Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid can't get any greener

One day, children will be taken to a Museum of Momentous Moments, and there among artist's impressions of the missing link and the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs will be an example of the first Toyota Prius. The placard next to it will declare that it is the car that turned green... green.

The standard bearer for all that makes Mother Nature smile has gone to the next level, adding a plug-in version to its bag of sticks and twigs. It isn't here yet, but when it does arrive, the Prius-with-a-cord will also be the first Toyota with a high-output, lithium-ion battery that can be charged in 90 minutes on a 230-volt circuit. It'll also go 20 km in EV mode and run up to 62 mph on electricity alone. And then it will do your laundry and teach your children how to be quiet on airplanes. Or something like that. You can read all about it in the press release after the jump and check it out in the gallery of high-res photos below.

PRESS RELEASE

Clean urban mobility
Prius and Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept

Reinforcing the company's environmental leadership in addressing the needs of tomorrow's customers today, Toyota is leading the drive towards sustainable mobility through the goal of the ultimate Eco Car.

In recognition of the importance of energy diversification, the latest development in Toyota's plug-in vehicle programme, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept, represents a significant expansion of the Hybrid Synergy Drive® system's capabilities and introduces a further development in environmentally-friendly mobility.

New Prius
The New Prius is the world's most advanced expression of mass mobility. A full hybrid, it delivers the best environmental performance of any mass-produced vehicle technology available today.

With performance and dynamic abilities comparable with any mid-sized competitor, the Prius delivers CO2 and NOx emission levels below far smaller cars, while its running costs are expected to be the lowest within the mid-sized segment.
Today, however, the Prius is no longer seen as a niche model to be evaluated only against specialised criteria. By significantly increasing its fundamental appeal, the new Prius offers the three key customer benefits of driving pleasure; space, style and technology; and low cost of ownership. It combines all the space and practicality expected of a high quality family car with numerous, entirely intuitive, technological innovations new to the mid-sized segment.

In 2007 and 2008, the Prius was ranked highest in JD Power's German and UK customer satisfaction surveys, and has topped the rankings in France for the last three years. It has also recently been awarded a maximum 5-star rating in the new, more stringent Euro NCAP crash test assessment.

In August 2009, Prius was ranked the most environmentally-friendly car, for the fourth time since 2004, by the German association for sustainable mobility, Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD).

Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept
Product concept and role
70 % of Europeans are expected to live in urban areas by 2015. And recent Toyota studies in urban commuting patterns in France and the UK reveal that over 80 % of car journeys are less than 25 km in length. In France, 55 % of journeys are less than 10 km, whilst in the UK that figure rises to approximately 80 %. In this context, the potential of electricity for providing short- to mid-term sustainable mobility is assured.

Although the environmental merits of electric cars as urban commuters is well proven, the further development of such vehicles is currently handicapped by the weight, size and cost of the large capacity batteries required to offer even barely satisfactory range, and the lack of an adequate recharging infrastructure.

In launching the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept, Toyota has addressed both of these issues. It has determined that, in light of current battery development progress, plug-in hybrid architecture is the most feasible technological solution for the electrification of powertrains.

A plug-in hybrid vehicle overcomes the issue of limited cruising range. Once the vehicle exceeds the driving range in EV mode, it automatically operates as a traditional full hybrid.

A derivative of the new Prius, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept builds on the core technology of Hybrid Synergy Drive® to address the specific needs of urban-based customers. It is a full hybrid vehicle in which both the electric motor and petrol engine can drive the wheels. A fully electric EV mode is employed for shorter ranges, while the hybrid powertrain's petrol engine provides the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept with true long range capability.

Offering a significant expansion of the hybrid drive system's electric drive mode capabilities, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept avoids the traditional, limited range and challenging packaging issues of today's electric vehicles. Moreover, it can be quickly recharged from a conventional household electricity outlet or a public charging post.

In early 2010, over 500 units equipped with lithium-ion batteries, will participate in a limited lease programme worldwide. More than 150 units will be deployed to Europe alone. Before these vehicles can become a commercial reality, Toyota must evaluate each of these technology enhancements in a real-world environment. Through this programme, we aim to evaluate the market's response and understand which product characteristics are appealing and why.

Performance
Similar in format to the new Prius' Hybrid Synergy Drive® system, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept's powertrain replaces the nickel-metal hydride battery pack with a newly developed, high-output, lithium-ion battery.

Lithium-ion batteries are used for the first time in a Toyota hybrid vehicle because they have different characteristics to their nickel-metal hydride counterparts. They are also more compact, having superior volumetric energy density, meaning vehicle weight and packaging need not be adversely affected.

Moreover, and most important to retaining the intrinsic convenience of the vehicle, lithium-ion batteries may be recharged far more quickly that nickel-metal hydride alternatives. The battery pack of a Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept can be fully recharged in one and a half hours (at 230V).

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept's lithium-ion battery pack ensures strong, seamless acceleration and a maximum speed of 100 km/h when driven in EV mode. With a fully charged battery, it can travel approximately 20 km in EV mode – an increase of 10 km compared to its nickel metal hydride predecessor.

For longer distances, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept operates in the manner of a normal full hybrid.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid generates CO2 emissions below 60 g/km and, like other full hybrid models, realises a significant reduction in PM and NOx.

The reduction of CO2 emissions is a key benefit of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept, due to its expanded EV range. Even greater CO2 reductions are possible if the electricity is generated from renewable sources, such as windmills and solar panels. Simply put: the lower the percentage of energy derived from fossil fuels, the better the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept's well-to-wheel CO2 performance.

Convenience
The new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept shares all the comfort, convenience and practicality of the latest generation Prius.
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept's air conditioning may be activated remotely, when the vehicle is plugged in. Through heating or cooling, the Remote Climate Control System brings the cabin to the required temperature before occupancy.
An exclusive Hybrid System Indicator has also been incorporated to help drivers maximise the benefits of driving in EV mode. The EV driving range based on remaining battery charge has been incorporated within the battery indicator, and an engine starting point display has been added to emphasise the increase in EV driving range.

A display that specifically highlights the Plug-in Hybrid's contribution to CO2 emission reductions is also available on the Electro Multi-Vision screen. It features a computer graphic image of a single tree gradually transforming into an entire forest during the battery charging process.

A significant development in environmentally-friendly mobility, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept offers commuters and city dwellers all the benefits of an electric vehicle with none of the handicaps. Its enhanced Hybrid Synergy Drive® system combines an expanded, zero CO2 emission EV driving mode range with a true long range capability, and can be fully recharged from standard outlets in one and a half hours.

Specifications
Engine
Displacement (cm3) 1798
Max. output (kW(hp)/rpm) 73 (98) / 5200
Max. torque (Nm/rpm) 142 / 4000
Motor
Motor type Permanent magnet synchronous motor
Max. output (hp/kW) 80 / 60
Max. torque (Nm) 207
HV battery
Battery type Lithium-ion
EV cruising range (km) 20*
Recharging time (min) 100V 180*
200V 100*
Exhaust emissions
CO2 (g/km) below 60*
Exterior dimensions
Overall length (mm) 4460
Overall width (mm) 1745
Overall height (mm) 1490