Toyota releases plug-in hybrid

This year, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHV) will be the next big thing in environmentally friendly cars. Plug-in hybrids combine the functions of conventional hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. A plug-in hybrid has a high capacity battery which can be charged by plugging it into a regular wall socket. The electric vehicle (EV) function in a plug-in hybrid is used only for short-distance driving. Toyota is once again on the forefront with the release of the PHV version of its Prius in late January. Toyota’s Prius PHV operates on a lithium-ion battery, instead of the nickel-hydrogen battery found in the conventional Prius model. When fully charged, the PHV version has a fuel efficiency equivalent to 61 kilometers per liter of gasoline. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. will both release their own PHVs this year. (January 4, 2012)