Coming soon: plug-in Prius
Prius owners, we know you love your pioneering gasoline-electric hybrids — both for the money you save on fuel and the environmentally friendly statement your car makes, especially in an eco-conscious area like Silicon Valley.
Toyota announced today that an even greener Prius is on the way. A plug-in model of the popular hybrid will be available in limited numbers (about 600 worldwide) for lease, mostly to government and business customers. The rest of us can buy one starting sometime in 2011. Toyota didn't reveal a price, but an executive said it will be a "viable option" for many customers.
According to our friends at The Associated Press, the plug-in Prius is made possible by an improved lithium-ion battery. The plug-in Prius can travel about 14 miles powered by electricity. After that, its gas engine kicks in.
According to AP, Toyota wants feedback from its lease customers before bringing the plug-in Prius to a wider market. "We have been working on developing efficient powertrains to be able to use oil as efficiently as possible," Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada said. "But many hurdles remain for alternative fuels."
No comments:
Post a Comment