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Originally Posted by CGameProgrammer
The 2006 HCH does not have a true electric-only mode; it's an assist hybrid. The motor is technically capable of propelling the car without the engine, but the car is programmed specifically not to let it (unless you're totally out of gas); at most you can only run the motor at around 30% power, but even that is really difficult to do. And to do that, your eyes have to be glued to the gauges. A Prius, on the other hand, has a true EV mode and you don't have to look at the dashboard at all to stay in it (or to know when you're in it, for that matter).
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depends on how you're defining "true electric-only". if by electric-only you mean the car is being propelled by the electric motor only then the hch.ii is definitely a true electric-only. the hch.ii switches in and out of electric-only mode seamlessly and often. one doesn't have to really look at the gauges. toyota's hsd is no easier to get into electric-only mode than the hch.ii in my opinion. neither car has the battery storage capability to keep it in electric-only mode for very long anyhow.