On Detroit Motor Show, Toyota's president Katsuaki Watanabe publicly announced that company will release a plug-in version of its famous hybrid-electric vehicle - Prius. Plug-in Prius will be on mass market by 2010 or even up to a year earlier available for government agencies.

This announcement is a part of Toyota's aggressive environmental policy, which many see as an answer to rebuild peoples trust and image of green car manufacturer. This image was shredded to pieces in last year's fiasco when Toyota opposed the new US Bill which would limit average mileage to 34-MPG by year 2015. Many environmentalists are calling for plug-in hybrids (also named PHEVs), or other plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, as this is the only way to save on gasoline and to cut increasing emissions.

Plug-in Prius will be based on modified Prius as we know it today, but will build on stronger Li-Ion battery cells. New Li-Ion batteries will be capable to achieve fuel efficiency of 99.9 miles-per-gallon in EV mode, but the final capacity (reach) is still unknown. It should be way higher than today's 7 miles in Prius 2007 hardwired to EV mode. Today Prius uses Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries. Plug-in hybrids are different from the current hybrid vehicles in that they can be charged not by internal motor or wheels with breaking, but by external power source - i.e. a regular power outlet.