Police cruisers often go through punishment that’s well beyond what the typical motorist would encounter in their lifetime. This is a big reason why Toyota Motor Philippines got curious as to the condition of Prius patrol cars currently deployed in, of all places, Tacloban City, Leyte.
Back in 2017, these fourth-generation Prius patrol cars were provided to PNP Tacloban by the Japan government through the Non-Project Grand Aid (NPGA). Since then, it’s been in operation as day-to-day patrol cars, operating in and around the city 24/7.
For this “Goyokiki” activity—a Japanese term which refers to the practice of going and talking with customers to understand their needs, Mr. Marvin Gardiner, TMP Vice President for CSO Service Planning and Administration Department together with Mr. Dave Fenis, Service Manager of Toyota Tacloban paid a visit to the Police Regional Office 8 in Leyte.
During their visit, these Toyota representatives were able to inspect 26 out of the 49 Prius patrol vehicles themselves (the rest were on duty). The first Prius to ride on the TNGA platform and equipped with Toyota’s fourth-generation hybrid technology, they had an average mileage of 193,000 kilometers. In one particular vehicle, the mileage was over 300,000 kilometers.
Used extensively in tough, real-world conditions, these Priuses were subject to a hybrid battery health check. It showed low internal resistance—a key indicator of good battery health and performance. A lower Ohms rating—the unit of electrical resistance—means better performance and efficiency. The actual result showed an average 0.020 Ohms across all 26 Prius units meaning the high-voltage battery remains at optimal condition even after eight years of daily use.
Elsewhere, there were minor chassis issues, but these were linked to Leyte’s rough road conditions as opposed to mechanical faults or defects.
Both Gardiner and Fenis also took the time to interview the actual users of the Prius patrol cars who noted its overall comfort and reliability. Furthermore, they enjoyed “quick response when in Power Mode; with no ‘delay’ compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars.” Oh, and when it comes to maintenance, there were no problems scheduling maintenance service.
“We sincerely thank TMP for going the extra mile to visit Tacloban and support our personnel. Toyota has never neglected us and continues to provide dependable aftersales service,” said PLTCOL Roderick Condag, Acting Chief, RLRDD of PNP, Police Regional Office 8.
The condition of these Prius patrol cars proves Toyota’s 30-year track record in hybrid powertrain development. Even when subject to tougher-than-average conditions, they remain efficient, durable, and cost-effective. It’s also a reminder of the continued trust Filipinos, even those in service, put in Toyota vehicles specifically when they’re in search for quality, durability, and reliability.
Toyota HEV💪💪💪
ReplyDeleteSpotted a proud Yaris Cross owner right here
DeleteGosh, my home Province of Leyte got a mention. Well the lesson from this article is that Leyte's roads desperately need repairing and remember that Tacloban has the best of everything in Leyte while the rest of us have to suffer. I can't even buy frozen vegetables in the supermarkets of Hilongos, Bato or Baybay!!! No problem buying frozen vegetables in Tacloban, so that also shows you the need for road maintenance ''outside of Tacloban''. At least Leyte got a mention. Well done Toyota. I will consider a Prius as my next car as my current 7 year old Vitara is no longer stocked in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteTo begin with, was this generation(4th) of Prius available in the Philippines?
ReplyDeleteYes it was. It didn't really sell that well because of the prohibitive price at the time. It was priced around P 2.2-million then. The smaller Prius C was also sold here as well.
DeleteNice to hear these Prius' are maintained, knowing how police here treat their cars. Makes me wonder why these Priuses didn't sell that well
ReplyDelete