U.S. News Rankings & Reviews (Enlarge photo)

Green car aficionados are waiting anxiously for the first plug-in hybrid to reach U.S. shores.  Toyota hasn't brought us one yet, but it's getting closer.

Autoblog reports, "Toyota has been testing plug-in versions of its Prius hybrid sedan on public roads in Japan for quite some time," and a few of and the cars "have made it Stateside for testing, as well. Now Toyota has begun testing its PHEV in the U.K."   The cars will be driven by employees of a British energy firm.  "Both its capabilities and the cost savings to run the PHEV will be recorded and hopefully provide some sort of useful data to Toyota."

Why London and not here?  The BBC reports, "Electricity company EDF Energy is erecting "juice points", or electric charging points, across London. And it is not alone. At this... // U.S. News Rankings & Reviews

Channel 4 News (Enlarge photo)

Toyota is starting trials of a range-extended plug-in hybrid in the UK, in partnership with electricity supplier EDF Energy.

The one-year trial uses modified versions of the current Toyota Prius , which will be used on EDF's company fleet in real-life driving conditions. Toyota is to collect feedback from EDF employees on infrastructure and recharging requirements as well as the performance of the vehicles themselves: a system of charging... // Channel 4 News

Tokyo, Sept 11, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Toyota Motor Corp. 7203 said Thursday it has started testing its plug-in hybrid vehicles on public roads in Britain.

The driving test is being conducted jointly with EDF Energy, a British subsidiary of French energy company EDF.

The auto giant began road tests for the vehicles in Japan, the United States, France and Belgium in 2007. Plug-in hybrid vehicles employ batteries that can be recharged by plugging the vehicles into power outlets.

In the... // Japan Corporate News

To officially kick off the tests, TMC and EDF held a joint press conference in Hyde Park, London, on the same day, which was attended by, among others, UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform John Hutton, other members of the UK Parliament, London municipal government officials and the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Shin Ebihara. EDF Energy Chief Executive Vincent de Rivas, TMC Managing Officer Koei Saga, Toyota Motor Europe Senior Vice President Graham Smith and others were also present.

At the press conference, TMC's Saga, who is in charge of hybrid system development, said, "We are very excited to expand our PHV road testing program to the UK in collaboration with EDF Energy. Today's announcement represents a step-change towards acceptance... // Stockhouse

Tokyo, Sept 11, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces that together with EDF Energy, the British subsidiary of the French energy company EDF, it began testing TMC-produced plug-in hybrid vehicles on public roads in the United Kingdom on September 10.

To officially kick off the tests, TMC and EDF held a joint press conference in Hyde Park, London, on the same day, which was attended by, among others, UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform John Hutton, other members of the UK Parliament, London municipal government officials and the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Shin Ebihara. EDF Energy Chief Executive Vincent de Rivas, TMC Managing Officer Koei Saga, Toyota Motor Europe Senior Vice President Graham Smith and others were... // SYS-CON Media

Tokyo, Sep 11, 2008 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) -- TM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces that together with EDF Energy, the British subsidiary of the French energy company EDF, it began testing TMC-produced plug-in hybrid vehicles on public roads in the United Kingdom on September 10.

To officially kick off the tests, TMC and EDF held a joint press conference in Hyde Park, London, on the same day, which was attended by, among others, UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform John Hutton, other members of the UK Parliament, London municipal government officials and the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Shin Ebihara. EDF Energy Chief Executive Vincent de Rivas, TMC Managing Officer Koei Saga, Toyota Motor Europe... // Trading Markets

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces that together with EDF Energy, the British subsidiary of the French energy company EDF, it began testing TMC-produced plug-in hybrid vehicles on public roads in the United Kingdom on September 10.

To officially kick off the tests, TMC and EDF held a joint press conference in Hyde Park, London, on the same day, which was attended by, among others, UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform John Hutton, other members of the UK Parliament, London municipal government officials and the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Shin Ebihara. EDF Energy Chief Executive Vincent de Rivas, TMC Managing Officer Koei Saga, Toyota Motor Europe Senior Vice President Graham Smith and others were also present.

At the press conference,... // ITNews

Tokyo, Sep 11, 2008 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) -- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces that together with EDF Energy, the British subsidiary of the French energy company EDF, it began testing TMC-produced plug-in hybrid vehicles on public roads in the United Kingdom on September 10.
, , ) , which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, has developed into one of the world's best known automobile manufacturers. The Toyota Group sold over 8.5 million vehicles... // MarketWatch

Toyota yesterday launched the UK's first trial of a plug-in hybrid car in a tie-up with EDF Energy, which will build a network of charging points where drivers top up their batteries.

