Electric boost from Toyota

Dec 15 2009 Maurice Glover

Electric boost from Toyota

PLANS for the mass production of plug-in hybrid cars - which can be recharged from the mains or driven by a conventional engine - have been confirmed by Toyota.

More than a decade after pioneering petrol-electric motoring, the Japanese firm is preparing to have plug-in versions of its award-winning Prius model in the showrooms by the end of 2011.

Tens of thousands of the cars will be made available after a statement by the company board that vehicles capable of being 'topped up' from domestic plug sockets represent a significant move toward cutting exhaust emissions and limiting the use of fossil fuels.

Twenty examples of the car will arrive in Britain in the next few months as part of global trials aimed at gaining real-word user data and spurring the development of battery-charging infrastructure.

The first Toyota to use lithium-ion batteries, the plug-in car can be charged from a household electric outlet and is claimed to have an extended driving range as well as being able to operate in electric-only mode for short distances.

When battery power runs out, the model functions as a conventional petrol-electric hybrid vehicle - but company officials expect it to achieve better fuel economy than the standard Prius hybrid along with CO2 emissions of only 59g/km.

"This technology is a key driver on our road toward sustainable mobility. Based on our full hybrid powertrain, it represents the most practical way of increasing the use of electricity for personal transport,' said executive vice president Takeshi Uchivamada.