Toyota has elevated the hybrid technology to newfound heights when it rolled out the 2015 edition of the Prius Plug-in hybrid.
The Japanese carmaker’s first venture into the hybrid technology of enabling cars to run on both fuel and electricity or any one of the two, was with the Toyota Prius. As a hybrid vehicle, it was both fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly since it has significantly very low emissions.
But in Toyota, research and development never stops. So a few years after the Toyota Prius was introduced, the carmaker began the development and finally rolled out the Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid starting in 2013.
The Plug-in indicates that the vehicle can be charged like any typical battery. So if it has the fuel tank on the left side to refuel and gas up, it has a plug-in socket on the right side to recharge. It is even possible to do both together assuming access to both fuel and power are within reach.
Unbelievable fuel efficiency levels
Also known as the PHV, the 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid has unbelievable levels of fuel efficiency under the new 5-cycle testing methods currently being used in North America as well as in many parts of the world.
On EV or electricity alone mode, the 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in only uses 2.6 liters of fuel for every 100 kilometers for city driving, and 2.3 liters per 100 kilometers for highway driving. It’s really unbelievable that it’s even cheaper than the fuel consumption of a 150-cc engine motorcycle. But then, driving 100 kilometers straight on EV mode might need a couple of stops for recharging.
But when it’s on a hybrid mode, which means that it is combining fuel and electricity to run the vehicle, it takes up a remakable 4.7 liters of fuel for every 100 kilometers and a consumption of 4.8 liters per 100 kilometers for highway driving.
Powerful as it is efficient
The PHV draws power from a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder Hybrid Synergy Drive engine capable of exuding maximum power of 134 horsepower. What’s more it’s also very affordable for one of the most, if not the most fuel-efficient car available in the market today.
In terms of safety, the 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in is tops too, especially with the carmaker’s Star Safety System in place, which ensures that accident avoidance features are in place. Aside from an active brake control, it also has the backup sonar complementing the backup camera, among other features to ensure the safety of its driver and passengers.
The 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in is also loaded with great interior features including the 6.1-inch display audio with navigation whose controls are mounted on the steering wheels, a satellite radio, a smart key system and push start button, an automatic temperature control, among a host of other things to meet the comfort features and entertainment needs of its driver and passengers.