Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show The Prius Plug-In Hybrid Concept was exhibited at the September 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the October 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, and the December 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle was based on the third-generation Toyota Prius (model XW30) but outfitted with 5.2 kWh lithium-ion batteries. The selected battery capacity is the minimum required for a vehicle to be eligible for the U.S. federal tax credit of , which under the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 applies to the first 200,000 plug-ins sold by an automaker. After displaying the concept version in these three shows, a global demonstration program involving 600 pre-production test cars began in late 2009 and took place in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. The demonstration vehicles were made available for lease to fleet and government customers, of which, 230 were delivered in Japan beginning in late December 2009, 125 in the U.S. by early 2010, and 200 in Europe in spring 2010. All program vehicles were equipped with data tracking devices to allow Toyota to monitor the car's usage for further development of the plug-in hybrid system. The pre-production Prius Plug-in used three different batteries: two added batteries to provide all-electric drive and the standard hybrid battery which engages when the first two are depleted, allowing the car to operate like a regular hybrid Prius. According to Toyota, when the vehicle started, it operates in all-electric mode, drawing electrical power directly from the first battery pack. When the first battery was depleted, it disconnected from the circuit and the second pack engaged. When the second pack was depleted, it disconnected from the circuit and the vehicle defaulted to conventional hybrid mode, using the main battery as the sole electrical power source. Pack one and pack two would not reengage with the circuit until the vehicle was plugged in and charged. ;Canada In March 2010 Toyota launched its demonstration program in Canada with five demonstrator plug-ins in partnership with academic institutions, hydro-electric producers, and governmental agencies in each of the four provinces participating in the program: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec. Canada is home to Toyota's global cold weather research center in Northern Ontario, and the country's cold weather serves to evaluate its adverse effect on battery performance and range. In July 2010 the first demonstrator plug-in was delivered in Manitoba. The unit was shared and tested by partners Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines, and the University of Manitoba. There were a total of 15 partners in the four provinces that participated in the Canadian demonstration trial. ;China On 28 October 2010, Toyota signed an agreement with China Automotive Technology and Research Center on jointly carrying out field trials of the demonstrator plug-ins in China. ;France The demonstration program in Strasbourg was launched in April 2010. ;Japan , Japan In Japan, Toyota leased approximately 230 demonstrator plug-ins to government ministries, local governments selected for the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's EV & PHV Towns program, corporations such, as electric power companies, and other entities. As part of the demonstration program and beginning in July 2010, two demonstrator plug-ins were made available for short-term rental in the city of Gotō, Nagasaki. The rental fees were () for up to six hours, () for up to 12 hours, () for up to 24 hours, and () for each additional day. ;United Kingdom The demonstration trial in the UK began in late June 2010 with a fleet of 20 demonstrator plug-ins. Toyota partnered with Électricité de France to carry out a three-year trial, and as part of the program a number of charging bays were deployed in London. The trial Prius Plug-in Hybrids are available through leasing to public sector organizations and business users. ;United States in Washington, D.C. A total of 125 demonstrator plug-ins were deployed in the US. In October 2009, Toyota announced its first regional program partnership in the U.S. with Xcel Energy's SmartGridCity program in Boulder, Colorado. The research project was coordinated by the University of Colorado at Boulder Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI). Boulder offered the opportunity of monitoring the performance of Toyota's first-generation lithium-ion battery at high altitude and under cold climate. Other partnerships were made with Qualcomm and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, San Diego Gas & Electric and the California Center for Sustainable Energy. In the following weeks, an additional 30 vehicles were assigned to Silicon Valley groups and companies, including the University of California, Berkeley. Georgetown University was the first partner in Washington, D.C. to participate in the program under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program. Two demonstrators were loaned in December 2010 and sixteen Georgetown employees tested the vehicles in three-month rotations. Five demonstrators were delivered to New York City, two were tested by the New York City Department of Transportation and three by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. As part of the demonstration program, Toyota delivered eight Prius plug-in hybrids to Zipcar in January 2011. The car sharing firm selected three markets to make the plug-in hybrids available to its members, three cars in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, three in San Francisco, California, and