Japan Certifies Toyota Plug-in Hybrid for Public-road Tests

Toyota announced today that it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle and become the first manufacturer to have such a vehicle certified for use on public roads in Japan. The Toyota Plug-in HV like earlier TMC-developed hybrid vehicles uses both a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine and an electric motor. But increased battery capacity gives Toyota Plug-in HV a longer electric-motor-only cruising range and a battery-charging device allows users to replenish the batteries using household electricity. These features enable the Plug-in HV to run more often in gasoline-free, electric-only mode, such as on short trips in city driving. The resulting fuel efficiency improvements mean lower CO2 emissions and less fossil fuel consumption and, therefore, less pollution. Also, charging the battery with less-expensive nighttime electricity lowers total running costs, providing an economic benefit to owners.

TMC plans to conduct public-road tests in Japan with eight units of the TOYOTA Plug-in HV to verify electric-motor-only cruising ranges and optimal battery capacity. There are also plans to conduct public-road tests of the TOYOTA Plug-in HV in the United States and in Europe.