LAcarGUY's Mike Sullivan recently got the opportunity to borrow a prototype of the 2012 Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid. Mike discusses evolution of the Prius and the future of LAcarGUY's green initiative.
Mike Sullivan with Prius PHV
Prius PHV Gallery
Overview
Everyone's buzzing about Plug-in Cars. So what's Toyota up to? The Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (Prius PHV). Based on the 3rd generation Prius, Prius PHV combines the proven practicality of Hybrid Synergy Drive® with compact, lightweight lithium-ion batteries to extend its fully electric driving range.
What are the advantages of Prius PHV?
- The best of both worlds: electric-only driving for a maximum of approximately 13 miles, plus an anticipated 50 MPG-rated hybrid driving that totally eliminates range anxiety.
- Full recharging from a standard 110V household electric outlet in only 3 hours.
- The proven reliability of Prius HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive®).
And now for the question on everyone's mind—timing. Prius PHV is expected to launch in 2012. How much? The price hasn't been set. Visit the upcoming vehicles page on toyota.com to receive news and updates on Prius PHV.
Battery
The idea of battery-powered cars is cool. But in reality, the weight, size, cost and durability of the large capacity batteries required to fully power Electric Vehicles (EV) are critical issues that aren't fully solved. Toyota's answer? Small lithium-ion battery packs that complement the proven Prius hybrid-electric power train.
Prius PHV's lithium-ion batteries are lightweight and compact, weighing a total of just 330 lbs. So you get useful EV power and driving range without the costs of an electric-only EV battery, while maintaining plenty of cargo space and seating for five. Also, charge time from a standard 110V household outlet is only 3 hours.
The powerful lithium-ion battery packs ensure strong, seamless acceleration up to approximately 60 mph on electric-only power.
Built to last for the life of the vehicle, Toyota's lithium-ion batteries have undergone more than three years of coordinated field testing in Japan, North America and Europe in a wide variety of climatic environments and driving conditions.
Why doesn't Prius PHV use a bigger battery? Prius PHV may not be for every driver. But, there is a significant population of drivers that travel less than 13 miles or so roundtrip per day or that have access to a standard 110V outlet both at work and at home. For these drivers, Toyota is of the belief that the smaller the battery in a PHV the better, both from a total life-cycle assessment (carbon footprint) point of view, as well as a cost point of view. Research has shown that plug-in hybrid vehicles with smaller batteries, charged frequently (every 20 miles or less) with average U.S. electricity produce less green house gas emissions than conventional hybrid vehicles. (According to a 2009 Carnegie Mellon University study).
Range
With a fully charged battery, Prius PHV can travel a maximum of approximately 13 miles in EV mode. Range will vary based on a variety of conditions and driving styles.
On electric-only power, Prius PHV can accelerate up to approximately 60 mph. Once the EV-mode charge is depleted, it resumes normal, full-hybrid mode and operates like a regular Prius. So Prius PHV drivers will experience the same useful and reliable range that Prius drivers have come to expect.
Wouldn't a bigger battery mean greater EV range? In theory, yes. But Toyota believes many Prius drivers don't want or need the trade-off in added weight, costs and charging time. Through ongoing research, including the Prius PHV demonstration program (see below), Toyota will be able to plan future PHV and Electric Vehicles to suit an even wider group of drivers.
Charging
Prius PHV doesn't require a special charging station. With a standard household 110V electrical outlet, you can recharge it in approximately three hours. With a dedicated 220V outlet, recharging takes just one and a half hours. It's that easy. And as more cities and businesses build public and private charging stations, it will be even easier.
Prius Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (Prius PHV) FAQ
- 1. How far can a Prius PHV drive using only electricity/in electric-only (EV) mode?
- The lithium-ion battery powered PHV can go a maximum of approximately 13 miles in electric-only (EV) mode. That range can vary greatly depending on vehicle speed, driving styles and driving conditions. For example, ambient temperatures that are extremely hot (110° F) or cold (20° F) can negatively affect lithium- ion battery performance.
- 2. How fast can a Prius PHV go using only electricity/in electric-only (EV) mode?
- The vehicles used in the PHV demonstration program can go approximately 60 mph in electric-only (EV) mode.
- 3. Why can't the Prius PHV go farther on electric-only power?
- When it comes to PHVs, Toyota believes that the smaller the battery the better. One reason is economic: As battery size increases, so does battery cost, resulting in higher overall cost for the vehicle. Another reason is environmental: according to a 2009 Carnegie Mellon University study, plug-in hybrid vehicles with smaller batteries produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional hybrid vehicles.
- 4. How fuel-efficient is the Prius PHV?
- The federal government has not yet set a standard for determining mpg for plug-in hybrid vehicles. And it's understandable why arriving at a precise mpg number is difficult. Consider the fact that Prius PHV can operate in electric-only (EV) mode for a maximum range of approximately 13 miles. That means that if a person regularly drives fewer than 13 miles, and recharges the vehicle often, it's possible that Prius PHV wouldn't use any gas at all—in that case, it would be achieving infinite mpg. However, if the vehicle is operating in regular hybrid mode, Toyota anticipates that a combined city/highway rating of 50 mpg might be possible.
- 5. How will plugging in Prius PHV at home affect my electric bill?
- The Prius PHV draws approximately one kilowatt per hour and takes approximately three hours to charge. That said, electricity rates vary greatly depending on where you live and the utility company you use, so Toyota can't determine exactly how much it will cost you to plug in the Prius PHV. Your bill will also be affected by how often you charge the vehicle.
- 6. When will I be able to purchase a Prius PHV?
- A commercial version Prius PHV should be available in 2012. Some of these vehicles are already on the road as a part of the PHV demonstration program. This program is designed to gather real-world driving data and customer feedback on plug-in hybrid technology. It's also trying to assess how well the lithium-ion batteries perform in a wide variety of situations. Toyota wants to ensure that the vehicle coming to market in 2012 will exceed customers' expectations. Since we're still testing the vehicle, we don't yet have any info on specifications or price for the 2012 production model.
- 7. Does Toyota expect the electric-only range to increase when the vehicle comes to market?
- That's hard to predict. Of course, Toyota is continuing to improve battery efficiency and performance. However, we're also trying to ensure that when Prius PHV becomes available, the vehicle will have the right size battery—at the right price.
- 8. In the future, what does Toyota envision as the ideal EV driving range?
- Toyota needs to examine the real-world applications. Greater EV range requires bigger batteries, which increases cost, recharging time and possibly the overall carbon footprint of the vehicle. Also, a bigger battery would require additional space within the vehicle to house it. To make a long story short, Toyota needs to determine what customers expect from the vehicles and whether the cost-benefit equation makes the vehicle competitive in the market.
- 9. Why is Toyota using lithium-ion batteries in the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV), but not in the 2010 Prius?
- Lithium-ion batteries have greater energy density than nickel-metal hydride batteries. That means they can store more energy in an equivalent-size battery. So in order to increase the distance that can be driven under electrical power alone, Toyota is using lithium-ion batteries in the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV). Toyota will continue to use nickel-metal hydride batteries in conventional hybrid vehicles, at least over the near term. These batteries have proven extremely reliable during the 12 years Toyota has been producing hybrids.
- 10. What's the life expectancy of the lithium-ion batteries?
- The batteries are built to last for the life of the vehicle.
- 11. What specifically will Toyota be evaluating during the Prius PHV demonstration program?
- Toyota is still defining specific criteria for measuring PHV performance. However, Toyota's Prius PHV demonstration program will ensure that the vehicles are driven under a variety of conditions to capture as much real-world data as possible.
- 12. How will Toyota collect evaluation data?
- Specifics for data collection are still being developed and will be announced at a later date.
- 13. How long will the Prius PHV demonstration program last?
- Program termination dates will vary and are being worked out with each partner individually.
- 14. How did Toyota determine where to distribute the vehicles used in the Prius PHV demonstration program?
- Toyota has strategically put the vehicles used for the program in locations where we have the facilities to support the program. Vehicles are slated for placement in northern and southern California; Washington, D.C.; New York; Boulder, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- 15. Isn't power-plant pollution as much a consideration as exhaust pollution?
- It's important to understand that electric vehicles are not automatically zero-emission vehicles. The electricity they use is generated by power plants, and the amount of emissions produced by those power plants needs to be taken into account. For an electric vehicle to truly produce zero emissions, it would need to be charged by renewable energy—for example, solar energy. However, electricity in the U.S. is generated through multiple sources of energy, some more renewable than others. Hopefully, the power in this country will increasingly be generated in more environmentally sensitive ways.