Toyota Prius plug-in tops 65 mpg
Toyota says that plug-in hybrid versions of its Prius hatchback are averaging 65 miles per gallon in real-world testing. For those keeping track, that's a 15 mpg improvement over the upcoming 2010 Prius. As with today's hybrids, the actual mileage figure is highly dependent on the driver's right foot and these machines are likely based on the second-gen Prius that's currently roaming the streets, modified with a lithium ion battery pack that's capable of storing much more energy that the nickel metal hydride pack of the standard car.
A new Prius was debuted at the Detroit Auto Show last month and should go on sale sometime later this year, but it's still equipped with the older battery technology. So far, Toyota has yet to announce any specific plans regarding the future sale date of a plug-in Prius to regular consumers, and the automaker is now suggesting that any of its hybrids would be good candidates for PHEV technology, including the Prius, which seems like the most logical choice. In any case, it appears that Toyota is content to let GM push forward with the series hybrid Volt technology while its engineers remain in the PHEV data capturing stage.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sea Urchin 12:42PM (2/02/2009)
Great, this is wonderful news for Prius' fans out there, now let's have a bare knuckles fight between Prius, Volt and Insight, costumer will be the winner.
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Martin 12:42PM (2/02/2009)
Toyota lie about actual MPG's?? Never.....not in a million years...the same they way they deny shedding workers....
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Martin 9:37AM (2/03/2009)
OK I guess sarcasm is lost on some of you...
TomdeTomTom 12:49PM (2/02/2009)
"I ask my guys to drive them as you drive your normal Prius."
So.....5 mph on the highway, behind trucks and the like?
Sounds very realistic to me
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why not the LS2LS7? 12:52PM (2/02/2009)
I'd rather see PHEVs that have some zero-emission range. Much as I prefer the Prius to Honda's system because the Prius can be used in some situations without the engine on, I'd prefer to see any plug-in hybrids that become popular be able to be used for daily commuting with no gas at all.
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zamafir 1:07PM (2/02/2009)
Yup, GM's onto something with that aspect of the volt.
CarbonBlack 7:18PM (2/02/2009)
Agreed!
In general I am not a Prius fan, but this tech is pretty cool.
I can put my differences aside, and learn to respect what it really is.
-Nick
TigerMil 12:53PM (2/02/2009)
So...a completely electric prius would get infinite mpg?
How about the BTU equivalent per gallon of gasoline for the electrical energy the car uses? Mulitiplied by 3 or 4, of course, for the inefficiency of burning fuel to make electricity and the transmission losses of the electricity to one's house! LOL.
Or simply taking the cost per kilowatt-hour used to charge the thing and converting to gasoline at say a nominal $3.00 gallon, i.e., $3 worth of electricity = one gallon of fuel? Divide that into the miles driven per charge... Naah, never happen.
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saysee 5:40PM (2/02/2009)
A volt supposedly goes 40 miles on 8 kwh, a kwh costs about 10 to 15 cents, so you are going 40 miles for around $1, which is less than half of what it would cost with gas at $2 (assuming u get less then 40 mpg), and a lot less then when gas was at $3, $4, and even $5(CT) this summer.
Serge 12:55PM (2/02/2009)
The way Prii(?) are usually driven... I'll be surprised if they get 25MPG, and that's just because it's a 1,500lbs 4cylinder econo-box.
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Sea Urchin 1:00PM (2/02/2009)
So you saying that Prius owners are known speedsters? They like to put pedal to the metal?
Jason 2:05PM (2/02/2009)
Over here in the Southeast I feel like I see more Priuses going 85+ in the left lane on I-75 than going 55-65 in the right lane. Kind of makes the car pointless when you're making that little 4 cylinder work that hard.
Serge 2:11PM (2/02/2009)
Here in NYC 95% of Prius drivers floor it from every traffic light... the car is kinda slow so it doesn't look like they're going too fast, but it's noticeable that they launch it pretty hard. In general, most of the time, the cars are not driven to take advantage of the good gas-mileage they offer.
Zagato 2:25PM (2/02/2009)
I live in So. CA and I have a Prius for 2 yrs now. I have a 80 miles commute each day. I do drive 70 to 80 on 405 carpool lane when I can. I still get anywhere from 46 to 48 mpg.
Luis 9:20AM (2/03/2009)
Maybe you notice the launch because of all the torque available from a stop? All of the torque from the electric motor is available from a standstill.
Den in IN 1:00PM (2/02/2009)
So does it get 65mpg without plugging in! That's fantastic, or not...if this includes adding energy by plugging into the grid the headline is so dishonest and misleading it would make political commentators of all parties blush with embarrassment. Did Toyota get ahead in the same way as Wallmart, deception and lies to customers? Wondering...
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SimbaDogg 1:35PM (2/02/2009)
how the hell is the headline misleading? the car is a plug in hybrid, of course some plug in reaction is required to get the 65 mpg. I mean jesus h christ, if it wasn't then wouldn't the regular hybrid be getting 65 mpg as well? its common sense buddy...
Den in IN 1:54PM (2/02/2009)
Are you really that simple? Only beauty queens and liberals get anything from this headline. If you have two sources of fuel but only report the use and cost of one its misleading information. Duh,
nardvark 1:03PM (2/02/2009)
Under what conditions? For how long? I think electric cars should have their mileage numbers reported as a two-number set. 1) How far can you go on the electric charge, and 2) what is the mileage when the charge is depleted?
Not some stupid mix of the two, where consumers have no idea what the real world mileage will be for a long trip.
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gslippy 1:04PM (2/02/2009)
Yet another reason why the Volt will never see a showroom.
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