Prius PHEV fleet arrives in Australia for three-year trial program

Toyota Australia has taken delivery of five plug-in Priuses for local trialling. The cars are currently being prepped and registered for the Australian chapter of a three-year evaluation program that will see 600 of the cars introduced through Japan, Europe, the US, here and New Zealand.

Toyota will keep one or two of the local allocation for its own use and distribute the others among suitable program partners. In the early phases at least, most of these are likely to be public sector organisations of the kind among which the current Prius has become a popular fleet inclusion, and academic institutions set up to evaluate the cars in fine detail and collect hard data.

Asked about the program framework, Toyota spokesman Mike Breen told the Carsales Network it's still being finalised, so the company has yet to firm up how many partners will participate and for how long each will have a car. However, the trial will focus largely on the car's efficacy in both the everyday urban commute cycle and on the open road. Feedback will be in the form of regular data dumps from the cars themselves, with qualitative input from users.

Toyota has taken a unique approach to plug-in hybrids in the car. It doesn't use the normal series hybrid design taken by GM for its upcoming Volt, which uses an internal combustion engine only to recharge the battery. Rather, the Japanese giant has opted to extend the Hybrid Synergy Drive concept already in use across its existing Toyota and Lexus 'h' lineups. In place of the existing nickel-metal hydride battery there's a lithium-ion one. Despite its superior energy density, it's slightly larger than the current power pack -- but then it does extend electric-drive range from the current 1-2 km to around 20 km.

Insiders say the company is looking to introduce the plug-in version alongside the existing one, rather than roll it out as a complete replacement. It is not yet satisfied with the Li-ion solution, with question marks remaining over heat, cooling and durability issues.

Mr Breen says Australian drivers will see trial cars on local roads in the next few moths, and they will be clearly visible with promotional decals down the sides.

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