Handy Toyota
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2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Information
2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
The Next Evolution of the World's Greenest Hybrid in VT
As you've surely heard by now, Toyota Motors is expanding the world's best-selling hybrid, the Toyota Prius, into a full family during spring 2012. Already the 4th generation Prius IV hybrid has released to (consistently) stellar reviews and sale volumes, and the all new, 58 percent larger, 44 mpg Prius v is turning non-Prius owners that had needed more capacity than the original Prius hybrid allowed into members of the Prius nation. A third, smaller, subcompact Toyota Prius c hybrid, the only subcompact hybrid on the market, will soon release and has been reviewed well already, too: featuring 50 mpg bragging rights, a small design for city driving and a sporty feel on the highway, and technology such as Toyota's Entune, the Prius c hybrid subcompact car is sure to be another Hybrid Synergy Drive-powered hit.
But what America is really excited about and as shown above in prototype form, Most Anticipated Car of 2012 (and by that logic the most anticipated Toyota hybrid in Vermont) is the upcoming 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, e.g. the next evolution in the Toyota, hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle, eco-friendly, and indeed the entire automotive world.
As the name implies, the Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (or Prius PHV for short) is a new form of hybrid; combining the already wildly popular Hybrid Synergy Drive system - a platform that earns 52 mpg in the city and has already sold over three million units worldwide in its short, dozen-year life - with a new all-electric driving platform, the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in is sure to be another step forward in the fight against rising gasoline costs, global warming, and carbon emissions.
While all this is great, one of the best parts of all is this: Vermont has been chosen as one of 13 states where the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in will launch in spring 2012. As a green dealership, the collective Handy Toyota staff is incredibly excited about the possibilities of this wonderful new Prius electric vehicle and we want you to be just as excited. That's why we've put together this brief information panel in order to educate our customers on exactly what the new Prius Plug-in/Prius PHV/Prius electric vehicle - whatever you want to call it - is all about: what makes it tick, why it's so crucial in today's world, and most importantly how you can get one.
If you are already well-versed in all things Prius and Prius Plug-in, use our Prius Plug-in info & order form to request a variety of information, ask your own questions, or have our VT Toyota sales team put your name on a waiting list for when the Prius Plug-in becomes fully available (estimated at early 2013). Please note that Toyota's Priority Registration period and form has now closed, however you can always contact us to get the most up to date answer on future availability.
The technology of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in
The Hybrid Synergy Drive you love... now with battery power
Without question, the upcoming 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is going to be a hit - just ask Forbes Magazine who just named the Prius Plug-in the Most Anticipated Car of 2012 and we at Handy Toyota as well as our customer base are certainly in agreement with that statement. As the most advanced version of the hybrid driver's favorite car to date, not only does the Prius PHV promise 15 miles of gas-free driving per each 1.5-hour charge but the best part about the Prius Plug-in is that there's no way the vehicle can fail; even when the battery is depleted or not charged the Prius Plug-in operates exactly like the current edition of the Prius. You can expect, at this point in time, to get up to 475 miles on a single tank of gasoline after the electricity is depleted and not counting any energy the battery recovers from the car's regenerative braking system.
But what about the new technology, the advanced lithium-ion battery and the EV (electric vehicle) components of the car? Obviously this is what sets this electric vehicle apart from others, and while the maximum EV mode traveling distance was originally marked at 11 miles, over the year or more since the Prius Plug-in's official unveiling the EV mileage has jumped to 13, then 14, and finally 15 miles. The really neat part comes into play when one considers charging options, however: with a recharging time of 3 hours with the standard 120V cord (as in any standard house outlet) or only 1.5 hours with an upgraded 240V Leviton charging unit, this means Prius Plug-in owners will be up and running in EV mode in no time.
In fact, the battery alone is what makes this car such a marvel. While some companies are counting on EV mode to run the car exclusively, Toyota Motors was more cautious. The bottom line is that we as a society are just too young in the electric vehicle world to not be worried about EV-only cars - quite frankly, we've only scratched the surface of what lithium-ion batteries can do and they've been commonplace for nearly a, if not two decades. So what was Toyota's answer: use small, low-cost lithium-ion batteries that compliment, not replace, the already stellar performance of the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, allowing commuters to travel in a way that impacts the environment less... and their wallets.
Though these lithium-ion batteries are both an engineering achievement and the route of the Prius Plug-in's power (both in terms of propulsion and allure), they are also a cause of concern to many people: I've heard the batteries are expensive to replace is one thing we hear very often. Luckily for the Prius Plug-in buyer the Prius PHV's lithium-ion batteries are designed to last for the entire life of the car - and when a Toyota emblem is attached to the phrase "life of the car" you know you're safe! To be more clear, Toyota aims for the same 7-year/100,000-mile hybrid component warranty that you get on the current Prius' hybrid components. To put it yet another way, go ask your friend with a Prius how many problems they have encountered; we're willing to bet you'll be happy with the answer.
The engine of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in is also quite a remarkable piece of engineering, featuring an incredibly fuel efficient 1.8-liter 4-cylinder composition that can achieve 98 horsepower (at 5,200 RPM) and 142 pound-feet of torque (at 4,000 RPM). The reason for these figures is twofold (aside from the fact that you aren't meant to haul heavy loads such as with a Tundra 4WD Truck): not only do you achieve high fuel economy scores, but it also enhances your overall comfort of the ride by keeping the vehicle quiet.
Another enhancement to the Prius Plug-in's engine is the loss of a drive belt and an electric-driven water pump. This reduces the supplemental engine load, allowing the engine to control the flow of coolant with increased precision unlike anything before it. Finally, the motor in the Prius Plug-in is designed to give you the greatest fuel efficiency yet across many driving conditions. By operating at an incredibly high rotational speed it generates more output in a smaller design, once again increasing fuel economy.
Still have questions? Fill out our Prius Plug-in info & contact form and send us an email, call us at 888-352-5749, simply stop in and see a sales team member at our 39 South Main St., St. Albans, VT location and speak with us in person, or continue reading some frequently asked questions on our Prius PHV FAQ page.