Toyota releases prices for 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid will meet the criteria for the £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant when sales start in the first half of 2012

It’s expected that Toyota will price on the nose with the pure-electric Nissan Leaf which is currently selling at £25,990. The smaller pure-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV is currently priced at £23,990. Prices for both cars also take account of the £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant.

No range anxiety

But the Prius Plug-in Hybrid has one considerable advantage over its pure-electric rivals: it is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and, as such, the driver does not suffer from range anxiety. Its powertrain combining an electric motor, lithium-ion battery and a petrol engine allows the driver to cover around 14 miles in pure electric drive using power from the battery, after which the vehicle will seamlessly switch to power from its full hybrid system, including the 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine.

Simple connection to workplace or domestic electricity supply, or a roadside charging point, can enable a full recharge in an hour and a half.

Kind to the environment – and to the fleet operator

Toyota predicts the Prius Plug-in Hybrid will emit 49g/km of carbon dioxide and achieve 134.5mpg combined cycle fuel economy. This strengthens its position as a prospect for corporate fleet operators, as it will qualify for a benefit-in-kind company car tax rating of just five per cent for drivers, and consequently a monthly tax burden of less than £52 (for a 40 per cent tax payer, based on the guideline vehicle price). Businesses will also save on fleet costs thanks to a 100 per cent write-down allowance and lower National Insurance contributions.

The performance of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid is being measured in real-world demonstration programmes with 200 prototype PHEVs in Europe – 20 of them in London. Initial data are showing how the car can achieve significantly better urban driving performance than diesel and petrol models of comparable size. The London demonstration, in partnership with EDF Energy, is also monitoring battery recharging patterns and how motorists can time recharging periods to make best use of the power supply in terms of cost and emissions.