Strong Demand May Lead To Plug-in And Electric Kia Niro Models

The world may no longer be cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, but it is definitely insane for SUVs. Automakers don’t seem to be able to build them fast enough to satisfy global demand. Now Kia is finding that demand for its new Niro crossover SUV is higher than expected.

Kia is pleased with the early sales success of its Niro crossover SUV, which is essentially a Hyundai Ioniq dressed in different clothes. Both are hybrids like the Toyota Prius and both will offer plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions soon. Shortly after its worldwide introduction, the hunkier, chunkier Niro looks like it will give the Ioniq, a run for its money in the marketplace.

“There is much more freedom. You can make an SUV more sporty and not ultilitarian,” chief creative officer Peter Schreyer told the press in Korea last week. “I don’t know what comes after the SUV. I think it’s just what people worldwide want to sit high and have an overview, to feel protected.” The SUV has certainly asserted itself lately. Sales of sedans are soft while high-riding SUV sales are surging in every market.

Thomas Oh, Kia’s chief operating officer, told journalists that demand is already running ahead of expectations in Korea and he anticipates the car will be a major hit elsewhere. He predicts 40,000 sales in the US next year and 20,000 in Europe once the car goes on sale over here.

“It does not look like a Prius because Prius customers are very loyal,” he said, “but many customers want small SUVs, including those looking for eco-friendly cars.”

On the theory that the best sales strategy is to give the people what they want, Kia expects to add plug-in hybrid and full battery electric versions of the Niro to the lineup in the near future. “This year globally, eco-friendly cars are around 2 million vehicles, with electric vehicles just 100,000,” Oh explained. “By 2020, we expect eco-friendly to rise to around 600,000 with 42% hybrid, 32% plug-in hybrid and 27% electric. That is a significant increase and it makes sense to combine the technology with vehicle types that customers want to buy.”

The transition to cars that use less gasoline and fewer carbon emissions is accelerating, apparently, despite historically low gas prices. Attitudes among car buyers are beginning to change and they are demanding more eco-friendly options. That’s a positive sign for the future.

Source: Autocar

2012 Toyota Prius V And Plug-In Make Green Car Reports Best Buy in Coming Year

Ask pretty much any car buyer about green cars or hybrids and, chances are, that person will likely mention the Toyota Prius sooner or later.

Until this year, though, the Prius has been a single model: a subcompact four-door sedan from 2000 through 2003, and then two generations of mid-size five-door hatchback after that, one from 2004 through 2009, and the current version starting in 2010.

Now, for the first time, the iconic Prius is expanding from a single model into a line of models. And we've named both of the new 2012 Prius models together as a pair to be one of six nominees for the GreenCarReports Best Car To Buy 2012 award.

2012 Toyota Prius V station wagon, Half Moon Bay, CA, May 2011

Prius V wagon

The first of the two new models, now on sale at dealers, is the 2012 Toyota Prius V wagon. Taller, longer, and with more load space than the original Prius hatchback, the 2012 Prius V seems likely to be a popular addition to the lineup.

Mechanically, it's pretty much the same as the standard Prius hatchback. But while from some angles it looks like a tall hatchback, the rear is clearly a wagon--and the greater load space with the rear seats folded down clinches it.

For the record, the hatchback and wagon models don't share a single body panel--but Toyota's stylists have cleverly made the Prius V look every inch a Prius nonetheless. And inside, they've dispensed with the striking but impractical "flying buttress" console for a more conventional lower tray that improve storage and access considerably.

And the greater space carries only a minor penalty in fuel economy. The EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Prius V at 42 mpg combined gas mileage, versus the 50-mpg rating for the lighter, more aerodynamic hatchback model.

There are three trim levels of the 2012 Prius V: They're priced at $27,160 (Prius V Two), $27,925 (Prius V Three), and $30,750 (Prius V Five), all including destination.

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

Prius Plug-In Hybrid

The second new Prius, which will arrive early next year, is the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. It's the first Toyota model with a plug sold in this country in a decade, and it will likely be made in much greater volumes than the 2002 Toyota RAV4 EV that was the last Toyota that could be recharged from the electric grid.