two in Portland, Oregon. Field test results ;Europe Toyota reported the following findings for the European demonstration fleet after about a year of testing, representing the driving experience acquired by the participants after driven: • Driving in electric-only (EV) mode accounted for one-third of the distance driven in the demonstration. • The average trip distance was , with 59% of all journeys covering between . • Twenty-two percent of drivers were able to drive further than the official range in EV mode. • Fuel consumption data indicates performance is 27% better than an equivalent diesel-powered vehicle. ;United States Consumer Reports tested a demonstrator for two weeks and reported an all-electric range between upfront at the beginning of each trip. On a trip, the vehicle averaged , while on commute trips between the vehicle averaged with an EV ratio of 40 to 56 percent. The California Center for Sustainable Energy tested two demonstrators with 13 different drivers over seven weeks and reported an average combined fuel economy of on an average round trip commute of . The best average attained was on an average round trip commute of . Motor Trend tested a demonstrator for 32 days and reported average emissions of 80 g/km (0.28 lb/mile), an average all-electric range of , and an average combined fuel economy of over the accumulated during their trial. Based on trials with 160 consumers across the United States, Toyota found that testers charged the vehicle more frequently than they anticipated they would, with about 10 charges per week, but the electricity cost was lower than the testers thought, about for the entire six-week trial. == First generation (XW30; 2012) ==

| Dual motor–generator (MG) system: | MG1: | MG2: }} | (EPA, blended mode) in late February in the United States, and by late June 2012 in Europe. A total of about 75,400 first-generation units were sold worldwide through April 2016. A cumulative total of 75,400 vehicles were sold worldwide between December 2012 and April 2016. Japan ranked second with 22,100 units, followed by Europe with 10,600 units, both through January 2017. When in hybrid mode, the vehicle has a combined city/highway rating of , the same as the conventional third-generation Prius. Drivetrain The production version of the Prius Plug-in has two key modifications from the demonstration units based on the data and customer feedback gathered. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid uses the Hybrid Synergy Drive of the standard third-generation Prius (XW30), but with a 4.4 kWh lithium-ion battery that significantly expands the all-electric range as compared to the regular Prius, and fully rechargeable from a domestic source. The hybrid system includes the 2ZR-FXE, a 1.8-liter inline-four, atkinson cycle, DOHC, VVT-i gasoline engine that develops at 5,200 rpm, and at 4,000 rpm, a third-generation compact, lightweight hybrid transaxle, a power control unit (PCU), and an on-board charging system. Like the Hybrid Synergy Drive of the standard third-generation Prius, the plug-in has two high-output electric motors, one unit (motor–generator 2, MG2) that mainly works to power the transaxle, and another smaller unit (motor–generator 1, MG1) rated at that creates energy during regenerative braking and acts as a starter for the gasoline engine. Maximum motor-drive voltage is 650 volts DC. After the electric driving range is exhausted, the plug-in switches into hybrid operation at a pre-determined state of battery charge (SOC) and operates as a conventional full hybrid with a similar efficiency of a standard Prius. Net hybrid system output is 134 bhp, allowing the Prius Plug-in to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 9.8 seconds and reach a top speed of . The maximum speed in EV mode is , or on European models. With a weight of approximately , the plug-in version is only heavier than the regular Prius. The lithium-ion battery pack can be charged in 180 minutes at 120 volts or in 90 minutes at 240 volts. Under the JC08 Japanese test cycle the Prius PHV range is , more than the achieved by the demonstrator. The 4.4 kWh lithium-ion battery developed for the Prius Plug-in fits under the rear cargo floor and weighs . As a comparison, the nickel-metal hydride battery of the third-generation Prius, which has a capacity of only 1.3 kWh, weighs . A full charge using an external AC outlet takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours from a standard North American 120 V 15 A household outlet, or 1.5 hours using a standard European 230 V household outlet. The included charging cable connects to the charging port inlet located on the right-rear fender. The charge port location was moved from the front driver-side fender in the demonstration model based on input from the program participants. The battery charger cable weighs just , is in length, and fits in its own compartment in the trunk area. The charge port provides LED (Light Emitting Diode) illumination for convenient night-time charging. A timer allows charging to take place during off-peak hours and can be set for either a start or end time. In July 2014 Toyota set a record for the most fuel efficient lap around the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany, with a Prius Plug-in achieving a fuel consumption figure of over the course of one lap. Tailpipe emissions The EPA rating for the model year 2012 through 2015 Prius PHEV tailpipe emissions is 133 grams of per mile, (83 g/km). The EPA also accounted for the upstream emissions associated with the production and distribution of electricity required to charge the vehicle. Since electricity production in the United States varies significantly from