Tokyo—TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces
that it has started discussions with potential users in Japan of the
newly developed "Prius Plug-in Hybrid". Approximately 200 units will
be leased through a leasing company to designated parties such as
government ministries, local governments and energy companies that are
actively promoting environmentally considerate vehicles.
The designated parties are principally participants in the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry's "EV & PHV Towns" program1, which aims to promote the widespread use of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs).
Details of the leasing scheme for Japan will be determined through
November, with delivery scheduled for mid-December onward. The
vehicles will only be leased to parties already designated by TMC.
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid is based on the third-generation "Prius" and
is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that can be charged using an
external electric power source. The vehicle can be used as an EV for
short distances, while for medium- and long-distance trips it functions
as a conventional gasoline-electric hybrid, meaning use is not
constrained by remaining battery power or availability of
battery-charging infrastructure. Furthermore, PHVs, such as the Prius
Plug-in Hybrid, are expected to achieve higher fuel efficiency than
conventional hybrid vehicles, limit consumption of fossil fuels, and
reduce CO2 emissions and atmospheric pollution.
TMC believes that, to meet the diversification of energy sources, PHVs
are currently the most-suitable environmentally considerate vehicles
for widespread use. TMC is therefore encouraging PHV market
introduction and understanding toward widespread use by introducing a
total of 500 units of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid globally—primarily to
fleet customers. Approximately 150 units will go to the United States,
and more than 150 units will go to Europe, to countries including
France, the United Kingdom and Portugal.
TMC has positioned hybrid technologies as core environmentally
considerate vehicle technologies and is using them in the development
not only of plug-in hybrid vehicles but also electric vehicles and
fuel-cell hybrid vehicles. TMC will continue its efforts in developing
and putting into practical use these next-generation vehicles, which
are hoped to contribute to reducing petroleum consumption, reducing CO2 emissions and responding to the diversification of energy sources.
1An intensive model program, through the
collaboration of the national and local governments, regional
businesses and auto manufacturers in Japan, for the introduction and
promotion of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as
for accelerating the setting up of charging infrastructures and the
development of societal awareness and preparedness. Each participating
local government is to submit by around the end of this financial year
a master plan that reflects the progress of its action plan.
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