You can think of the 2012 Prius Plug-In as a conventional Prius with a larger battery pack that plugs into the grid to recharge, as well as being charged by engine overrun and regenerative braking.

Unlike the range-extended electric Chevrolet Volt, however, the plug-in Prius will switch on its engine whenever more power is needed, even if the pack still has miles remaining on it. All-electric range is somewhere between 9 and 13 miles, depending on terrain, temperature, and a score of other factors.

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

But for green buyers who are nervous about an all-battery car like the Nissan Leaf, and skeptical about the range-extended electric Volt, the 2012 Prius Plug-In Hybrid may be the gentlest, easiest, simplest way to go electric.

Recharging takes only about 3 hours on 120-Volt household current, and unless you're traveling cross country, a normal mix of suburban errands may end up with the Prius plug-in running fully half its miles on electricity. The base price is $32,760, including destination, and most buyers will qualify for a $2,500 Federal tax credit.

The EPA hasn't yet rated the gas mileage of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, but it'll clearly be higher than the Prius hatchback's 50 mpg rating. We'd expect it to be at least 60 mpg, perhaps higher.

Toyota will offer the Prius Plug-In Hybrid in 14 states at launch: California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. Next year, the company will make it available nationwide.

Tomorrow, we'll describe the last of our six nominees for the Best Car To Buy 2012 award, and on Monday, we'll reveal the winner.

Source: Green Car Reports

Toyota Press Release For the Upcoming Plug In Prius

In case you are interested in the specifics, here is Toyota's Press Release. Actually, the 12 miles electric range is great for running errands after work or running around on the weekends, but really little else. Nonetheless, how cool is it to be able to drive all weekend with gasoline?

PRESS RELEASE:

10 September 2009

TOYOTA SWITCHES ON TO AN ELECTRIC FUTURE WITH NEW PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID
CO₂ emissions cut to less than 60g/km

KEY POINTS

• New Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept reinforces Toyota's progress towards the ultimate eco-car
• Lithium-ion battery technology allows for compact packaging and quick recharging
• Rechargeable from domestic power supply or public charging point in around an hour-and-a-half
• Extended EV (electric) driving mode of up to 12.5 miles at speeds up to 62mph
• Over longer distances, Prius Plug-in switches to conventional petrol-electric full hybrid operation
• CO₂ emissions cut to less than 60g/km
• Toyota to launch global lease programme to evaluate Prius Plug-in in early 2010

Toyota is unveiling a new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept at the Frankfurt motor show, signalling further progress towards its ambition of building the ultimate eco-car.

Presentation of the new concept comes ahead of a test programme that will see more than 500 cars leased to customers worldwide for real-world evaluation of performance and monitoring of driver attitudes and experiences.

Using lithium-ion batteries, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid provides clean, fuel-efficient electric-powered running in urban areas for longer distances and at higher speeds than the conventional, third generation full hybrid Prius. Over longer distances, or when the limit of battery power is reached, the system automatically shifts to conventional petrol power. Advanced battery technology allows for full recharging in around an hour and a half and the extended EV capability brings CO₂ emissions down to around 60g/km.

The plug-in hybrid concept

Europe's population is increasingly urban-centred and Toyota research into commuting patterns shows that in the UK and France, more than 80 per cent of car journeys cover a distance of less than 25km; in the UK around 80 per cent are less than 10km long. These figures confirm the potential for electricity in providing short to mid-term sustainable mobility.

The environmental benefits of electric cars for urban commuting are well-documented, but vehicle development has been hampered by the drawbacks of the weight, size and cost of the large capacity batteries needed to provide even a modest driving range, and the lack of an adequate recharging infrastructure.

Toyota is addressing both these issues with the launch of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept. It believes that progress in battery technology makes plug-in hybrid architecture the most workable solution for an electrified powertrain. The system overcomes the issue of a limited cruising range by enabling an automatic switch to a traditional full hybrid petrol-electric system once the vehicle reaches the limit of its EV (electric vehicle) driving range.

