We already know to expect Toyota’s Entune infotainment system inside the dash of the 2012 Prius V , however the hybrid’s monster EV batteries may be powering a lot more than a touchscreen and apps. Based on ConsumerSearch, next year’s plug-in vehicle will include two new features aimed toward improving the car’s electric-only range for local driving, especially when your commute also incorporates a trip down the freeway. The primary improvement is available in the shape of an EV mode button, allowing you to show off EV for highway driving, which tends to empty those batts faster than a Thunderbolt in Hotspot mode . The V also will offer full battery regeneration, so power-off activities like braking and driving downhill will restore the hybrid’s EV-only range — especially helpful if you happen to live in a hilly area or are inclined to make frequent stops. Both new features will need to have a reasonably significant impact on efficiency, so you will soon manage to drive further within the city without tapping a single drop of crude.
ComScore report finds 42 percent people mobile users have smartphones, Android at nearly 50 percent
Lumus’ OE-31 optical engine turns motorcycle helmets, other eyewear into wearable displays
