Nearly a year after Chevrolet's first plug-in hybrid went on sale, Toyota is preparing to challenge the Volt with a plug-in Prius.
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid is expected to achieve an equivalent of 87 miles per gallon in combined driving and 49 mpg in hybrid mode. That compares, albeit imprecisely, to Volt's 93 mpg equivalent on electric power or 37 mpg using gasoline power alone.
Seating for five gives Prius one advantage against Volt, which accommodates four because of the longitudinal row of batteries under the floorboard that splits the passenger compartment.
Like the Volt, the Prius Plug-in will allow drivers to operate in electric mode exclusively if they limit their excursions to 15 miles at speeds of up to 62 mph. That's less than half of Volt's electric range of about 40 miles.
While the Prius Plug-in certainly qualifies as a challenger to the Volt, it also validates the concept. Those who might have hesitated to follow the early adopters now have confirmation that you can have the best of both worlds. The Nissan Leaf is the only fully electric production model from a major manufacturer.
Critics of the Volt have disparaged its modest sales and its high price, which can be reduced with tax breaks. But cars like the Volt, Leaf and Prius Plug-in are designed for image, not sales volume.
That said, Toyota has done a remarkable job of boosting its hybrid sales volume through the Prius. Toyota has sold more than 1 million Prius models in the U.S. since the first-generation model was introduced for model-year 2001. The Plug-in represents an expansion of the lineup.
Its base price is $32,000; it is expected to qualify for a federal tax credit of approximately $2,504.
The Prius Plug-in will sell in selected launch states beginning in October through Toyota's website. Vehicle deliveries will begin in spring 2012. A national rollout is planned for 2013.
Performance for the 2012 Prius Plug-in will be similar to that of the standard Prius: Even with the addition of the onboard battery-charging system and larger 176-pound lithium-ion battery pack, the 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid weighs just 123 pounds more than the standard Prius Liftback.
Running in EV mode, the system switches to full hybrid mode under full acceleration, which splits engine power between the drive wheels and the generator, keeping the battery charged.
Prius Plug-in will share many of the same design elements as the 2012 Prius Liftback. Plug-in features include chrome grille and bumper trim, chrome door handles, 15-inch alloy wheels, blue-accented headlamps, a distinct tail-lamp design and a new Hybrid Synergy Drive Plug-in badge.
I can attest to the plug-in hybrid concept's practicality. Not worrying about running out of juice brings peace of mind. And the Volt's gas engine is so quiet that you can't really tell when it takes over from the electric motor unless you are monitoring the power flow on the instrument panel.
For anyone who expects to keep their car for 10 years or more and wants to "stick it to the man" on fuel economy, the Prius or the Volt make a lot of sense. Yes, they're a bit more costly up front, but the tax breaks are generous.
These cars are not for everyone, but neither is intelligence.
2012 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN
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