When the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid becomes available for leasing next year, it will be the cleanest car on the roads, releasing less than 60g/km of CO2. Check out its display at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It has a 12.5-mile electric range (six miles further than the conventional Prius) at speeds up to 62mph, before switching to conventional petrol-electric hybrid operation. According to Toyota, 80% of UK journeys are less than 6.2 miles long, signifying that an electric-only journey would be possible. The plug-in Prius will be the first Toyota to use lithium-ion batteries, which are smaller, lighter and hold more charge than the nickel metal hydride cells the company has used to date. The plug-in Prius can be fully recharged from a 230V power supply in 1.5 hours. Next year’s test program will involve 500 customers worldwide leasing the car and putting it through everyday use. Around 150 plug-in Prius’s will be tested in Europe, including some in the UK. Press release and photo gallery after the jump!

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Tags:2009 frankfurt motor show, 2009 iaa, frankfurt motor show, iaa, prius plug-in hybrid concept, priusplug-inhybridconcept, toyota prius plug-in hybrid concept, toyotapriusplug-inhybridconcept
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Next to the Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept, Toyota will bring the at the Frankfurt Motor Show the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept. This new concept allows the Prius to act just like a “standard” plug-in electric vehicle and operate only in full-electric mode.

Also, what is really interesting is that the new concept features lithium-ion batteries instead of nickel-metal used on the “normal” Prius which means that this new car will be capable for every day use. The manufacturer promises over 150 units that will be leased to select customers and the deliveries will begin in Europe in early 2010. Photo after the jump!

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Tags:2009 frankfurt motor show, 2009 iaa, 2010 prius plug-in hybrid concept, frankfurt motor show, prius plug-in hybrid concept, prius plug-in hybrid concept iaa, Toyota, toyota prius plug-in hybrid concept, toyota prius plug-in hybrid concept iaa, toyotapriusplug-inhybridconcept
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