Auto Test: The Toyota Plug-in Prius
(KCBS) - One of the perks of being an auto editor is the opportunity to drive vehicles that havent yet reached the market, or--some which will never make it. I recall the Chrysler Turbine Car where the huge expense and complication of the engine made mass production impractical.
No such fate is likely for the Plug-in Prius. It's based on the current sedan but instead of having one metal-hydride battery pack, it has three lithium-ion packs. The first is charged by the gas engine, as in the current Prius. The other two are charged by household current--either 110 or 220. The result is higher speed on batteries and longer distance--up to 13 miles. Then, the gasoline engine kicks in.
Driving has the same feel as current hybrids, but the charging routine can be fiddly. A 25-foot cord with a heavy charging unit attached is put into a grounded sock at home, and the other end with a strange looking 5 pronged end is attached to a socket in the left front fender. The cord is not supposed to touch the ground, but with that length, where do you drape it?
In any case, I set it up for a 3-hour charge, but it stopped at 2 and blew out the garage socket.
Oh well, they'll get it simplified by the time the Plug-ins are ready for retail, and they'll also tell us the price and mileage. Maybe they'll also have a shorter cord.
- Don Mozley, Auto Test Editor
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