Can the Prius get greener?

Toyota is taking sustainable mobility one step further with the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV), an eco-upgraded derivative of the Prius Hybrid. Despite the Prius Hybrid’s fuel efficiency, ultra-low emissions, and high gas mileage endured by a gasoline-electric motor, Toyota discovered a way to  go even ‘greener’ while enhancing performance.

Used cars NJ dealers feel that drivers are most drawn to the Prius Hybrid’s environmentally conscious allure. While the vehicle leaves less of a carbon footprint on the environment when operating in electric-only mode, it requires gasoline to charge the battery that powers the electric motor. The PHV will also draw electrical power from a battery, but will enable drivers to plug in the vehicle to charge the battery with electricity. The PHV’s ability to supplement gasoline with electricity is a greener alternative which enables the same electric-only mode.

For the residents of Newark, used Toyota dealers say that the Prius Hybrid’s better gas mileage for city driving compared to highway driving is another contributing factor to its success. The Prius PHV is also ideal for city driving as it allows the vehicle to operate in all-electric mode more frequently and therefore conserves fuel. The PHV is capable of functioning in electric-only mode for greater distances and higher speeds than the Prius Hybrid. The vehicle can fully charge in three hours and can cover a distance of 13 miles reaching speeds up to 60 mph.

The PHV’s lithium-ion battery is the pivotal role in the vehicle’s greener distinction and enhanced performance. The battery consists of three battery packs which will supplement each other to expand the vehicle’s electric-only power. The PHV will extract electrical power from one main battery pack until the supply has been exhausted, at which time the vehicle will obtain the electrical power from a secondary battery pack.

With the intent to illustrate what a greener Prius means for sustainable mobility, Toyota has initiated a Prius PHV demonstration program which will extend 150 vehicles to various institutions across the U.S. The goal of the program is to determine how the plug-in conforms to every day activities, to establish if the plug-in presents any obstacles, and to inform potential consumers of what such a technology entails based on first hand experience.

The price of the greener Prius has not yet been released, but Newark used Toyota dealers anticipate a cost in the $27,000 – $34,000 range once the PHV hits markets in 2012.