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Under the agreement Plugin Hybrids will be integrated into the EDF fleet, and will be tested on the French road network, under normal use conditions. The road tests, which will start in France in the autumn, could be widened to other European countries in the future. Equipped with Toyota's hybrid technology, the vehicle's battery can be recharged from an ordinary electric socket.

The PHV vehicle takes Toyota's standard hydrid vehicle, which runs on both petrol and electricty.  In the standard Prius, the battery power is recharged though energy capture under braking.  With the Plugin Hybrid, the batteries can be topped-up through a domestic power supply, thereby increasing the Toyota's range.

On short journeys, the plugin hybrid vehicle mostly uses electric power, which reduces the CO2 emissions by limiting the use of fuel fossil. For longer distances, the plugin hybrid uses a combination of electric and petrol.

EDF and Toyota have also developed a new intelligent system to make electricity more accessible for the motorist, allowing the cars to be topped up by the kerb, or in car parks.

Pierre Gadonneix, Director General of EDF, said:
"I am delighted by this partnership on a new generation of vehicles between EDF and Toyota. This innovation constitutes a promising stage so that the electric power is recognised in Europe by the motorists as a competitive and environmentally sound source energy making it possible to reconcile the challenges of individual mobility, the economic growth and the environmental constraints."

Masatami Takimoto, Executive Vice-president of Toyota Motor Corporation, said:
"This new collaboration marks an important stage in the development of our total knowledge as regards sources of alternative fuels for transport. We are convinced that this point is critical for the future of the company. We are proud to be associated with a supplier energy leader in Europe such as EDF, with which we share a common vision for durable mobility."<