Switch Is On For Plug-ins

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday June 21, 2008

Jaedene Hudson

TOYOTA dealers in the US are converting their Prius hybrids into plug-in hybrids. The conversion allows owners to charge the car's batteries at home overnight, so the car uses less petrol.

But there is a catch: it costs about $10,500 to switch, which means it could take up to 10 years to recoup in fuel savings. A regular Prius costs $37,400. However, customers don't care, says Rich Merlino, a salesman at Westboro Toyota near Boston. They just want to be seen to be green.

"It is a bit of a novelty at the moment," Merlino told Drive. "It's all about image, absolutely. We have not done a conversion here yet but I know people who have done it. There have been a few people who have come in and converted."

The conversion allows customers to drive up to 30 kilometres on battery power alone. The petrol engine is still fitted but an extra battery pack means fuel consumption can be halved. So far, no Prius customers in Australia have transformed their cars into plug-in hybrids. However, the University of Technology, Sydney has imported one of the US plug-in hybrid kits and is working with the CSIRO to find out what effect plug-in hybrids will have on the electricity grid.

Chris Dunstan, senior research consultant for UTS's Institute For Sustainable Futures, says lower fuel bills are not the sole benefits of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

"Plug-in hybrid cars have the potential to revolutionise not only how we drive but how we generate and use electricity in our homes and workplaces," he says. "This car heralds a not-too-distant future where householders will charge up their cars from solar panels on their roof and then pump surplus power from their car back into the grid on days of high peak power demand."

Dunstan says the 30 kilometre petrol-free driving range would appeal to the many Australians who drive less than that distance to and from work each day.

In the US, hybrids are becoming so popular Toyota is struggling to keep up with demand. However, Toyota Australia says there is no waiting list for the Prius. So far, 10,000 Priuses have been sold locally.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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