region to region, the EPA considered three scenarios/ranges with the low end of the range corresponding to the California powerplant emissions factor, the middle of the range represented by the national average powerplant emissions factor, and the upper end of the range corresponding to the powerplant emissions factor for the Rockies. ;Fire incident During the storm and subsequent flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, one Prius Plug-in and 16 Fisker Karmas caught fire while being parked at Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal. The vehicles were partially submerged by flash floods caused by the hurricane. In the Toyota lot, one Prius Plug-in burned, and two other Priuses, a conventional hybrid and a plug-in, just smoldered. A Toyota spokeswoman said the fire, "likely started because saltwater got into the electrical system". She also clarified that the incident affected only three out of the more than 2,128 plug-in or hybrid models at the terminal during the storm. Other features The Prius Plug-in Hybrid shares many of the same exterior and interior design elements as the standard 2012 Prius, keeping the coefficient of drag at . Among the design features exclusive to the plug-in are: unique chrome grille and bumper trim, chrome door handles, unique 15-inch alloy wheels, blue-accented headlamps, a distinct tail lamp design, and a new Hybrid Synergy Drive Plug-in badge. In the United States the Prius Plug-in Hybrid is available in two models, the standard Prius Plug-in and the Prius Plug-in Advanced, and offered in five exterior colors. The standard trim level includes all the features of the 2012 Prius Two Liftback grade, plus some features from the Prius Three and Prius Four grades. Standard features include heated front seats, remote air conditioning system (which can run either off the grid while the vehicle is plugged in or off the battery like the third-generation Prius), a charger timer, EV/ECO/POWER modes, three-door smart key with push-button start, new touch-screen display audio with navigation and an integrated backup camera, Toyota Entune, and LED daytime running lights. Additional features of the Prius Plug-in Advanced include head-up display, LED headlamps, softex interior seat trim, eight-way adjustable power driver seat, JBL premium audio and HDD navigation system and exclusive Entune Plug-in Hybrid Applications for smartphones. Additional safety features in the Advanced model include the Pre-Collision System with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Safety Connect system. == Second generation (XW50; 2016) ==

}} The second-generation Prius plug-in is called the Prius Prime in the United States, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand and Prius PHV in Japan and Europe. It was first available for sale in late 2016. It has an EPA-rated all-electric range of , over twice the range of the first-generation model. It is based on the fourth-generation Toyota Prius (model XW50) outfitted with a drive system powered by an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery. Retail deliveries of the Prime began in the United States in November 2016, and it was released in the Japanese market in February 2017. One of the major issues Toyota wanted to correct with the new-generation plug-in was to add additional all-electric range. Both the fourth-generation standard Prius and the second-generation plug-in would benefit from advances in battery, electric motor and gasoline engine technologies that would enable significantly improved fuel economy and driving performance, in a more compact package that is lighter in weight and lower in cost. The next Prius models would use improved batteries with higher energy density, smaller electric motors with higher power density, and the gasoline engine would feature thermal efficiency greater than 40% (the third-generation Prius was 38.5%). The second-generation Prius PHV was released in the Japanese market in February 2017, with a sales target of more than 30,000 units per year. twice the range of the first-generation model. Its EPA rating is , Unlike its predecessor, the Prime runs entirely on electricity while in EV mode. Those improvements allow the vehicle to run entirely on electricity while in charge-depleting (EV) in nearly all situations, raise the maximum all-electric speed from to , and offer acceleration nearly as strong as blended mode to address the concern that the previous-generation car that wouldn't have enough torque for safety if the gasoline engine were entirely kept out of the power flow. To keep up with the demands of charging the larger pack, the onboard charger was upgraded to 3.3 kW, up from 2.2 kW in the Prius Plug-in. Fuel economy The Prius Prime has an EPA fuel economy rating of in all-electric mode (EV mode), the highest mpg-e rating of any vehicle with an internal combustion engine, making the Prime the most energy-efficient plug-in hybrid when operating in EV mode. Toyota was also able to make the fuel economy in hybrid mode nearly equal to the regular fourth-generation Prius liftback, despite the extra weight of the much larger battery pack. The high fuel economy is enabled by several weight-saving design changes compared to the regular Prius: the hood is made from aluminum and the rear hatch is made from carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer. Additionally, the rear hatch uses a "dual-wave" curved glass design to help cut drag. with a starting price of (around at 2021 exchange rates). The GR Sport Package includes suspension tuning, additional bracing, a digital tachometer, a different shift knob, aluminium pedals, and a small diameter steering wheel. On the exterior, the Prius PHV GR Sport received a custom front bumper with much larger LED accents and a black grille and a custom rear bumper with extra lights and an F1-style brake light. Additionally, the Prius PHV GR Sport gained side skirts and bigger wheels. The Prius PHV GR Sport retains the plug-in hybrid powertrain of the stock Prius PHV, with no modifications. == Third generation (XW60; 2023) ==

