Plug-in Car Test

The Toyota Prius Hybrid car (which runs on petrol and electricity) is a big hit in London. You don’t have to pay the congestion charge there if you drive in to the centre of the capital and this can save you around £2,000 each year!

A test is currently being held using a ‘plug-in’ version of the car. This means that you can plug your Prius into your home power socket (or some street outlets in London) and recharge your battery to give you extended range. At the moment Prius owners just drive and the car recharges itself, but this limits the distance you can travel using the electric motor. It is hoped that a plug in version will extend the electric range to around 6 miles, handy for short city trips.

A video and more details can be found on the BBC website.