The first Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) trials will begin today between Toyota and one of the UK’s largest energy companies, EDF Energy.

The trial will involve the energy company’s employees testing the cars under everyday conditions over a year to evaluate vehicle performance with several environments, most notably with urban driving. Employee’s perceptions of the vehicles and charging will also be evaluated as part of the trial.

EDF Energy has helped install the first of 40 charging posts in the UK, with more to follow in the coming months, and part of the trial also includes an innovative charging and invoicing system.

A PHV utilises Toyota’s hybrid technology with the added benefit that the vehicles batteries can be recharged using a standard electrical plug or at a charging post, therefore for short journeys the PHV will act as a pure electric vehicle resulting in zero emissions, while over longer distances the hybrid engine takes over and the PHV works like a current conventional hybrid.

Toyota hopes to confirm with the trial that a PHV brings improved fuel efficiency over existing hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius.

Rt Hon John Hutton MP, UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, speaking at a Toyota – EDF Energy event in London to launch PHV in the UK, said: ‘I welcome the launch of this trial here in the UK. I am pleased to see industry pulling together to work on diversifying energy use and cutting global carbon emissions. We hope that this trial will provide an invaluable insight into the future development of UK electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. This, combined with the demonstration project announced by the prime minister, will lead us one step closer to making our ambition of becoming the number one location for low carbon vehicles a reality.’

TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk will monitor and report on the trial in the coming months.