The vehicles will be joined by the future incarnation of the Prius, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. This uses a lithium-ion battery that offers it an all-electric range of 12.5 miles, up to speeds of 62 mph. The vehicle can be recharged using a standard household outlet or a roadside charging point, with the battery needing about 90 minutes to reach a full charge status. It will be introduced to the market within the next two years.
The London Future Car Challenge will also mark the UK debut of the Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle.
“The FCHV-adv fuel cell system features four compressed hydrogen fuel tanks, an electric motor, a nickel-metal hydride battery, and a power control unit. Hydrogen gas is fed into the fuel cell stack where it is combined with oxygen. The electricity produced by this chemical reaction is used to power the electric motor and to charge the battery. In addition to superior fuel economy, the FCHV-adv produces zero emissions while driving,” explained the press release.
Toyota’s team of vehicles will be completed by the Auris HSD, a British-built full hybrid hatchback that only emits 89 grams of CO2 per km. The company’s driver line-up for the event will include top motoring journalists from around the UK, as well as UK Electric Land Speed Record Holder Don Wales.
The RAC Future Car Challenge follows covers the distance (57 miles/ 92 km) between Madeira Drive in Brighton to London’s Pall Mall and is scheduled to take place on November 6. The competition will asses the participant vehicles’ energy usage, seeking the most efficient ones.
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