AFTER the recent calamity caused by Mother Nature, it is not surprising when one wonders if all that talk about climate change, global warming and the greenhouse effect was the main reason for typhoon Ondoy’s devastation. And if it was, then we would have been truly part of the problem driving around in our wonderful cars that emit so much carbon and other pollutants.

This writer is just glad that automobile manufacturers have already produced alternative-powered vehicles that are environment-friendly. Such a car is the now-popular Toyota Prius.

The Prius is the first hybrid electric- and gas-powered car that came into commercial production in the late ’90s. Toyota prides itself in the knowledge that when environmental awareness was seeping into the consciousness of car owners, they were able to deliver a product that appealed to that new taste.

Driving the Prius was a delight indeed. Before the strange tempest befell Metro Manila, Toyota gave this writer the opportunity to drive one of its test units to satisfy his curiosity about the hybrid car.

First, the Prius is powered by a revolutionary Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD). This allows the car to run on electric motor or gas engine or even both at the same time if need be. The electric motor is powered by a set of batteries that enable it to move without emissions. It is also the quietest engine that this writer knows of. When the battery goes down, the gas engine automatically kicks in to take over the job.

The switchover from the electric motor to gas engine is seamless and almost unnoticed. This is because of the management system, which controls the car’s engines. You can see it on the dashboard display that also shows the other functions of the car.

The Prius’s electric motor generates up to 80 horses of power, while the gas engine is a 1.8-liter 16-valve VVT-i that feeds up to 100 hp. This combo is enough to satisfy the regular driving needs of a typical urban motorist driving to work. It also fulfills his need to be environment-friendly.

Another feature of the Prius is the regenerative braking system. Here, kinetic energy is recovered from the heat produced by the brakes and then stored into the battery of the electric motor to be used when the car is on electric mode.

There are three driving modes for the Prius. The “eco” mode is for fuel efficiency and it works when the computer system of the car assists the driver in achieving maximum fuel consumption efficiency. There is also the “EV” or electric vehicle mode wherein the car runs purely on its electric motor. Finally there is the “power” mode, which allows the car to be driven in a more powerful manner if the driver feels the need for a faster car.

Inside the Prius, one will be surprised with the level of comfort and luxury Toyota has poured into it. The fabrics are of high quality and the leather seats are very comfortable to plop into. Leg room has been sufficiently addressed and the dashboard has that futuristic look complementing the presentation of the Prius as the car of tomorrow. Aircon, sound system and other in-car amenities were not spared the luxury to ensure that a wonderful drive is exacted from the Prius.

From the outside, the Prius is definitely a car of the 22nd century. Its lines are sleek and aerodynamic in influence. The short hood flows down into the grille and then down to the bumper in one motion. The rear has a double backlight improving rear visibility with vertical tail lamps and LED brake lights.

But for all its beauty and wonder, and even its environmentally correct design, the Prius is not a cheap car. Priced at P2.25 million, it is roughly the equivalent of an entry-level Subaru or high-end Mitsubishi Lancer. Still, the ability to brag that one is helping out the environment may mean a lot to those suffering the wrath of Ondoy.