The 100mpg Prius: Fact and Fiction
Is it For Real?
Currently, it is possible for you to push the boundaries of mileage for your Prius, but not officially. Instead if you want a 100 mpg prius of your own, you'll have to do it yourself via a conversion kit (sold by a variety of third party distributors) or have it installed by a third party provider. These Priuses typically have a more extensive battery system and can usually be plugged in (also known as PHEVs or grid-connected hybrids). I should note that they willl void the warranty on your Prius however, so tread carefully.
Will Toyota Release a 100 mpg Prius?This currently appears to be the case. Toyota announced some time ago that the next generation of the Prius could have a plugin capability and therefor a much larger range to run on battery power alone. According to Jim Press, president of Toyota's North American subsidiary, "Hybrids are the technology of the future and will play a starring role in the automotive industry in the 21st century." There's been skepticism from consumers that a Prius with lithium ion batteries and additional range power will cost a lot more to produce and sell. It faces competition from the upcoming release of the Chevy Volt, which is being hailed as a great concept vehicle. But the $40,000 price tag on the Volt will likely keep it from going mainstream.
Of course the exact release of a plug in version for the Prius that's capable of 100 mpg is still up in the air. Toyota has mentioned previously that they're experimenting with lithium ion technology as a potential solution for a Prius plugin, but it's not official as of yet, and plans could change.
Additional InformationIf you're looking for more information on the newest iteration of the Prius I'd suggest heading over to Edmund's
. They have extensive information on user reviews as well as the latest Prius models.
