The Prius Plug-in Hybrid, presented as a concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, is the latest development in Toyota’s plug-in vehicle programme.
Based on the third generation Prius and Toyota’s full hybrid technology, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid comes equipped with a powerful lithium-ion battery.
Lithium-ion batteries are used for the first time in a Toyota hybrid vehicle. They are more compact, have superior volumetric energy density, meaning vehicle weight and packaging won’t be adversely affected.
Moreover, and most important to retaining the intrinsic convenience of the vehicle, lithium-ion batteries may be recharged far more quickly than nickel-metal hydride alternatives. The battery pack of a Prius Plug-in Hybrid can be fully recharged in one and a half hours (at 230V).
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid’s lithium-ion battery pack ensures strong, seamless acceleration and a maximum speed of 100 km/h when driven in EV mode. With a fully charged battery, it can travel approximately 20 km in EV mode – an increase of 10 km compared to its predecessor.
For longer distances, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid operates in the manner of a normal full hybrid.
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid generates CO2 emissions of 59 g/km and, like other full hybrid models, realizes a significant reduction in PM and NOx.
The reduction of CO2 emissions is a key benefit of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, due to its expanded EV range. Even greater CO2 reductions are possible if the electricity is generated from renewable sources, such as windmills and solar panels. Simply put: the lower the percentage of energy derived from fossil fuels, the better the Prius Plug-in Hybrid’s well-to-wheel CO2 performance.
