It is called the new Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. Simply put, there is not much difference in the standard hybrid Prius and the “new” plug-in. It is very closely aligned with the Chevy Volt. They are both ‘extended range' vehicles. I recently had a Prius Plug-In for a weeklong test drive. The vehicle was not a model off the showroom floor, but a proto-type production model that is also called an 'electric' car.
There is an old saying in our part of the world – “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The Japanese engineers with Toyota must have figured out what we all meant by that phrase. Make minor changes if necessary, but do not change the basics that made your product successful to begin with. That appears to be the current analysis of the Plug-In Prius, although this may change over the next few years.
There is no question that the Toyota Prius is the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle. It is a mass-produced vehicle that offers a lot of technology and superb environmental performance. With the introduction of the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus Electric, and others, Toyota is almost forced to introduce a competitive plug-in car. Rather than spend all their resources on something new, they are taking a great product and moving it to the next level.
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid is being called a PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) and is different than the pure-electric such as the Nissan Leaf. The Prius PHV enhances the proven Hybrid Synergy Drive introduced by Toyota a number of years ago. The biggest difference is the battery pack itself. Toyota has steered clear of the lithium-ion batteries until now. The plug-in model Prius uses the lithium-ion batteries for the all-electric mode. These batteries increase the space requirement in the Prius, so the trunk floor has been raised up a few inches and the total vehicle weight in heavier.
Like other plug-in hybrids, the Prius offers a seamless acceleration from 0 to highway speeds on electric-only mode. A full charge only takes about three hours on a standard home 110V electrical outlet. That is easy to do at home in your garage or car-port. However, the range is about 13 to 20 miles before the gasoline motor kicks in. That is enough, however, to reflect high mileage figures, sometimes in the 70’s or 80’s. Lengthy trips, however, will not produce much more fuel efficiency than the standard Prius. This plug-in electric is really designed for big-city commuters that drive short distances.
Some of the other manufacturers are building their electric cars to go fairly long distances, such as 40 to 50 miles, on a single charge. The theory is that this distance is about the normal driving distance each day for the average American worker. The Prius Hybrid electric plug-in is great for short distances, but is really designed to provide a supplemental electric boost to the overall mileage.
The standard plug-in cord that comes with the car is rather lengthy and accommodates most situations. However, it will not work with a typical extension cord, so the car must be parked in a garage, at a rapid-charge station, or nearby an outside electrical outlet. Small offices do not normally have these, so it made it a little difficult to keep the car charged during my week’s test drive. The positive side is that all the electric cars that offer a plug-in capability utilize a standardized plug connection and are interchangeable.
Toyota is offering performance evaluations to entities referred to as their “program partners.” These include universities, large corporations, city governments, and state agencies. This is designed for demonstrate, educate, inform, and evaluate the performance and benefits of the plug-in hybrid. Some are guessing that these “partners” will become the basis of Toyota’s marketing efforts.
Toyota does not plan to abandon their successful Prius hybrid, but merely add another dimension to “keep-up-with-the-Joneses.” Not only the Prius, but also Toyota is probably going to introduce a plug-in hybrid version of their RAV4.
Pricing has not been officially announced, but is expected to be in the $40 thousand range for the little Prius plug-in. If our gasoline prices continue to climb at their current rate, maybe that price will look much more affordable if we can double our mileage. Typically, drivers respond with their driving habits and purchases based more on the fuel costs than on other aspects. The plug-in hybrid, even with a short all-electric distance, may be the best approach and deserves our attention.
The Prius just may be the right vehicle for the right time. It is expected to be in showrooms sometime in 2012. In the meantime, visit a Toyota dealership and check out the regular Prius Hybrid and all the other great Toyota products.
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