Toyota announces price for Prius Plug-in

TOYOTA has announced the price for its Prius Plug-in model, which goes on sale next year.
The Plug-in will cost just under £31,000, but the Government’s Ultra-Low Carbon grant scheme will see that price to customers reduced by £5,000.
The Japanese carmaker believes the price makes it competitive with the latest electric cars on the market.
However, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid has more flexibility due to its combination of electric motor, lithium-ion battery and petrol engine. Drivers can cover over 14 miles in pure electric mode. When power drops, the car switches to the hybrid system and its 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine. What this means in practice is that drivers need never worry about the distance they can drive.
Charging is quick and simple with the Plug-in and the battery takes its charge from an ordinary power point (or special roadside point) and takes around 90 minutes for a full top-up.
Toyota claims the hybrid will have CO2 figures of 49g/km and achieves 134.5mpg on the combined cycle. These figures make it a tempting proposition for fleet operators and company car drivers with a benefit-in-kind tax rating of five per cent for drivers. Businesses benefit from a 100 per cent write-down allowance and lower National Insurance contributions.
The general manater of Toyota/Lexus fleet services, Ewan Shepherd, said: “Prius Plug-in Hybrid will be an exciting and valuable addition to what is already an industry-leading Toyota range that delivers significant financial benefits to companies and company car drivers with advanced and highly efficient models such as Prius and the British-built Auris Hybrid.”
Didier Leroy, Toyota Motor Europe President, said: “Toyota has already put almost 3.3 million hybrids on the road. The introduction of Prius Plug-In Hybrid is a major step in our company’s journey towards sustainable mobility by reducing energy consumption, improving air quality and further curbing CO2 emissions.”