Toyota To Offer Plug-In Prius In 2011
Toyota has big, big plans for the Prius, their flagship hybrid sedan. While they play the yes-no-maybe game with the Prius a brand name in-and-of-itself, they are taking the hybrid to the next level by offering a plug-in version of the Prius for the 2011 model year. Called the Prius PHV, it will have a short all-electric range as well as the ability to travel highway speeds under electric-only power.
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Toyota says the Prius PHEV will have an all-electric range of about 14.5 miles (depending on how heavy the driver’s right foot is), which will make possible short jaunts without using any fuel. After that a gas engine kicks in, and according to Toyota the Prius PHEV would have a theoretical range of 870 miles on a full charge and a full tank of gas. Cross country in just four fill ups? That would be pretty impressive.
Toyota will first be leasing several hundred of the Prius PHEVs out to fleets and governments across Japan, the U.S., and Europe. Toyota is aiming squarely at the Volt with the Prius PHEV, and while no price has been set, they hope to have it cost under 3 million yen (around $34,000). Considering the cost to convert a Prius to plug-in is about $11,000 (depending on where you go) and a 2010 Prius has a starting MSRP of $22,400, $33,000 sounds about right.
Get happy, Prius folk, ’cause your car keeps getting better and better.
Source: Green Car Advisor | Image: Toyota
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December 16th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Of course, they don’t want the Volt to get all the headlines. But I think the serial hybrid technology from the Chevy is better. I may be wrong on that…
December 17th, 2009 at 9:26 am
The Volt is also a nicer looking car. My money says that neither is going to sell very well once the initial novelty
runs out. (The only thing that may change my mind is if gas
goes back above $4/gal again.)
December 21st, 2009 at 7:34 am
I think the plug-ins will take over most of the current standard hybrid market share, which is about 3%. Depends on where you are too. In Japan, the standard Prius is now the best selling car, and the plug-in Prius will probably take it’s place. Depends on what city you’re in too. Cities with EV infrastructures will have better plug-in sales. This is just the beginning. We will build on what we have.
Toyota is making an announcement soon about a Prius line of different body types – possibly a mini-van, a compact SUV, sport and luxury models (Lexus plug-in) – maybe even a compact plug-in pick-up. Price will come down. Range will go up. The market will broaden, and so will the plug-in market share.
The price of fuel will be a factor, but not a controlling factor. You’re still going to have an educated segment of buyers who will pay extra for the green footprint and the cheaper cost of operation. Even if gasoline is $2.50 a gallon, there will still be a very good payback – Especially for vehicles with an all electric range of 25 miles or better, the average mileage driven per day. There may also be attractive tax credits of $5K to $7K. That will also expand the market for plug-ins.
December 23rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Reality check… $11,000 to go 14 miles on a charge? I’m sure a hand full of show offs will buy that, but real consumers? Nyet. Especially since it will be 7 miles under “normal” driving conditions.
January 10th, 2010 at 7:26 am
I’m dissapointed by this small step. Lets get real . What happened to 135 mi on a charge? OH thats right that car would be 99,000. We seem to have a TV sales feed here, Start each small change with big prices,hold back technoligy to get these big prices. Only Computers and phones get cheaper.How can cars get lighter,simpler,less metal,fake everything and keep going up. How long have we been making electric motors? Are we loosing brains? I am a Prius owner 2008 and hope I can hold out for enough good news and technical upgrades so I can trade.