| (engine) | (electric motor) | (combined) }} }} The third-generation Prius Plug-in Hybrid was unveiled on 16 November 2022 for the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show. This model is powered by a more powerful 2.0-liter M20A-FXS four-cylinder engine which is combined with the electric motor to generate a combined output of , an 82% increase over the previous generation and 13% more than the non-plug-in model, and offering a time of 6.6 seconds, according to Toyota. Because of this performance increase, in the North American market, Toyota markets the Prius Prime with its sport-oriented trim levels: SE, XSE, and XSE Premium. Unlike the second generation, but similar to the first generation, there is little external visual differentiation between the traditional Prius and the plug-in version. Now under the back seats, the 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack has a more than 50% greater capacity compared to the previous generation. Markets Japan In Japan, grade levels offered for the are the G and Z, the M20A-FXS engine is standard on all trims. North America The North American market Prius Prime is available in three grade levels: SE, XSE, and XSE Premium. All grades are powered with the M20A-FXS engine; unlike the regular Prius, the Prius Prime only comes with FWD as standard on all trims. The manufacturer-estimated electric driving range is for the SE grade and for the XSE grades. In 2024, for the 2025 model year, the Prius Prime was renamed Prius Plug-in Hybrid. Europe For the European market, the Prius Plug-in is the only version available. ==Markets and sales==

Toyota's initial global sales goal was to sell more than 60,000 Prius PHV a year, with Japan as the main market and aiming for 40,000 units, two-thirds of the carmaker's global sales goal. allowing the Prius PHV to rank as the second most sold plug-in electric car for 2012. Sales in 2012 were led by the United States with 12,750 units delivered, followed by Japan with 10,970 units. and the top selling plug-in hybrid in the UK (470 units), The top selling European market was the Netherlands, with 1,184 units sold during 2012. Accounting for cumulative sales since its inception, the Prius PHV ranked as the world's third best selling PEV by December 2014. By May 2015, the Prius plug-in fell to fourth place after the Tesla Model S. and by November 2015 it was also surpassed in the global ranking by the Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV, as the Prius sales declined after the end of its production in June 2015. , global first-generation Prius PHVs sales totaled 75,400 units since 2012, with the North American market accounting for 56.6% of all sales. The second-generation Prius Prime was released to retail customers in the U.S. in November 2016, The European market is led by the Netherlands with 4,134 units registered by the end of November 2015, During its first month in the market sold 21 units. The Prius Plug-in is eligible in several provinces for purchase rebates. According to its battery size, the Prius PHV was eligible in British Columbia for a rebate starting on 1 December 2011. In Quebec the plug-in was eligible for a rebate beginning on 1 January 2012, and a rebate in Ontario under its Electric Vehicle Incentive Program. A total of 63 units were sold during 2012, and 212 in 2013. Cumulative sales totaled 1,102 units through December 2017. In May 2017, Toyota Canada announced availability of the second-generation Prius Prime for the Canadian market. Initially available in both a standard and a Technology package, the model was exclusively available in Quebec (qualifying for a provincial rebate) in recognition of a 60 percent increase in plug-in vehicle sales in the province during 2016. After selling more than 700 Prius Primes in Quebec, in January 2018 Toyota Canada announced a nationwide release for the Prius Prime and an additional Upgrade trim between the standard and Technology levels. It is eligible for a rebate from the British Columbia government; a rebate from the Ontario government was available until the cancellation of the province's cap-and-trade program in July 2018. France Deliveries of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid began in France in September 2012. Pricing started at (~ ) including VAT and before any applicable government incentives. Excluding the environmental bonus, the plug in version is (~ ) more expensive than the conventional hybrid model. The Prius PHV was the top selling plug-in hybrid in France for 2012 with 413 units registered, more than doubling Ampera sales (190). Japan Toyota began taking orders on late November 2011 and the Prius PHV was released on 30 January 2012. The price of the plug-in, including consumption tax, starts at () for the entry-level S trim and goes up to () for the G trim with leather option. Toyota's sales target for the Japanese market was set between 35,000 and 40,000 units per year. An additional 5,187 units were sold in 2014. In October 2013 Toyota announced upgrades and reduced pricing for the 2014 Prius PHV in the Japanese market. The model is offered in a new two-tone paint scheme, newly designed aluminium alloy wheels, LED illumination for the "PHV" and "Hybrid Synergy Drive" badges. Interior changes include a padded compartment box in the center