Toyota has announced the initial limited introduction of a plug-in version of its top-selling Prius petrol-electric hybrid. Whereas the majority of hybrid vehicles have been offered with nickel-metal hydrate batteries to date, the new Prius sports lithium ion cells and can serve as both EV or extended-range HV.
The Prius PHV can be charged using a household electric outlet and is the first vehicle produced by Toyota to be propelled by a lithium-ion battery. Further, due to the battery’s expanded capacity, the vehicle has an extended electric-vehicle driving range, enabling use as an electric vehicle (EV) for short distances.
For medium and long distances, after battery power depletes to a level no longer allowing EV driving mode, the vehicle functions as a conventional petrol-electric hybrid vehicle (HV). Thus, use is not constrained by remaining battery power or availability of battery-charging infrastructure, and the vehicle represents a hybrid of a different kind – it fuses the strenghts of electric and petrol-electric products.
Six hundred Plug-in Priuses will be leased to local governments, selected corporations including electric power companies, universities and research agencies for use in a demonstration programme in Japan, the United States, and Europe this year. The purpose of the project is to collect real-world driving data, spur on the development of battery-charging infrastructure, but moreover, lay the groundwork for deliveries of Plug-in Priuses to the mass market in 2012.
For those who are technically enclined, the Plug-in Prius is powered by a 73 kW, 142 N.m 1,8-litre petrol engione and a 60 kW, 207 N.m electric motor. Its lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 5,2 kWh and a rated voltage of 345,6 V. Charging time is quoted as approximately 3 hours (AC100 V) and 100 minutes (AC200 V), with a maximum system output of 100 kW. Toyota say the model will achieve a top speed of 100 km/h when driven in EV-only mode.
Furthermore, the manufacturer expects the Plug-in Prius to achieve better fuel efficiency than its petrol-electric sibling. According to CAR Guide, the Prius currently offered in South Africa produces 123 grams of CO2 per kilometer, and when we apply our calculation formula to the figure quoted for the Plug-in version in the EU driving cycle, the total comes to an 70,8 g/km (the figure seems impressive, but consider that a portion of the cycle is completed in EV mode, which produces no CO2, notes CAR technical editor Jake Venter… Whether the carbon dioxide produced in the generation of the Plug-In Prius’ charge should be added to the total is moot).
