry about finding a gas station but rather the price of a gallon of fuel. Unfortunately, electric car owners don’t have this same comfort. The infrastructure supporting EVs is still being created and expanding, which puts you at a disadvantage. Before buying an EV, find the local public chargers that you can use and find out whether or not you can install an at-home Level 2 charger for your overnight charging needs. If you can’t refuel your EV with electricity, it’s not worth buying.

Will your EV qualify for tax incentives?

The first round of the Federal EV Tax Credit was more of a blanket credit for hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs. This early version also had a vehicle limit, which was exceeded by a few automakers. The most recent tax credit opens things up for automakers that previously exceeded the limit while adding several constraints regarding the type of vehicle, where battery materials are mined, and where the vehicles are built. Will your EV qualify for these tax incentives?

How much driving range is required?

Electric cars list the driving range to help owners understand how far they can go between recharges at home. If you spend all of your time driving around town, you might not need more than 200 miles of driving range or an entire week. On the other hand, if you have a long commute or like to take weekend trips, you’ll want EV with at least 300 miles of driving range. Most EVs offer more than 200 miles, and some reach as high as 400 miles of range.

How much fun are you looking for in your EV?

Some EVs are advertised as fun, exciting, and fast. The Tesla Model S Plaid is considered the fastest electric vehicle in the world, but the new Lucid Air Sapphire might take this title away. Some EVs are built with off-road qualities, making adventures into the wilderness possible and fun. Although electric cars drive and feel different from traditional gas-powered vehicles, they can fit your lifestyle and offer the fun and excitement you desire.

Should you buy or lease your electric car?

This might be the second-most important question you’ll answer. Most advice normally points to buying over leasing, but EV technology is advancing so rapidly that leasing could be a much better option. Electric vehicles are new enough that some uncertainty still exists regarding the lifespan of EV batteries. If you want to err on the side of caution, it’s probably best to lease your first or second EV until more is known about the longevity of these new vehicles.

Would a PHEV or hybrid be a better option right now?

The newness of the electric car world could cause us to pause and take a step back. If you’re unsure whether or not you should drive a fully-electric car, you can dip a toe in the proverbial alternative fuel market with a traditional hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle. A PHEV could be the best option because most offer some of the same tax benefits as EVs and also provide 20 to 40 miles of all-electric driving range. Hybrid vehicles utilize a traditional gas engine for most of the driving, which makes them much more versatile than EVs.

Are you ready to buy an EV? Use these tips to help understand if you, the auto market, or the infrastructure is ready for you to drive a fully-electric vehicle.

The post How to Buy an Electric Car first appeared on Ride4Watts.com.

The post How to Buy an Electric Car appeared first on Ride4Watts.com.