2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Plans for U.S. Spelled Out

LOS ANGELES — The 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid's introduction to the U.S. market will begin early next year with a small rollout of 150 units of the vehicle for consumer analysis and technical demonstration, Toyota announced on Wednesday at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Japanese automaker described the U.S. program as "a necessary first step in societal preparation" designed to inform consumers about plug-in-hybrid technology. Toyota has also launched a plug-in hybrid vehicle Web site on which consumers can follow the program's progress and track the performance of the demonstration program vehicle fleet, it said in a statement.

In terms of the global rollout, Toyota said a total of 350 Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles will be delivered in Japan and Europe later this month.

Toyota said the U.S. program will allow it to "gather real-world vehicle-use feedback to better understand customer expectations for plug-in technology. On the technical side, the program aims to confirm, in a wide variety of real-world applications, the overall performance of first-generation lithium-ion battery technology, while spurring development of public-access charging station infrastructure."

It was rather vague on exactly who will get these first units of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, saying they will be "placed in regional clusters with select partners." Toyota said regional programs are currently slated for California, Washington, D.C., New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

The Prius PHV has a first-generation lithium-ion battery that enables all-electric operation at higher speeds and longer distances than the conventional Prius.

The 2010 Prius PHV made its North American debut on Wednesday at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Inside Line says: The Prius Plug-in Hybrid edges ever closer to reality on U.S. roads. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent