2nd Green Revolution

NPR mentioned on the air that the Toyota Prius’s plug-in version of their popular gasoline-electric hybrid will be available in 2011. The New York Times reported today that Japanese car company “planned a widespread release of its plug-in hybrid car in 2011.” According to the story, Toyota is planning an increased roll out due to the pressure the Chevy’s Volt has brought to bear on the industry. Toyota had anticipated moving toward an expanded gasoline-hybrid line, instead of the plug-in hybrid.

The New York Times reports that “The car travels 23.4 kilometers, or 14.5 miles, as an electric vehicle on a single charge before a regular gas-electric hybrid system kicks in. It gets an overall mileage of 57 kilometers a liter, or 134 miles per gallon — exceeding the Prius’s 38 kilometers a liter.” Furthermore, “The plug-in Prius would charge in about 100 minutes and halve the running cost of traveling 30 kilometers in comparison with a regular Prius if recharged at night, when electricity costs are often lower.”

Wired magazine reports that the plug-in version will be the first Toyota to use a lithium-ion battery. “Toyota is developing the batteries through its partnership with Panasonic, which has provided the nickel-metal hydride batteries in the Prius.” Wired also mentions that “Toyota is rolling out 500 [Priuses] in the coming months. It’s providing 350 of them to municipal fleets in Japan to further refine the technology. Another 150 are slated for fleets in the United States early next year.” Car and Driver reports that “Before selling the car, Toyota is making the plug-in Prius available for lease to corporations, universities, and government agencies.”

Currently there is no report of what the price will be, however, estimates are that the new Prius will be roughly $10,000 more than the currently Prius. Prices for a regular Prius hybrid with no plug-in function start at $22,400 in the United States.

- Eric Wilson

[image source: Car and Driver]