The car, seen as a successor to the Prius petrol-electric hybrid, will be tested in EDF's company fleet as Toyota works through the practical issues surrounding plug-in cars, including the availability of recharging infrastructure. // Financial Times

Toyota on Wednesday launched the UKs first trial of a plug-in hybrid car in a tie-up with EDF Energy, which will build a network of charging points where drivers top up their batteries.

The car, seen as a successor to the Prius petrol-electric hybrid, will be tested in EDFs company fleet as Toyota works through the practical issues surrounding plug-in cars, including the availability of recharging infrastructure. // Financial Times

CNET News (Enlarge photo)

With Toyota's announcement that it's testing plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) in the U.K., it seems like the Brits are getting all of the plug-in love these days. The announcement comes with the news that Toyota is partnering with EDF Energy to make the PHVs part of EDF's company fleet. The vehicles will be driven by EDF Energy employees and evaluated in real-world conditions. Electric company employees have all of the fun .

The PHVs, which is essentially a modified Toyota Prius, can be charged at a standard electrical outlet or any of the 40 charging posts in the U.K. EDF Energy plans to help expand the network of charging posts in the coming... // CNET News

Toyota has been testing plug-in versions of its Prius hybrid sedan on public roads in Japan for quite some time and the models have made it Stateside for testing, as well. Now Toyota has begun testing its PHEV in the U.K. Along with EDF Energy, the Japanese automotive giant and undisputed hybrid development leader plans to run the plug-in Prius on public roadways for at least a year, starting today. As the car, with its very unfortunate paint job, is driven by EDF... // Autoblog

The vehicles, subtly festooned with flower decals, are part of Toyota’s wider development of plug-in technology as it tries to best GM and its 2010 Chevrolet Volt. Toyota conducted a similar test of the vehicles in France last year, and recently said it will have the plug-in Prius in the hands of U.S. fleet customers by 2009.  The plug-in currently uses 60 percent less fuel than a conventional Prius during short trips (less than 15.5 miles). Toyota will start putting lithium-ion batteries similar to those of the Volt... // Automobile Magazine

Jalopnik (Enlarge photo)

Toyota , teaming up with EDF Energy, begins road trials today of the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the UK. The trials will give Toyota real-world driving test data on its PHEV, while EDF will get to test its public charging stations, 40 of which have already been installed throughout the country — as well as provide yet another marketing win for the automaker by making them the first major manufacturer to test plug-ins in the UK. Plug-in test cars will be given to EDF employees to drive in the company fleet, ensuring the vehicles will get the crap beaten out of them and that any major problems can be discreetly rectified by the partner organizations. Full release after the jump.

EDF Energy and Toyota launch UK trials of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle

EDF Energy and Toyota have teamed up to... // Jalopnik

CARkeys (Enlarge photo)

Toyota has started a trial - which is due to last for at least a year - of a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius, known as the PHV.

As with other hybrids, the batteries of the standard Prius are recharged every time the car coasts or slows down. The PHV's batteries can also be fully charged by attaching them to the mains, and when this happens the car can then be driven for short distances operating entirely as an electric vehicle, since there is no need for the petrol engine to fire up.

The benefits in terms of fuel economy and CO2 emissions are obvious, and part of the trial process is... // CARkeys

totallymotor.co.uk (Enlarge photo)

EDF Energy and Toyota have announced they are to team up for road trials of the first 'plug-in' hybrid vehicle (PHV) in the UK.

The tests will continue for more than a year from today (September 10th) and Toyota's right-hand drive PHV will make its on-the-road debut as part of EDF Energy's company fleet.

Toyota is hoping the results of the trials will play a very important role in the future development of the PHV technology.

The tests also follow on from the French trials that began in September 2007, with the UK partnership designed primarily to evaluate performance in an urban setting.

It will also look at vehicle infrastructure requirements and drive behaviours and expectations.

The test vehicles will be sporting an "innovative" charging and invoicing system, compatible with the... // totallymotor.co.uk

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Summary: EDF Energy and Toyota on Wednesday morning in London said they had teamed up to road trial the first plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) introduced by a car manufacturer to the UK although the automaker did acknowledge that there are already a number of privately retrofitted Priuses already on the road. Read the complete article // just-auto.com