Toyota is planning to produce not only a new plug-in electric Prius by 2012, but also several other EV vehicles for that model year.

Three new to the market vehicles, all "green cars," will be out by the end of that model year. These three cars will be a "A battery electric vehicle, a plug-in version of the Prius and an as-yet-unveiled variant of the Prius will arrive in U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2012," according to Automotive News.

Although no details were given on the Prius variant, it is believed to the long-rumored Prius Alpha model. Based on the current Prius, the Prius Alpha is said to be a more people-friendly MPV version of the well known hybrid - basically a hybrid minivan.

A test fleet of those vehicles is already being deployed, in fact. Customers can keep a track on their progress through a new public testing site set up by the Japanese auto maker, Toyota.com/ESQ. Toyota has equipped the test fleet with the capability to stream real-time data about the vehicles including usage patterns and fuel efficiency.

As for the battery electric vehicle (BEV), Left Lane News speculates that it"could be an electric version of the Toyota iQ, which will be making it to our shores as the Scion iQ. Toyota showed an electric version of its iQ at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show."

For now, you can check out the upcoming Prius Plug-in for 2011 at Toyota Of Wallingford - 859 North Colony Rd., Wallingford, CT 06492.


Source:  http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/100712-Toyota-Planning-Three-New-Green-Models-in-2012/