Toyota will probably offer plug-in electric car technology as an option on the Prius, at least in the short term, rather than switch all of its hybrids to plug-in models. The reason that Toyota is stating are – consumers, who prefer the convenience of hybrids that did not have to be recharged.

But the automaker is nevertheless testing plug-in hybrids on public roads in Japan and also in France. Even before test results are in, Toyota has offered plug-in hybrid test drives to journalists in Japan, California and Detroit, where a small fleet bearing the words “Toyota Plug-In Hybrid” traveled city streets in mid January.

This plug-in hybrid — a development version of the plug-in Prius, and not the vehicle Toyota announced it would build — differs from the Prius in four ways. It has two nickel-metal hydride batteries under the floor of its trunk, instead the conventional Prius’s single battery. Final plug-in prius will probably feature a li-ion battery pack, or Nickel Hydride Metal pack, if available (there are some legal disputes with its patent holder – a company recently acquired by Texaco - big oil company)…

Unlike the Prius, which has a single fuel-filler door on the left side of the car, the plug-in model has another door on the right hand side that opens to reveal an outlet for the electrical charger. One end of the charger looks like a small fuel nozzle; the other end is a conventional three-pronged plug (on photo is shown a previous model of plug-in prius).