of the dashboard for keeping the smartphone, and some dark wood grain inserts in the center console and the armrests. In addition, Toyota explained that the 2014 Prius Plug-In Hybrid is manufactured using an improved spot-welding process that results in increased structural rigidity, which reduces noise and vibration, and improve ride quality and steering feel. The Japanese-market 2014 Prius PHV is offered in four trim levels: L, S, G and G Leather Package. The base price was reduced to (), and the advanced model starts at (). Sales in 2017 totaled about 26,700 units. , cumulative sales of both Prius plug-in generations totaled 48,800 units sold. A total of 1,184 units were sold during 2012, making the Prius PHV the second best selling plug-in electric vehicle in the country after the Opel Ampera (2,693 units), and also making the Netherlands the top selling European market for the Prius PHV during 2012. ranking third in the Dutch plug-in electric car segment after the Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV (8,038) and the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid (6,238). Sweden The Prius PHEV was the top selling plug-in electric car in the country during 2012, with 499 units sold. An additional 376 units were sold in 2013, and ranked as the second most sold PEV that year. After the subsidy is applied, the Prius Plug-in ends up on par with the Nissan Leaf electric car. Deliveries to fleet customers began in August 2012. , a total of 470 units were sold since its introduction to the market in July 2012, allowing the Prius PHV to surpass the Vauxhall Ampera and ranking as the top selling plug-in hybrid in the country. In 2013 the Prius PHV ranked again as the top selling plug-in hybrid with 509 units sold, up 8.5% from 2012. Cumulative sales through December 2013 reached 979 units. , the Prius plug-in ranked second after the Nissan Leaf, then the British market leader, but by December 2014 it fell to fifth place among plug-in electric cars, and second place among plug-in hybrids after the Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV. A total of 1,580 Prius PHVs were registered in the UK by the end of December 2015. Retail deliveries of the second-generation Prius PHV are scheduled to begin in March 2017. The plug-in hybrid is available in two trims, Business Edition Plus and Excel, with pricing starting at (~ ) for the Business Edition, and (~ ), both, before any government's incentives. The Prius PHV is eligible for a (~ ) purchase grant. United States The production Prius Plug-in Hybrid was introduced in the U.S. on 16 September 2011, at the Green Drive Expo in Richmond, California. For the 2012 and 2013 model year the sales price in the U.S. started at for the base model and for the advanced trim before any applicable government incentives. All trims had a delivery fee. In October 2013 Toyota announced a price reduction for the 2014 model year Prius Plug-in, cutting off the base price, and for the advanced version, in order to boost flagging sales. There were no changes in the vehicle content as compared to the 2013 model, and the price reduction took effect in November 2013, when deliveries of the new model year began. The 2017 Prius Prime starts at for the base model and for the advanced trim before any applicable federal government incentives and local rebates. All trims have a mandatory delivery fee. The Prius Plug-in also qualified for California's Enhanced Advanced Technology-Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicle (EAT-PZEV) status, which allowed plug-in owners to have free access to use carpool lanes even when traveling solo. The Prius Prime is eligible for federal tax credit of due to its larger 8.8 kWh battery. Also meets eligibility for additional incentives at the state and local level. The Prime also qualifies for California's clean air green sticker for free access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes. On 22 April 2011 Toyota introduced its priority registration website for customers interested in ordering the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, even though the purchase price had not been announced at that time. Registration guaranteed first access to Toyota's Online Order System, which began sales in October 2011, but limited to the 14 launch states. Toyota reported that during its first month since the process began, more than 17,000 potential buyers signed up through its reservation website, by mid July 2011, 29,000 potential buyers had registered, Initial availability was limited, and, , the Prius PHV was offered only in 15 states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. however, nationwide availability never materialized and the car was only sold in the original 15 states until its discontinuation in 2015. Toyota announced it expects to sell in the U.S. market around 15,000 units a year initially. , cumulative sales of first-generation Prius PHV totaled 42,345 units since 2012, ranking as the second top selling plug-in hybrid car in the U.S. after the Chevrolet Volt. Retail deliveries of the second-generation Prius Prime began in November 2016. A total of 781 units were sold during its first month in the American market, setting a new record monthly sales volume debut for any plug-in electric car released in the U.S. Combined sales of both Prius plug-in generations totaled with 65,703 units sold since inception through December 2017. ==Recognition==

The Toyota Prius Plug-in was a finalist for the 2010 Green Car Vision Award. The Prius Plug-in won the 2012 Urban Green Vehicle of the Year Award. Shared with the Toyota Prius v, the Prius plug-in was awarded Green Car Report's Best Car to Buy 2012. == See also ==