Getting the most out of a hybrid car requires knowledge of certain driving techniques. With this in mind, Toyota has devised a programme of courses for buyers of a vehicle from its hybrid range.
A hybrid car is not like any other vehicle. Its technology combines the operation of an electric motor and a petrol engine: the former kicks in when pulling away from a standstill and provides the thrust needed to reach low speeds, while the latter activates when greater power is required. When the vehicle is stationary, both motors switch off automatically, so as not to waste energy. The benefits? Fuel consumption and pollutant emissions are reduced, the car is quieter and the ride smoother.
To get the most out of a hybrid car, however, knowing how to drive is not enough — you also need to be familiar with certain specific driving techniques. With this in mind, Toyota, leader in hybrid technology ever since it launched the first Prius twenty years ago, has created the Hybrid School: a post-purchase training programme for hybrid car owners, held at Toyota dealerships and coordinated by qualified staff from the Toyota Driving Academy — the driving school whose official ambassador is former Formula 1 driver Yarno Trulli. The course is structured in three stages: a classroom presentation, a test drive in your own hybrid car alongside a professional driver from the Toyota Driving Academy, and a question-and-answer session with the drivers and dealership staff. By the end of the course, participants will have acquired the basic knowledge needed to make the most of their hybrid vehicle's potential in terms of performance, fuel consumption and emissions.
Do the words "regenerative braking", "coasting" or "brake mode" mean anything to you? These are some of the key concepts of hybrid driving covered in the theory session, which lasts twenty minutes and explores the topics connected to the world of hybrid technology. From theory to practice: driving techniques are tried out on the road alongside an experienced driver, with an immediate improvement in fuel consumption (and therefore a reduction in emissions) and in the driving experience. Still have questions? At the end of the practical session you can ask the dealership staff and the Toyota Driving Academy drivers anything you like — from warranty and servicing to the local benefits of owning a hybrid car.
The next Hybrid School courses will be held on 8 September in Ancona, Barletta (Ba), Taranto, Avezzano (Aq), Porto sant'Elpidio (Fm), San Giovanni Teatino (Ch), Perugia, Bari, Foggia, and on 15 September in Saint Christophe (Ao), Turin, Genova, Cuneo, Brescia, Caresanablot (Vc), Cremona, Limena (Pd).