Did Japan have an early 'beta' release of the plug-in Prius last year or in 2010? I know they had the ECO switch on the Gen II car that is an option on the Gen III model. But did Japan have the plug in out for public testing a few years ago? I know Calif. has a few hundred(?) as of last year or early this year.
I saw one plugged in at the Intercontinental in San Fransisco a few weeks ago when I was there visiting. I should've taken some pics!
Cordless Gen-2 (2004-2009) was host for PHV Gen-1, which used two 1.3 kWh NiMH battery-packs and a 50 kW traction motor. Cordless Gen-3 (2010-2012) was host for PHV Gen-2, which used one 5.2 kWh Li-Ion battery with three sub-packs and a 60 kW traction motor. PHV Gen-3 what we will be able to purchase, which uses one 4.4 kWh Li-Ion battery with four sub-packs and a 60 kWh traction motor. .
In answer to the original question, test versions of the Plug-in Prius were available in Japan and the UK as well as in California. If I remember correctly Toyota built a total of around 500 cars with about 100 going to California, a handful to the UK, and the reset being used in Japan. Noel
