Autoblog

LA 2009: Toyota debuts its plug-in Prius for North America

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Technology, Hatchback, Toyota, Electric

Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota rather unceremoniously parked their plug-in Prius hybrid prototype at its North American market debut during the LA Auto Show, while their new Sienna minivan got a royal welcome at its coming out party. At a show that saw the production-ish Chevrolet Volt appearing in public for the first time, it might have seemed likely that Toyota would have made a bigger deal of this model, but we just sort of stumbled upon it while checking out its big brother, the Lexus LFA.

The company did issue a press release, which you can read in its entirety after the jump. In it, they announce that a global demonstration program will start this month in Japan and that the first batch of 500 Lithium-Ion batteries for those vehicles is moving down the assembly line as we speak. The 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) uses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive package but adds their first generation lithium-ion battery so it can go all-electric further and more quickly than a traditional hybrid. The electric-only range is just 13 miles, but the Prius PHEV will be able to run all the way up to 60 mph in electric-only mode.

Beyond that, the plug-in Prius reverts to regular hybrid mode with the gas engine and electric motor trading off depending on load and demand. The gas engine is important on this Prius PHEV and cars like the Volt because it lessens the "range anxiety" drivers might feel in a pure electric - That uneasiness that comes from thinking you could be stranded when the batteries run down.

Japan and Europe split the first batch of 350 vehicles, but early next year, the next 150 examples are coming Stateside. These first PHEV vehicles will serve as a test program for real world driving needs, kind of like the MINI E program going on right now. Toyota has already announced that Boulder, CO is going to be the first community to get some of these plug-in hybrids - a surefire way for Toyota to see how cold temps affect battery performance. You can read the rest of the presser after the jump and there's a gallery available by clicking any image below.

Gallery: LA 2009: The plug-in Prius

Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Toyota]

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LA 2009: Toyota debuts its plug-in Prius for North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Prius plug-in tops 65 mpg

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Toyota

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.]

Toyota Prius plug-in tops 65 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota launches plug-in Prius hybrid in UK

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:22:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Toyota

Click above for high-res gallery of the plug-in Prius

Toyota has been testing plug-in versions of its Prius hybrid sedan on public roads in Japan for quite some time and the models have made it Stateside for testing, as well. Now Toyota has begun testing its PHEV in the U.K. Along with EDF Energy, the Japanese automotive giant and undisputed hybrid development leader plans to run the plug-in Prius on public roadways for at least a year, starting today. As the car, with its very unfortunate paint job, is driven by EDF employees as part of the energy company's fleet of vehicles, both its capabilities and the cost savings to run the PHEV will be recorded and hopefully provide some sort of useful data to Toyota. Seriously guys, enough teasing. The real question is when Toyota will find enough reason to actually start offering the plug-in Prius for sale.

Gallery: PHEV Prius in the U.K.

[Source: Toyota]

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Toyota launches plug-in Prius hybrid in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota pursuing plug-in hybrids and FFVs

John Neff — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Technology, Toyota

Remember a long time ago when we reported that Toyota would not be developing a plug-in version of its popular hybrid vehicles, specifically a plug-in Toyota "King of Kilowatts" Prius? Well, power to the people! Jim Press stated today at the National Press Club that Toyota is indeed "pursuing" development of a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Press also told Automotive News that his company was also "strongly considering" the sale of ethanol capable vehicles, or flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) in the U.S.

Toyota's effort in the way of plug-in hybrid technology comes in response to pressure both from the U.S. government and environmental groups who have called on automakers to look beyond hybrids for other solutions to our nation's energy problems. Automakers have been reticent, however, because plug-in hybrids require larger, more expensive battery packs that can withstand being charged to full capacity and drained completely on a daily basis. Toyota will have to work quick, however, as Ford may be the first automaker with a plug-in hybrid on the market.

Ethanol and E85 are not really on the radar of John Q. Public in the U.S., but domestic automakers are heavily marketing their efforts to produce more FFVs and increase the number of E85 pumps on the ground. Toyota expressing interest in developing engines capable of running on both gasoline and E85 implies it doesn't want to be the odd automaker out if E85 catches on.

[Source: Automotive News]

Toyota pursuing plug-in hybrids and FFVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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