After debuting the car earlier this week at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Toyota has now released official details on the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid including expected fuel economy numbers. While it's not quite up to the much-hyped Chevy Volt, the Prius PHEV will feature, "more affordable pricing than pure electric or range-extender type vehicles," says Toyota; though no numbers have yet been released.
With a 15 mile electric only range, it falls well short of the Volt and is a few ticks shy in terms of a MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating of 87 MPGe, compared to 96 for the Volt. However, the Prius PHEV is more efficient after, with a 49-mpg rating once it reverts to its conventional hybrid mode, compared to 37-mpg with the Volt. And if it matters to your wallet, the Toyota uses conventional 87 octane gas, while the Volt required premium.
Charging for the Prius PHEV doesn't take too long with a 2.5 to 3 hour charge using a conventional 120v household outlet or just 1.5 hours with a more powerful 240v household outlet.
With the use of a lithium-ion battery pack, the Prius PHEV does gain 123 lbs but doesn't give up any space in the passenger or cargo departments. One thing it does gain Toyota's new Entune system, as first seen on the Prius v. Additions to this system for the PHEV include Charge Management, Remote Air Conditioning System, Charging Station Map, Vehicle Finder and an Eco Dashboard.
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2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Rated at 87-MPGe, 49-MPG on AutoGuide.com
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