Toyota and EDF Energy launch UK Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle leasing programme

Published: 19/04/2011

Would you like a car that offers over 100mpg? How about CO2 emissions of just 59g/km? Then the Prius PHV, which combines a Toyota hybrid and the familiar Prius badge, is unlike any Prius experienced before.

We should say first off, this is a very special hybrid. Prius PHV is a glimpse of what Toyota will be offering a limited number of customers from 2012 - a mass-production hybrid car that can be plugged in and charged from a domestic electricity supply. The Prius PHV we drove is part of a 20-car lease programme that is being run the UK by Toyota and EDF Energy over the next three years.

By using lithium-ion battery technology for the first time, Prius PHV is able to travel much further, and for higher speeds, on electric power alone, compared to standard hybrid cars. This means an electric-only range of up to 12.5 miles at speeds of up to 62mph. And we weren’t joking when we mentioned fuel economy beyond 100mpg. Prius PHV delivers 108.6mpg (combined cycle) according to official tests.

So what does this mean for new car customers? The lease programme will allow Toyota and its partners to analyse the real-world viability of plug-in hybrid vehicles. By working with EDF Energy and the UK Government, Toyota is leading the way in ensuring mass-production plug-in hybrids aren’t just possible in theory, but are practical - and affordable - for everyday use.

With the potential to travel for the majority of short journeys with zero fuel consumption and nil exhaust emissions, Prius PHV is a very exciting prospect for the future. Advances in battery and recharging technology should mean that, by the time you can order a Prius PHV, its batteries will be lighter, cheaper to produce and more effective, than the ones currently being trialed.

Source: blog.toyota.co.uk, June 22nd, 2010

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