One of the myriad challenges posed by life in an urban environment is driving.  The stimulus of speed, traffic, reading the profusion of road signs, timing(of arrival, of traffic lights), juggling(hopefully not a cellphone but probably a hot drink of sorts) and other distractions(conversation, kids, radio) all collide and create stress and so undermine diligent and cautious driving behavior.

For those of us who daily do battle with the Boston driving experience, multiply the effects above, exponentially.

The Prius provides real time energy usage monitoring via two displays; one tracks the power provided by the battery and/or engine while showing current MPG.  The other display shows MPG in 5 minute intervals.  Both displays have the intended consequence of moderating driver behavior as improving the MPG becomes a game and test of skill.

Learning how to accelerate, to brake, to anticipate traffic, to use hills and so drive smoothly and deliberately makes getting behind the wheel a very different experience, and one I have come to enjoy.  Gone is the impatience and irritation that driving used to represent, replaced by an almost zen-like attention to the act of driving.

I wonder how Toyota could market that? I wonder how many painting contractors are looking to move their fleet to hybrid, as we are?