Plug-in Prius

By Eric Boyd on December 4, 2007 2:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tags:

PHEV,

Prius,

Toyota

Toyota has been working on a plug-in version of their popular hybrid-electric Prius. This new version will allow the owner to plug the vehicle into the electric grid in order to recharge the batteries. With the larger battery pack (currently exactly double the old capacity), Toyota claims that the vehicle achieves about 8 miles of all-electric operating range. It's not in AXP 100 MPGe territory yet, but XPrizeCars believes that Toyota could easily make it so, and furthermore that Toyota is more likely than other major automotive manufacturers to compete in the AXP. Check out our new PHEV Prius page, or read-on for a less pretty version of the same information.

Short Description: 2007 Prius + extra batteries and a plug
Availability & Cost: ~$25k, late 2008

Background and Details

Toyota has been testing “Plug-in” versions of it’s popular hybrid electric car.
The stats represent the test vehicles, which consist basically of 2007 Prius + an extra battery pack (i.e. exactly double a usual Prius) and a charging system
This enables the first 8 miles to be driven all-electric
Toyota has been nay-saying lithium-ion batteries as “not ready for automotive uses”
CalCars has been promoting PHEV’s and converting Toyota Prius’s to “Prius+” to prove their point.
As is, the vehicle would not meet 100 MPGe for most stages. But with additional batteries and some minimal streamlining (e.g. removing side mirrors), the PHEV Prius could compete in the Mainstream AXP Race.
XPrizeCars Opinion: of the large automotive markers, Toyota is the most likely to become an official competitor
References: Wikipedia CalCars Prius+ JapanCorp GreenCarCongress CarAndDriver

Vehicle Stats

AXP MPGe	55 MPGe gasoline 113 MPGe electricity
Weight	2921 lbs
L x W x H (ft)	14.6 x 5.6 x 4.8
HP	110 HP (net)
0-60 MPH	10.1 seconds
Top Speed	105 MPH (42 all electric)
Battery Info	2.62 kWH (NMH) 90 lbs
Range	8 mile all-electric
Motor	273.6V, 33kW
Engine	1.5L gasoline, l4, 76 HP
Cd x Frontal Area	0.26 x 24.0 ft^2