Toyota Plug in Website now up!

Limited release, fleets, lease plans ... all points to the same
red flags as we knew for the EV1.
.
_H*

 

Anyone have any idea on the weight of that Li-ion battery pack in the limited release demo vehicle?
It sure looks big compared to the current production Ni-Mh pack, which I believe is around 100 lb.

 

hill, love you to death and sorry it's frustrating. The truth is we're just not collecting a consideration list. We're not starting from a clean sheet...We basically have already-developed relationships with various partners that we're going to utilize for the program. You'll hear all about them in due time.

That said, know this... I am going to try to find a way to get some of these cars in PCers hands. Can't promise anything, but I'm going to fight for it.

Good points. However, we are planning to launch retail sales in 2012. So there is already a follow-on phase on the books that won't just be "limited release, fleets, lease plans".

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA

 

The initial build is only 500 worldwide. This is a test program for Toyota; they want to iron out the system and get data. While I am all for things like the Enginer plug in pack, they don't want to have their customers experiencing the same kind of problems that other plug in conversions have had. They also might want to be able to take them back if they are a failure or problematic.

It will be just one year later I am sure for the production version to come out, at a similar time to when the Volt is available.

 

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Prius PHV becomes the best selling PHV in a few years.

PHV seems like the best way to proceed with mainstream electric propulsion - by raising the ceiling of electric drive capability while keeping the range and convenience of gasoline propulsion. PHV is for those who can plug in overnight.

 

you should get two: one who does city driving (uses more EV mode) and one who does long-distance (35 mile commute each way) to evaluate both ends of the spectrum. i offer to help out with the latter!

but yea, even one PHEV for a PCer would be awesome. if anything else give it to danny!

 

+1

 

Doug! I know volunteering on this thread means nothing..... But I've got a 6.5 mile one-way commute, if you need someone with that drive profile.

Thanks for keeping us informed.

(now get us a hybrid minivan. : ) )

 

hey, wait... me too!! 46.2 mi commute each way on bay area freeways (currently 85k mi on 2006 model with 49MPG avg.) seriously, as an engineer i understand the need for these pilot programs but it is frustrating. i'd be at the dealer tomorrow morning with cash if these things were on sale.

well, yeah. danny should get it. darn

 

I have a question for Prius Team, or anyone that might know. Will the initial 500 PHV Prius cars have the fancy paint job that we have seen in the PR photos? According to the article that Danny posted, 2010 Prius Plug-In - 60 MPH EV, 13 Mile Range, 1.5 Hour Recharge | PriusChat , the initial 500 will also be used to advertise, inform, and educate the public of the existence of the PHV Prius. So, it seems that it would make a lot of sense to put the fancy paint job (or autowrap, whichever it is) on the 500 test vehicles.

 

Each car will have it's own purpose, and so the exterior treatment will differ. Some will be painted in special colors. Some will be wrapped. Some won't be any different at all.

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA