Frankfurt preview: Production Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

Frankfurt preview: Production Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

Toyota is finally ready to launch its Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which will make its debut in Frankfurt in production form. The user rechargeable Prius is Toyota’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to go on sale, and also its first to use a lithium ion battery. In case you’re wondering, this is a Prius that you can plug in to your home’s wall socket to recharge, like a full EV and your mobile phone.

Calling it the “next major milestone in Toyota’s ongoing, 40 year quest for sustainable mobility and the ultimate eco car”, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid features the latest development of the company’s modular Hybrid Synergy Drive full hybrid platform, which has clocked some 200 billion kilometres of driving worldwide.

The new compact lithium-ion battery has been developed to “meet Toyota’s rigorous standards for reliability”. The Prius PHEV’s extended EV cruising range enables it to achieve remarkable fuel efficiency of just 2.2 l/100 km, while CO2 emissions drop to an unprecedented 49 g/km. Other than that, Toyota gives little away than to say that “affordability of its proven HSD technology will make it widely accessible.”

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • alldisc on Aug 15, 2011 at 9:46 am

    with global warming as a result of carbon dioxide produced by billions of vehicles, this is the only way forward.

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    • Expatriate VN on Aug 15, 2011 at 11:47 am

      Global warming cause by car CO? emission make the temperature increase over the time all over the world.

      Scientist discovered the average temperature in Siberia is increased by 3 degree over a century. But their worry is not without a basis as it is a little bit too late, still better than non for cars to cut CO?emission by intruduced non-fossil engine tech.

      Look at the worst scenario, another average 3 degree increase in Siberia, most of the snow will thaw, then release the bulk of Methane gas trapped beneath it. The chemical reaction of Methane + Oxygen can be illustrated as below: –

      CH?(g) + 2O?(g) = CO?(g) + 2H?O(l)

      “Methane in the Earth’s atmosphere is an important greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 25 compared to CO2 over a 100-year period” (Source: Wikipedia)

      P1 plant at Shah Alam, our spanking new KLIA & SIC with altitude below 20 meter may submerge under water. Not forgoten our P1 plant at Tg Malim may survive with altitude at around 50M.

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      • ‘Scientist discovered’

        What scientists? Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is a former railway engineer. Since when retired railway engineers are qualified to do climate research?

        BTW: Rajendra has a CO2 certificate trading company too. Of cource this ‘scientist’ want to sell his CO2 cerfificates, no ‘climate change’, no business for Rajendra…

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        • Critique on Aug 16, 2011 at 8:41 am

          Mohd,

          “It does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters.”
          (http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.shtml)

          This is in reference to the role of the IPCC. A simple google search revealed this.

          The IPCC sounds like an advisory body cuz they assess and review scientific data.

          Just an objective observation.

          Cheers :)

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    • vw_fan on Aug 15, 2011 at 11:47 am

      It depends on how the electricity is derived – coal, natural gas, petrol, nuclear, wind, solar etc. Refinement of rare earths for Li-ion produces nuclear waste too.

      Only makes sense if we clean up the battery and electricity production sides. Otherwise we are just transferring the problem to somewhere else and it still doesnt go away. Worse if we get another new set of problems.

      But this is probably beyond the car industry and more on the will of the governments of the world.

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      • kelvin on Aug 15, 2011 at 3:30 pm

        Do you know that human will never think of a solution without creating more problems?

        Because man are not thinking with his brain, but with his P…

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        • Expatriate VN on Aug 15, 2011 at 8:24 pm

          Scientist always do research in search of solutions, but greedy capitalist and consumerism are the mother of all problems.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Wisdom on Aug 16, 2011 at 12:05 pm

      Prius: RM140K with plastic covered 15 inch alloy wheels and not even power retractable mirror….. hahahaha

      With plug-in capability, how much UMW? Come on be expensive.

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  • kington on Aug 15, 2011 at 9:55 am

    Good to see Li-Ion batteries instead of metal hydride.

    Pretty pleased with the Prius, good space, decent performance and consumption.

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  • Expatriate VN on Aug 15, 2011 at 10:05 am

    When does this latest model wll be available in MY?

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  • hanssen on Aug 15, 2011 at 10:06 am

    when its coming to our shores? Wanna buy this dreamcomestrue car…

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  • good job toyota

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  • go saga on Aug 15, 2011 at 10:19 am

    good news for the automobile world… 2.2l/100 wow can beat my honda vawe

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  • MsiaPriuslover on Aug 15, 2011 at 10:54 am

    Iike the prius ever since the day 1 got it..consistently hitting 4.7L/100km for past 11000kms (50%Highway, 50% congested town drive) ..with this plug-in hybrid..I believe it will be a much astonishing figure in actual..just 2 things that Prius need to improve in my 2 cents opinion:
    1. Storage compartment especially for rear passenger is insufficient
    2. Power retractabe side mirror (UMW is not offering in msia…shit!)

    So glad to see more and more Prii on the road nowadays..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • MsiaPriuslover on Aug 15, 2011 at 7:54 pm

      One good thing about driving hybrid car is you will lose your will consistently remind yourself to control your travelling speed..unlike last time…I used to a super heavy footed petrohead…i did auto cruise at 180kmh all the way from JB to PG !! and of course got caught by speed trap at 170km/hr… Now..I have not been hitting anything more than 125kmh for so many months after sitting in the Prius..a big change even my HM also did notice that!!

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  • _xXx_ on Aug 15, 2011 at 11:42 am

    just a transfer of point of pollution from roads/highways to power station unless malaysia’s electricity is 100% solar/wind/hydro

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    • Carl Wong on Aug 16, 2011 at 12:06 am

      Transfer a little to the power stations yes, and use less energy/fuel overall and more efficiently, internal combustion engines have efficiencies of less than 30%, electric motors have efficiencies of 80% +. If you have a landed property you could even put some solar panels on the roof to generate renewable energy from the sun.

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  • _xXx_ on Aug 15, 2011 at 11:45 am

    disposal of super toxic dead batteries is another big problem…

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    • Carl Wong on Aug 16, 2011 at 12:02 am

      NEVER dispose any rechargeable batteries to landfills, it’ll cause even more pollution, RECYCLE them because they’re 100% RECYCLABLE. Even normal non-rechargeable batteries can be recycled.

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      • _xXx_ on Aug 16, 2011 at 9:20 am

        I believe most ppl in MY throw dead batteries into thrash bin/bag and these batteries will end up in landfills eventually.

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        • Carl Wong on Aug 16, 2011 at 2:45 pm

          Sad to know but I think that is just more ignorance from our people. When you replace new batteries the manufacturers such as Toyota or Honda should recover & recycle the used batteries for you. In USA Toyota even put a bounty of $200 US dollars for each battery to make sure they’re all recycled.

          And when they’re recycled the elements should be used to produce new batteries which uses less energy.

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      • Chris on Aug 16, 2011 at 12:02 pm

        I believe to date there is no way to recycle a lithium ion battery, but they can be re-purpose so it doesn’t go into the landfill.

        I think they are much less a problem considering that, if hybrid/electric cars become a norm in future, the authorities have control over the pollution, handling waste batteries in one location, instead of letting dirty cars polluting air all over the city.

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  • One thing worth considering about plug-in hybrids is: is it really “green”? Yes, by using electricity available from the home socket, it seems very “green, right? But where does THAT electricity come from? From the coal plants, of course..

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    • Carl Wong on Aug 16, 2011 at 12:09 am

      Transfer a little to the power stations yes, and use less energy/fuel overall and more efficiently, internal combustion engines have efficiencies of less than 30%, electric motors have efficiencies of 80% +. You would have more money in your wallet for buying less petrol. If you have a landed property you could even put some solar panels on the roof to generate renewable energy from the sun.

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      • M0Faz on Aug 16, 2011 at 3:53 pm

        Erm, I think you forgot to calculate the efficiency of the energy source. Don’t blindly tell ppl tat electric motors have efficiencies of 80%.. Please take a look at the whole cycle.

        Actually, you contradict yourself of “You would have more money in your wallet for buying less petrol”. You know how much the cost to buy solar panels? After calculating all the amount that you need to fork out, you’ll notice tat a Proton Saga that eats petrol might be more cheaper than the cost you put into it. This is only viable for rich guys that drives a ferrari to work.

        The total effectiveness? Depends on how many rich and not kiamsiap ppl we have in this world..

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  • Don’t forget Frossil fuel refinery require electricity too, plus u need tanker to transfer the fuel to station, so it’s a triple polution, at the end hybrid & plug still a better alternative, not perfect but better.

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  • kingjoke on Aug 15, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    wow…really cool! well done!

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  • M0Faz on Aug 15, 2011 at 2:23 pm

    Sapot Lynas Rare Earth Refinery at Pahang then you sapot this car oki?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Do you use mobile and laptop??? if yes, you sapot Lynas as well.

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      • M0Faz on Aug 16, 2011 at 12:33 am

        You already have those, you buy 1 more Prius, you even more sapot Lynas. :/

        Face it la.. I don’t believe in Hybrid, after rounding all the pollution from production and also take in consideration of how you generate electricity. A modern diesel is still far better of than these solution. This, for me is just a gimmick. Want to save the earth. Start walking or cycling.

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        • What do mean sapot more??? There are only 2 choice here… yes or no.
          Don’t contradict yourself with another stupid statement.

          Diesel is an old tech but plug-in hybrid is a bridge towards creating the next gen green car. This tech is moving toward the sustainability goal but we haven’t reach there yet and Toyota is making good progress than any other car maker.

          Your argument about pushing the pollution to another area is correct but at least we are making progress here until then with technology matures. So this is no gimmick but progress in making.

          Anyway with 2.2L/100KM is damn attractive. Current Prius already reach 800KM++ per tank without hypermilling. This one may push towards 1500KM per tank.

