Poor Prius:
Japan’s near-silent hybrid cars have been called dangerous by the vision-impaired and some users, prompting a government review on whether to add a noise-making device, according to an official. The petrol-electric vehicles, which in recent months have become the country’s top-selling autos, hum along almost soundlessly when they are switched from fuel to battery mode. “We have received opinions from automobile users and vision-impaired people that they feel hybrid vehicles are dangerous,” a transport ministry official said. “Blind people depend on sounds when they walk, but there are no engine sounds from hybrid vehicles when running at low speed” and on the electric motor, he said. – from Google
Meanwhile:
Toyota Prius wins WhatGreenCar Car of the Year 2009 award. The latest petrol/electric hybrid technology of the Toyota Prius triumphs over other eco initiatives.