Toyota Announces Prius Plug-in Hybrid In Key Markets

TOYOTA HAS ANNOUNCED it will begin introducing a plug-in hybrid (PHV) variant of its third generation Prius into "key markets" around the globe.

An initial allocation of 600 plug-in Priuses will be delivered as working evaluation vehicles in Japan, the USA and Europe during the first half of 2010.

Government agencies in the each country will run the initial plug-in fleet, with Toyota monitoring vehicle usage to determine the requirements of a battery charging infrastructure in these markets.

Feedback collected during this roll-out phase will be used by Toyota to accelerate the adoption of PHVs. Toyota hopes to be selling its plug-in hybrid models in the tens of thousands within the next two years.

The Prius plug-in is the first Toyota vehicle to run a lithium-ion battery. Using the extended range of the plug-in battery pack the Prius can cover up to 23 kilometres before the petrol motor is required, after which the plug-in Prius functions as a normal petrol-electric hybrid.

Initial calculations based on the Japanese fuel consumption test cycle reveal that the Prius Plug-in is capable of using as little as 1.75 l/100km and producing just 41g/km of Co2.

In Japan, Toyota will lease around 230 vehicles to government ministries and local governments in selected EV & PHV (electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid) Towns Programs, run by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The United States will receive 150 units to go to corporations, universities and research agencies as part of a demonstration program to help develop battery charging infrastructure.

A further 200 units have been allocated to Europe, with 100 of those going to the City of Strasbourg in France. In time Toyota hopes to introduce the Plug-in Prius across Europe and the UK with markets such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand also under consideration.