A plug-in hybrid vehicle basically operates as an electric vehicle on short trips and as a conventional hybrid vehicle on longer ones. Its electric vehicle attributes mean it has a longer total cruising distance and better overall fuel efficiency than a conventional hybrid this means lower fossil fuel consumption and, thus, reduced CO₂ emissions and atmospheric pollution. But because it is a hybrid vehicle, it can run regardless of battery charge and is not completely dependent on a battery-charging infrastructure.

TMC is developing a plug-in hybrid vehicle that can be charged using external power sources (such as household electricity), based on its hybrid technology, which it has positioned as a core technology for environmentally considerate vehicles. The concept model TMC will display at the Frankfurt Show has a targeted electric-vehicle cruising range of approximately 20 kilometers on a full charge, and its targeted CO₂

emissions level is below 60 grams per kilometer*.

TMC believes plug-in hybrid vehicles represent an environmentally considerate solution that can be widely applied to respond to the diversification of energy sources. As such, TMC intends to introduce approximately 500 plug-in hybrid vehicles globally—approximately: 200 in Japan, 150 in the United States, 150 in Europe (including France, the United Kingdom and Germany) primarily to fleet customers—to encourage market acceptance and promote understanding.

TMC will continue its efforts to achieve sustainable mobility by using its hybrid technologies to develop plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and fuel-cell hybrid

vehicles, which are expected to help reduce fossil fuel consumption, lower CO₂ emissions and respond to the diversification of energy sources.

Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept Specifications

*Measured in line with new official international regulations for plug-in hybrid electric powertrains