Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Seeks Customers

Japanese carmaker Toyota announced it has began discussion which will eventually lead to a selection process for the future trial-customers of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Prius. According to the carmaker, some 200 units will be leased to government ministries, local governments and energy companies, all participants in the Ministry of Economy,Trade and Industry's "EV and PHV Towns" program.

By the end of November, the carmaker intends to establish the general rules of the lease program, while deliveries are expected to commence as soon as mid-December. For now, no one outside Toyota's chosen customers will be able to take a ride in the future Prius.

Introduced at this September's Frankfurt Auto Show, the Prius PHEV is powered by a 1.8l 97 bhp regular engine, paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. The engine develops by itself 97 bhp, while the electric motor adds an extra 79 bhp.

The PHEV can travel some 12.5miles (20km) in electric mode, six miles more than the our everyday Prius. The increased electric mileage can reduce harmful emissions to as little as 609g/km.

The new Prius draws its power from a Lithium-ion battery, capable of propelling the PHEV at a top speed of 62 mph (100km/hour) in electric mode.

For general use, the OHEV will be available, according to Toyota, in early 2010, with some additional 300 units to be released, half of them in Europe. Toyota did not confirm, so far, a full-time production plan for the PHEV.