Toyota to Test 150 Prius Plug-In Hybrids in US; Exec Says Retail Sales Will Follow

Toyota Motor Co. will launch real-world testing of its plug-in Prius in Japan and Europe this month and will bring 150 of the cars to the U.S. early next year, the automaker told reporters at the Los Angeles International Auto Show this morning. Bill Reinert, Toyota's U.S. advanced technology manager, said Tuesday that the company would be marketing a plug-in hybrid within the next few years. Toyota's plug-in test program, which includes 350 cars in Europe and Japan and the 150 designated for the U.S., is “a necessary first step in societal preparation” for plug-in sales, said Irv Miller, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.'s vice president for environmental affairs. Toyota's ongoing testing displays the company's conservative nature and continued unease with lithium-ion battery technology necessary for the electric drive demands of a plug-in.

Tagged as: Batteries, Plug In Prius, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota