Hybrid Synergy Drive®

Hybrid Synergy Drive®is Toyota's next generation hybrid powertrain, improving upon the Toyota Hybrid System in the original Prius. Hybrid Synergy Drive® offers increased power and better fuel efficiency with extremely low emissions -- all in a more compact form. In addition, its design is modular, which allows it to be tailored to the needs of many different platforms, from sedans to SUVs and trucks.

In Prius, Hybrid Synergy Drive® combines a gasoline engine, two electric motor/generators, a battery pack, an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, and power and control electronics. For 4-wheel-drive vehicles, such as the Highlander Hybrid, it will offer an additional motor powering the rear wheels.

The primary technical difference between Hybrid Synergy Drive® and the Toyota Hybrid System is a voltage converter that increases the overall voltage of the battery, offering higher efficiency and more power with a smaller, more durable battery. The engine itself runs at a higher maximum rpm, generating more horsepower. As a result, Prius achieves higher fuel economy along with better acceleration than any previous hybrid.