This comment makes me laugh each time

That became really annoying back in 2000... 2001... 2002. It subsided, then almost went away entirely.

But now that Prius is penetrating deep into new markets. It's back!

My guess at the best response would be to simply reply that you didn't get the plug-in model... and not provide anything else. Make them ponder that on their own for awhile. At some point, curiosity will get the best of them and they'll ask for more information.

You can trick them into intrigue, perhaps even open up the door to opportunity for showing them your Prius. Then they'll be hooked. :rockon:

 

"No, it generates its own electricity."

 

If you want to really confuse people, hang an orange plug a few inches down from the bottom of your rear bumper.

 

For "Violet ..." I heard very similar questions / comments from several people shortly after buying our '08 nearly four years ago. Typically, if I was asked, "Do you have to plug it in very often?" I'd generally say, "Not only do I not have to ... I can't!" IF further explanation seemed necessary or warranted, I'd simply add that it's NOT a "plug-in" ...

Perhaps the general public, gradually, has become more aware with time. I haven't heard such questions for at least a couple of years.

 

In the comments here, you see each owner as a light of knowledge, brightening their little area of a vast darkness of ignorance.

 

Amen, and count me among the ignorant until about two months ago when the Prius v caught our eye.

My wife picked up her new v yesterday, and while we're both on a steep learning curve, it's a kick. We're far from being tree huggers, but when you get into your sixties, it's nice to buy a car that's more interesting than the rat pack AND environmentally friendlier.

 

Oh, and if you want the answers to your questions from a guy who does plug in his Prius every night:

1) It's much less trouble to plug the car in my driveway than go fill it up at a gas station

2) I still fill it up at a gas station -- eight gallons every six hundred miles.

3) It costs about 28 cents to charge it, but with my City's $15 discount for car charging, it works out to a $2.00/month net discount on my monthly electric bill.

4) Plugging in my car boosts my mileage from an awesome 50 MPG to an incredible 75 MPG