Toyota to Start Leasing Prius Plug-in Hybrid Japan Buyers

22 November, 2009 05:30:00

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Toyota plans to lease out over 200 units of its newly developed Prius Plug-in Hybrid to potential buyers in Japan.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrids will be leased through a leasing company to government ministries, local governments and energy companies, which aims to promote the widespread use of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

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 Toyota Motor Company.

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. It has a targeted electric-vehicle cruising range of approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) on a full charge (six miles further than the conventional Prius) at speeds up to 62mph, before switching to conventional gasoline-electric hybrid operation.

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, plug-in hybrids, 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.

Toyota said it believes that, to meet the diversification of energy sources, plug-in hybrids are currently the most-suitable environmentally considerate vehicles for widespread use. The company is therefore encouraging plug-in hybrid vehicle 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.

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