Prius plug-in displays battery of good points (USA Today)

[eppur_se_muova]

Test Drive
James R. Healey

DETROIT — Seventy-one miles per gallon.
***
Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid

•What is it? Plug-in version of the popular gasoline-electric hybrid. An additional battery pack with a plug-in apparatus allows battery-only operation for several miles before gasoline engine kicks in. Four-door, front-wheel-drive compact hatchback with midsize interior room.

•How soon? A few in demonstration fleets now, more coming late next year as Toyota pushes to get 400 into service worldwide to collect data on charging and other issues.

Don't expect regular-production versions for at least two years, probably longer.

• How much? Plug-ins will be priced higher than regular hybrids because of their extra batteries and charging hardware, but Toyota hasn't forecast a price premium.

Regular Prius starts at about $22,000.
***
more: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2008-01-17-toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid_N.htm

Mods: The Q/A format forces a little stretching of the four-para rule, unless one bullet/Q/A pair can be taken as a para ...