Prince Albert II of Monaco took delivery of the very first production Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid available in Europe for a two month loan.
“We are proud to deliver our first Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle in Europe to His Serene Highness,” said Didier Leroy, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe. “We are honoured to continue our long standing partnership to contribute to the environmental and sustainability objectives defined by H.S.H. Prince Albert II.”
In February, 2012, the Monegasque government introduced a new incentive scheme under the direction of His Serene Highness to encourage environmentally friendly vehicles in the Principality. The scheme allows for subsidies of 5,500 EUR for full hybrid vehicles emitting less than 60 g/km of CO2, while full electric vehicles can receive subsidies of up to 9,000 EUR.
Prius Plug-in Hybrid incorporates a lithium-ion battery to offer an EV driving range of approximately 14.3 miles (25 km). Beyond the electric driving range, it can be used as a conventional full hybrid with all the efficiency of a standard Prius to deliver a total driving range in excess of 1,200 km (745 miles)
In just 90 minutes, the car can be fully recharged from a conventional plug. With an EV driving range and a choice of 424 free charging stations in Monaco, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid can travel around the Principality using pure electric mode, generating zero CO2, NOx or particulate matter emissions.
Weighing approximately 1,420kg, Prius Plug-in Hybrid is only 50kg heavier than the regular Prius, and no heavier than any comparable diesel or petrol car in its segment.
