Plug-in Hybrids going mainstream?

Toyota has announced that it will be testing prototype versions of it’s Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) in Japan and the US. Environmentalists commended Toyota for taking the lead in testing plug-in hybrid vehicles for mass production. As a recent report from J.D. Power and associates indicated, large scale adoption of PHEV type vehicles in the US will result in the equivalent of removing 80 million gasoline powered cars off the roads.

In the US, Toyota will deliver the prototypes to UC Berkeley’s Institute of Transportation and UC Irvine’s Advanced Power and Energy program. There are several issues that need to be ironed out before PHEV’s become main stream.

Plug-in hybrids use either a larger battery or an extra battery that can be charged through the electric grid at home. In the current hybrid models, the battery is charged through a mechanism called “Regenerative Braking”, which takes energy from the wheels during braking and turns the motor. The motor acts as a generator, converting energy wasted during braking and coasting, into electricity which is stored in the battery. In the plug-in hybrid, the battery is charged through the electrical outlet when the vehicle is not in use. The battery is also charged through the “regenerative braking” process while the vehicle is in use.

Some test versions of hybrids which were modified by researchers have demonstrated mileage ratings over 100 mpg. These cars ran purely on battery power for up to 40 mile distances.

The Prius prototype is expected to go an extra 8 miles, purely on battery power, at speeds of 60 mph.

In addition to Toyota, other auto manufacturers like Ford and GM are also working on plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Watch this video from Toyota on their Plug-in Hybrids: