User 169775

Will Toyota Lose Its Edge?

Gotta ask:

The atkinson-cycle engine in the Prius is different from the Otto-cycle engines in a regular car. It does NOT have a timing belt because the valves work differently. The engine does NOT have a starter either because the normal starter/solenoid system because it relies on the Power Split Device to crank the gasoline engine to speed on-the-fly.

Also the Prius does NOT have an alternator. The Power Split Device switches the traction motors between electrical generation and torque generation depending on need.

The Toyota Hybrids are mechanically LESS complex than a normal car, including your mother's HyCam. It's the electronics that are more complicated, not the mechanicals.

Like I said, no timing belt, no alternators, no starters, and the transmission has just a single gearset. It's LESS components to maintain. You might be impressed about your mother's HyCam, but apparently you don't know much about it.