This will be a bigger deals when gas goes above $3 again.
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Averages 65 mpg(Automobilemag.com) A fleet of Toyota Prius plug-in (PHEV) hybrid prototypes have been roaming the streets in an attempt to gather real life test data. Toyota says these PHEV test models have so far returned an average of 65 mpg. That is an increase of 15 mpg compared to the estimated 50 mpg for the 2010 Toyota Prius.
The news comes from Bill Reinert, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.'s national alternative-fuel vehicle manager. Reinert says that the mpg comes from "real-world driving." He tells the vehicle testers to drive the PHEVs as they would drive a normal Prius.
Reinert said the fuel economy for the vehicle depends on the battery pack's capacity and how it is driven. In other words the fuel economy varies inversely with the application of one's right foot. "That difference is just magnified, supercharged, turbocharged with a plug-in electric because how fast you go really pulls the current out of the battery. It is a big deal."
The U.S. will get 150 Prius PHEVs late this year. The cars will be used for research and testing by universities, commercial fleets and individuals to evaluate real-world customer use and acceptance.
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