The concept model is a development of the new, third generation Prius, and builds on the core technology of Hybrid Synergy Drive specifically to meet the needs of urban motorists. It is a full hybrid vehicle in which both the electric motor and petrol engine can drive the wheels: a fully electric EV mode is used for shorter distances, while the petrol engine provides a true long-range capability.

As well as avoiding the limited range traditionally associated with electric vehicles, Toyota has also achieved a compact and practical packaging design for the battery pack. Prius Plug-in can be also be quickly recharged, from a conventional household electricity point, or a public charging post.

More than 500 Prius Plug-in cars will be released around the world early next year for lease programme, with more than 150 of these on the road in Europe. This will let Toyota evaluate all the technical aspects of the new model in a real-world environment, an essential step in preparing the vehicle for a potential market launch. The lease programme will also yield valuable intelligence on market response and which characteristics drivers find appealing, and why.

Performance

The Prius Plug-in Concept's powertrain is similar in format to the Hybrid Synergy Drive used in the new Prius, but with the nickel-metal hydride battery pack replaced by a new, high-output lithium-ion battery – a first for a Toyota hybrid vehicle. The new battery is more compact and has a higher volumetric energy density, so it does not compromise vehicle weight and packaging. Perhaps more importantly, it can be recharged much more quickly than the nickel-metal hydride type: the battery in the Prius Plug-in can be fully recharged in one-and-a-half hours from a 230v power supply.

The battery allows strong, seamless acceleration up to a maximum 62mph (100km/h) in EV mode. On a full charge, it can cover approximately 12.5miles (20km) in EV mode, six miles further than the nickel-metal hydride battery in the latest Prius model. Over longer distances, the car operates as a regular full hybrid.

The car's extended EV performance has a significant impact on emissions, with CO₂output dropping to less than 60g/km and, as with other full hybrid models, reduced NOx and particulates (PM) levels. Even greater CO₂ savings can also be gained if the electricity used to charge the battery is drawn from renewable sources, such as windmills and solar panels. Simply put, the lower the percentage of energy derived from fossil fuels, the better the car's well-to-wheel CO₂ performance.

Convenience

The Prius Plug-in Concept is every bit as comfortable, convenient and practical as the latest generation Prius. As in its sister model, the air conditioning can be activated remotely, when the vehicle is plugged, enabling the cabin to be brought to the right temperature before setting off.

To help drivers maximise the benefits of driving in EV mode, it is equipped with a Hybrid System Indicator, which includes information on the EV driving range, based on the level of battery charge. An engine starting point display has also been added to emphasise the increase in EV driving range.

The Electro Multi-Vision screen on the dashboard also offers a display that highlights the plug-in hybrid's contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions, showing a computer graphic image of single tree that gradually increases to whole forest as the battery charging process takes place.

As a significant development in environmentally responsible mobility, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept offers commuters and people who live in urban areas all the benefits of an electric vehicle, with none of the drawbacks.

Outline technical specifications

ENGINE
Displacement (cc)		1,798
Max. power (bhp @ rpm)		97 @ 4,000
Max. torque (Nm @ rpm)		142 @ 4,000
MOTOR
Type		Permanent magnet synchronous motor
Max. output (bhp)		79
Max. torque (Nm)		207
HV BATTERY
Type		Lithium-ion
EV cruising range (miles)		12.5
Recharging time (min)	100V	180 (target)
	200V	100 (target)
EMISSIONS
CO2 (g/km)		<60
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Overall length (mm)		4,460
Overall width (mm)		1,745
Overall height (mm)		1,490

Disclaimer

1. Fuel consumption and CO₂ values are measured in a controlled environment, in accordance with the requirements of Directive 80/1268/EEC, including its amendments, on a basic production vehicle. For more information about the basic production vehicle, please contact the Toyota press office.

2. The fuel consumption and CO₂ values of your vehicle may very from those measured. Driving behaviour, as well as other factors (such as road conditions, traffic, vehicle conditions, installed equipment, load, number of passenger, etc) play a role in determining a car's fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.