Plug-In Prius Hybrid Looking Likely

[Unlimited_MPG]

Popular Mechanics' Ben Stewart took a few laps in a prototype Toyota Prius that can be plugged into a wall outlet to recharge its batteries. He says it seems likely that the next generation Prius, a 2009 model, will feature plug-in technology.

Full Article located here: http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/10/24/p...ius-hybrid.html

[darelldd]

Great Avatar! And thanks for the link. Something else for the rumor mill to grind.

I especially liked the last line of the first page. Something you don't often find in the mainstream media - the idea that plugging in can capture a HUGE variety of power sources.

OK. I Liked this too:
"The next generation Prius, due around calendar year 2009, will almost certainly use a plug-in system. The car may launch as a normal hybrid and later, once the lithium ion battery technology is ready, switch to plug-in capability. Or, it may be a plug-in from the beginning using a large NiMh pack and switch to lithium ion later. We think the latter may be true because we’ve heard rumors that the vehicle architecture is being designed for both battery types. "

I added my comment to the page.

[IsrAmeriPrius]

The Los Angeles Times' Martin Zimmerman also test drove the prototype plug in Prius.

Toyota's plug-in Prius is work in progress
[excerpts]

Besides the bird decals and other eco-cute touches, the Priuses at Toyota's Higashi-Fuji test track looked a lot like the 2006 model that I drive from Glendale to work in downtown L.A. every day.

Other than the steering wheel being on the right, Japanese-style, the major difference in the interior was on the dashboard touch screen. In addition to the usual engine-motor-battery schematic, it displayed colored bars indicating whether the car was running on electricity alone or in hybrid mode. It also included a gauge that counted down the 10-kilometer, electric-only range.

The cars were equipped with nickel-metal hydride battery packs about twice the size of the ones in the current-generation Prius. The reason: to simulate the additional power Toyota hopes to get from lithium ion batteries, which are the leading choice among automakers right now for providing the power needed to move plug-in hybrids appreciable distances on electricity alone.

The Priuses at the test track could be operated in two modes: electric only or hybrid with an electric-only capability. (Unlike those in the U.S., Priuses marketed in Japan have an electric-only option, although the range is just a mile or so at very low speeds.)

The engineers warned me that the test cars were strictly developmental prototypes -- in other words, research vehicles not ready for dealer showrooms.

They weren't kidding. After strapping on my crash helmet and punching the familiar starter button, I hit the accelerator hard and almost threw the car out of electric-only operation.

OK, fine. When in hybrid mode, Toyota's plug-in system is designed to switch out of electric-only operation when it's confronted with a heavy demand for power -- maintaining speed up a steep hill, for example, or when dealing with a driver equipped with a crash helmet and a lead foot.

When I eased off the accelerator, the car didn't immediately switch back to electric power, even though the dashboard display said I had several miles of electric range left. I had to slow down to 20 kilometers per hour (you try to do metric conversions while careening around a test track) to return to electric-only.

That wasn't reassuring to someone thinking in terms of merging onto the 405 and then jamming across four lanes of traffic to the carpool lane, to enjoy seven miles or so of gasoline-free driving. In Southern California freeway traffic, slowing down to 20 kph to get the electric motor to kick back in isn't really an option.

The engineers assured me that it was no more than a software glitch, or maybe the catalytic converter didn't have time to warm up.

Whatever. A second test drive in a different test car resulted in the kind of torque-y acceleration electric motors are known for, speeding smoothly and quickly up to 50 mph or so, at which point an extra dose of throttle caused the gas engine to kick in -- as expected. And this time, almost as soon as the pressure was eased on the gas pedal, the car went back into electric-only operation as it was supposed to.

To get maximum electric-only efficiency, it seemed, the trick was to accelerate with a bit of restraint up to the electric motor's top speed of about 62 mph, thereby avoiding the sudden -- and admittedly satisfying -- burst of acceleration that can cause the gasoline engine to needlessly take charge.

Toyota won't talk mpg for the plug-in Prius, noting that it's tough to come up with a number that reflects both miles per gallon and miles per kilowatt. It also won't speculate on a sell-by date.

Truth be told, I think I was a bit spoiled by the hydrogen fuel-cell Toyota Highlander I tried out just before the Prius test runs. The mid-size sport utility vehicle, powered solely by an electric motor, displayed very un-SUV-like oomph as I pushed it past 50 mph. It was smooth as silk and brimming with torque.

Too bad that there are only a few dozen in existence and that if you could actually buy one -- which you can't -- it would have a sticker price of about $1 million.[/b]

[DaveinOlyWA]

wow... after all news reports that Toyota was not going to release plug ins, now they are announcing a model in 2 years? wow... wonder who will be first, Toyota or GM volt?

[micheal]

Judging from the recent past, I suspect that the Toyota plugin will be at least several years ahead of the Volt.

[clett]

For more information on Toyota's view on PHEV Prius, check out this 37 minute lecture by Toyota Senior Engineer Bill Reinert:

http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1342

He comments on where Toyota thinks PHEVs make most sense (Japan and France), how long the EV range should be, that the mule will use NiMH but the production PHEV will use LiIon and that the PHEV is definitely coming from Toyota at some stage in the future (but no clear indication of when!).

For a review (road test) of Toyota's own 2xNiMH plug-in Prius, check out:

http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1343