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Tell me a story about the Prius plug-in

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StageLeft

StageLeft

No Lifer
Oct/09 go on sale in the US the 2010 redesigned Prius. MSRP is a modest bit over $20k. Apparently in end of 2009, though maybe not in the US, the plug-in variant is available for fleet sales, but in 2012 the plug-in is available for consumers, though at a price of USD $48,000. This is all from wikipedia. That sounds insane. Now, they are using lithium batteries for it, but surely adding some extra battery capacity and a plug cannot double the price of the car.

Has anybody heard any numbers on its electric-only range (if it has one, similar to a volt) once it becomes a plug-in?
 
2 Years is a long ways off, anyways different battery chemistries ( the prius thus far has used NiMH batteries ) -> different electronics, and LiIon is more expensive anyways. $48K? Sounds like they're just ballparking it based on the Volt.
 
The 2010 model was touted as a plug in as late as a year ago (roughly six months before the model's debut) but those plans were dropped because the technology wasn't ready yet. I'll believe it when I see it, and I think we'll see it only when and if it appears the Chevy Volt will be a reality.
 
From what I have heard for EV-only range:

Prius plug in ~ 12 miles (I've seen articles stating as low as 8)
Volt ~ 40 miles
MiEV (Mitsubishi) ~ 90 miles
Leaf ~ 100 miles

Both the Prius and Volt have a gasoline engine working in different ways to generate power (hybrid Prius vs "generator" Volt).

MiEV and Leaf does not have an engine, just pure EV.
 
Apparently in Japan, the Prius has been a plug-in hybrid for a long time now. The only thing is that it is very limited in speed and in range. For some people who live in the city and have a short commute, it would probably work though. I've also heard about people modifying their Prius to get over 100mpg.
 
Actually it looks like the Prius may not be a plug-in in Japan. I could swear I read that it was somewhere. There's always been talk of it. I think what I read was that in Japan you can plug the car in to charge the battery whereas here you cannot.

I just did a bit of reading and people are buying an extra NiMH battery pack off ebay for $1000 and with a simple mod the Prius becomes a plug-in. The problem is that it's governed to 36mph.
 
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