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          • MsiaPriuslover on Aug 18, 2011 at 12:19 am

            myself hits 830kms easily in each and every tank filled so far..I know someone will say I am action sgt again..

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    • sukasuki on Aug 16, 2011 at 8:49 pm

      dont forget, if u buy LCD tv, plasma tv, all electrical equipment using battery, all of it using rare earth. support Lynas. hahahaha.

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  • droll on Aug 15, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    hell, i won’t think until so far. there is another problem with this … for people who don’t have a covered car park, is there risk of shorting any circuitry or causing a trip in the household electrical supply when you plug this in and it rains (e.g. you go to bed thinking it’ll be fine and at 3am it pours cats and dogs!)??

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  • kelvin on Aug 15, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    Cannot buy this car.

    No good, it is overprice, because of Malaysia tax.

    Bad, living in apartment, most apartments in Malaysia does not have enough parking, so parking outside the apartment, no power point to charge it.

    Worst, no money, always summon by police because parking on yellow line, it cost RM 100, and it will slowly increase to RM 250 in no time.

    But I still think that Malaysia is the best, just for this month Merdeka.

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    • asdas on Aug 15, 2011 at 4:09 pm

      hey dude, its tax free for hybrid car.

      what talking you?

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      • _xXx_ on Aug 15, 2011 at 4:42 pm

        I find H brand’s hybrid car prices r OK. The other make rip u kaw2 despite having low govt tax (not tax free)…

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        • thats almost like complaining why a 1.3 saga is so cheap while the 1.8 inspira is a complete rip-off being so expensive!

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          • Wisdom on Aug 16, 2011 at 3:07 pm

            Saga and Inspira justified. U pay for what u get.

            But in case of Insight and Prius, that RM40K difference in price in non sensible at all.

            Test drive both, compare the size, performance and features down to the last clip and you’ll agree.

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          • UMW doesn’t want to jeopardise other C-Segment car sales. The declared car price @ custom is only RM80K. They could sell it at RM120K and still make pretty good margin but Altis and Camry sales will suffer.

            Anyway 40K is huge gap but comparing C-segment to B-segment size car is still too much. It is like comparing City and Civic or Vios and Altis. Furthermore it is more mileage, better space/comfort, better noise insulation and higher performance. If you can afford it, it is a good choice.

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      • kelvin on Aug 15, 2011 at 6:17 pm

        I just don’t know what I am talking about.

        So it is cheap?

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        • Critique on Aug 16, 2011 at 8:47 am

          Cheap is a relative term.

          I’d rather ask : ‘Can you/I afford it?’

          Cheers :)

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  • Mask Ryder on Aug 15, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    If u can afford a Toyota Hybrid Plug In, u can afford a landed property with covered car park.

    If u don’t have a landed property with covered car park, don’t buy a plug in car.

    Korean Hybrid isn’t any cheaper, a Sonata Hybrid is just $1K lower compare to Camry Hybrid in USA.

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    • kelvin on Aug 15, 2011 at 8:34 pm

      Planning to drive my wira, which runs on petrol for the rest of my life.

      Proton for life.

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  • Traling Duck on Aug 15, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Honda might be cheaper but their hybrid car is problematic. It happened to a friend of mine where his Civic Hybrid broke down for over a month until now. Even worse, Honda is unable to rectify the problem and keep charging him each time he send the car for service/troubleshoot the problem. He is now fighting for his right for Honda to make necessary compensation and the case will be given a hearing in the Consumer Tribunal this end of this month.

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  • skiborne on Aug 15, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    want economy? get diesel. enough said.

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    • kelvin on Aug 15, 2011 at 8:41 pm

      Planning to get a Daihatsu Delta Lorry, Malaysia got diesel car? Focus TDCI???? How aconomy is it?

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      • skiborne on Aug 16, 2011 at 12:23 am

        i was referring to this car la. meaning to say that hybrid is an utter gimmick for being economical

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      • tkw60 on Aug 16, 2011 at 1:38 am

        haha daihatsu delta V58 not very economical rm100 diesel can go 400km to 420 km only(remember this were for carrying 2.5 ton goods).there ford focus TDci should be very very economical.

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  • Carl Wong on Aug 15, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    I do believe the production of Lithium Ion/Polymer batteries are greener compared to the almost outdated Nickel Metal Hydrides batteries. They are lighter and smaller with higher energy density with no memory effect and last very long too, to increase the fuel efficiency of future hybrids/electric cars even more :)…..!!!!!!!!!!!

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    • Carl Wong on Aug 16, 2011 at 1:05 am

      Another major advantage of Lithium Ion batteries is the much much lower self discharge rate compared to NiMH batteries.

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  • alldisc on Aug 16, 2011 at 9:43 am

    where is all toyota bashers? this topis ic so quite…

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  • cheng on Aug 16, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    we use coal to produce eletricity right? so no point to have it hear.

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    • Carl Wong on Aug 20, 2011 at 2:35 pm

      We use coal, natural gas and 10% of hydroelectricity to generate our power/electricity.

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