Does the Prius Hybrid Electric Car Use Electricity?
Toyota's Prius hybrid is a mid-size electric/gasoline car, and is considered the most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered car sold in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. As a hybrid, the Prius does use electricity, but does not use electricity from conventional electrical outlets.
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Conventional Prius
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The conventional Toyota Prius uses electric power from its batteries at lower speeds, and shifts to gasoline power when more energy is needed. Energy from braking is channeled back into the batteries.
Converted Prius
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Electric car enthusiasts can purchase kits to convert a conventional Toyota Prius into a plug-in hybrid. This type of car can charge its batteries from an electrical outlet. The cost of this type of conversion ranges from $2,000 to $13,000, according to the California Cars Initiative.
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Plug-In Prius
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As of 2010, Toyota has no plug-in hybrid Prius on the market, but does plan to release an official plug-in version of this car in 2012. The plug-in Prius would allow electric-only driving for up to 13 miles, and use gasoline only when more power was required.
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References
- Photo Credit electrical outlet image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
