Toyota Prius PHEV

The most famous green car in the world just got greener – the Toyota Prius is now road-testing prototype plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). So can Toyota truly begin to offer the best of both worlds and form the perfect combination of hybrid and electric power? This guide to the Toyota Prius PHEV will examine the vehicle in-depth.

History of the Toyota Prius PHEV

The Toyota Prius originally went on sale in Japan in 1997 and became the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. When it was introduced worldwide in 2001 it became an instant hit – garnering media and even celebrity attention, it became the ‘car of the stars’ and the leader of the green car revolution – for more information on the original Toyota Prius check out this guide.

In September 2007, Toyota formed a partnership with French energy provider EDF Energy to trial a plug-in hybrid version of the vehicle on French roads. This was followed in September 2008 when the same companies trialled the vehicles in the UK as outlined in our original news story here.

Together, Toyota and EDF Energy used an innovative charging and invoicing system that is compatible with the new generation of public charging stations and aims to make electric power more accessible on public roads and in car parks. Around 40 posts were installed immediately with plans to develop more over the following months.

The advantage of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid compared to traditional models is that the electric range is vastly extended resulting in silent, zero emissions.

Environmental credentials of the Toyota Prius PHEV

The Toyota Prius PHEV effectively solves two of the leading problems associated with hybrid cars and electric cars individually. By extending the range it can run on electric power, it becomes emission free for trips up to 25km and consumes around 60 per cent less fuel than the traditional Toyota Prius. However, unlike traditional electric cars, it avoids the constraints of limited range and the constant need to recharge because it can convert to running in hybrid mode.

Of course as with any electric car, even when running in purely electric mode, the Toyota Prius PHEV cannot be described as completely emission free. This is because while the vehicle itself produces no emissions, much of the energy is still produced from non-renewable sources such as coal. Until this issue is addressed and electricity comes from completely renewable sources such as solar and wind power, they will not be the complete environmental solution.

Nevertheless, the Toyota Prius PHEV offers a substantial improvement on what was already a winning concept. The Toyota Prius was capable of around 65mpg and fit into one of the lowest vehicle excise duty bands – with the Toyota Prius PHEV fuel consumption levels should be vastly improved and there will be further financial incentives.

Toyota Prius PHEV statistics

The Toyota Prius PHEV is currently under testing and therefore there are no statistics available at this time. We’ll provide more information as it becomes available.

Future of the Toyota Prius PHEV

According to reports in the Associated Press, the Toyota Prius PHEV will be made available to consumers in 2010. We’ll have more information on the trials as it becomes available here at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.