Here is a report of Toyota looking into having a button that will set emphasis on power or fuel economy. Here is the link ==> http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=108870
Sign me up for green switch! I wonder if it can be retrofitted into the Prius? I think it is high time for something like this.
We couldn't ask for much better news than this! The technology involved has to center on the ICE, right? Perhaps adding a cylinder shut-down to everything else?
If the switch is on the MFD, then there is no reason why the current Prius couldn't be upgraded by reprogramming the ECU. However, it would also be a marketing item to get current Prius owners to consider upgrading to a new model. If it were Ford, Chrysler, or GM, I would have no doubt about how they would handle it, but I could see Toyota going either way.
I don't know if you would still qualify for a rebate or an HOV sticker if you could buy a Prius but not drive in economy mode, possibly even never drive in economy mode. Certainly the average mpg for all Prii would drop if you made this possible.
".....a switch system that would work in a similar way to a car's air-conditioning controls." Uh, excuse me, but what in the world is that suppose to mean? It strikes me the "green switch" already exists and is comprised of the drivers right foot and his brain.
