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Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Brussels, Belgium, 13 January 2010

1. Various wides of Brussels Motor Show hall

2. Pan of Lancia cars

3. Medium of Jaguar car

4. Zoom out from Ferrari logo to Ferrari cars

5. Wide shot Citroen prototype car

6. Zoom out of hostesses waving in Fiat car

7. Zoom out Miss Belgium 2010 posing for photographs in Peugeot car

8. Mid of people at Motor Show

10. Medium of Hyundai stand

11. Close of people speaking

12. Medium of Kia Eco Dynamic car

13. Close of Toyota rooftop solar panels

14. Close of Toyota Prius energy monitor

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Deprins, Managing Director Toyota Belgium:

"I believe that you''ll have more diversity of types of motors. So until now it''s more thermodynamic and we have petrol, diesel. I think in the future you will see together pure electric, you will have a hybrid motor and you will have potentially hydrogen motor."

16. Pan of salon to Volkswagen stand

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Marc Ponteville, Press relations manager Volkswagen import:

"Electricity is probably the energy of the future. Electrical cars will be probably the cars of the future, but nowadays it is not yet ready. Because there are still problems with the batteries for instance. So we believe that electrical cars will come on the market now, Volkswagen will have one electrical car in 2013, it''s the future up, but it will be a very specific product for specific markets and in the future it will become a mass product."

18. Zoom out of Volkswagen eco fuel car

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Marc Ponteville, Press relations manager Volkswagen import:

"Electricity can be produced with any kind of green ways, so you can get electricity from the wind, water, from the sun, so probably electricity is probably the most flexible energy we could use. And use it at home or even in the car."

20. Pan of Peugeot electric car

21. SOUNDBITE (French) Guido Junius, Formation manager Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg:

"Copenhagen and other events showed that everyone feels they should contribute to help to protect the environment, and we also have to thank the governments for supporting these new technologies and for being ready to reimburse money invested in such cars."

22. Electric car driving in test area

23. Electric car on charge

24. Mid shot electric car charging monitor

25. Zoom out of electric utility vehicle

26. Mid of electric utility vehicle with hood open

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Coen, CEO of Philco NV:

"There are a lot of people starting to work with solar panels, and when they put solar panels on the roofs they want everything on the electric cars and for the moment there is nothing on the market in utility cars, everybody has come out with the four seat cars, the berline car. And this is the reason why our manufacturer came out with the utility cars just to have the small transport car."

28. Close of Volvo electric car on charge

29. Inside Volvo electric car, turning engine on then driving

30. Wide of Volvo electric car driving in test area

LEAD IN

It''s all about green technologies at this year''s European Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium.

Toyota is showcasing its new Prius, whereas Peugeot is presenting its new 100% electric car the "iOn".

STORYLINE

Despite the economic crisis and the gloominess of the car sector, all the main world manufacturers are present at the European Motor Show in Brussels.

The theme of this year''s event, "Heading for tomorrow", gives a clear sign that emphasis is on the environment and new technologies.

But it is not that obvious to the visitor''s eyes.

Like every motor show, glossy cars, new prototypes and pretty hostesses are in evidence.

Even miss Belgium 2010 is present to help display the cars.

But those green and new technologies can be found revving up at manufacturer stands around the show.

Almost every brand has its own green label, with names like "Eco friendly", "Blue Motion", Eco Fuel", "Blue Drive", "Eco Dynamic".

But what kind of engine will the car of the future have?

Eric Deprins, managing director at Toyota Belgium, says there will be more diversity.

"Until now it''s more thermodynamic and we have petrol, diesel and I think in the future you will see together pure electric, you will have a hybrid motor and you will have potentially hydrogen motor."

The new Toyota Prius, with a solar panel on its rooftop and its hybrid engine, fits the bill.

But for other car manufacturers, it seems that electricity will prevail over other sources of power.

"Electricity is probably the energy of the future. Electrical cars will be probably the cars of the future but nowadays it is not yet ready. Because there are still problems with the batteries for instance. So we believe that electrical cars will come on the market now, Volkswagen will have one electrical car in 2013 it''s the future up, but it will be a very specific product for specific markets and in the future it will become a mass product," says Jean-Marc Ponteville, from Volkswagen group.

According to him, electricity seems to be the ultimate source of power for cars.

"Electricity can be produced with any kind of green ways, so you can get electricity with the wind, water, from the sun, so probably electricity is probably the most flexible energy we could use. And use it at home or even in the car."

All this environmentally friendly sensibility from consumers and manufacturers is quite new, according to Peugeot, which is preparing to launch its 100% electric car the "iOn".

"Copenhagen and other events showed that everyone feels they should contribute to help to protect the environment, and we also have to thank the governments for supporting these new technologies and for being ready to reimburse money invested in such cars," says Guido Junius, formation manager for Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg.

To see electrical cars in action, visitors can head to dedicated hall in the salon, where they can try electric cars with a driver in a test area.

Here we see cars in action and charging, just like any other electric device.

And in the middle of the usual family cars, a plastic utility vehicle, designed for a specific market, as explained by Philippe Coen, CEO of Philco NV.

"There are a lot of people starting to work with solar panels and when they put solar panels on the roofs they want everything on the electric cars and for the moment there is nothing on the market in utility cars, everyone has come out with the four seat cars, the berline car. And this is the reason why our manufacturer came out with the utility cars just to have the small transport car," he says.

To test the car you have to book an appointment with a driver.

Once inside, not a single noise.

Only the lights on the display can tell you that the engine is on, proving that driving can now be completely pollution and noise free.

The 88th edition of the European Motor Show runs until the 24th January 2010.

SHOTLIST:

December 8, 2006. Santa Monica, California

1. Mid shot of alternative fuel cars on parade at alternative car exposition.

2. Wide shot of cars on parade.

3. Wide shot of alternative cars lined up on display.

4. Wide shot of electric car.

5. Close shot of power chord extending from car.

6. Wide shot of solar powered car.

7. Close shot of solar powered car.

8. Wide shot of alternative cars lined up on display.

9. Close shot of banner on car ("No Gas Required...").

10. Mid shot of Honda hybrid car on display.

11. Mid shot of Toyota Prius hybrid car on display.

12. Wide shot of alternative cars on display.

13. Close shot of alternative car on display.

14. Close shot of alternative cars on display.

15. Wide shot of car owner Paul Pearson with dog Bonzo in car basket.

16. Close shot of Bonzo.

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Paul Pearson, electric car owner.

"We're not looking for a car to take to Las Vegas. We're looking for a car to take to the market, to take Bonzo to the dog park, to run to the movies or whatever."

18. Mid shot of man looking at electric car.

19. Mid shot of woman speaking to car salesman.

(upsound woman: "How far it will go on one charge?" upsound salesman: "Depends on the weather. We say about 30 miles.")

20. Wide shot of salesman speaking to woman. Car in foreground.

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dana Myers, President, Myers Motors.

"What we want to say is we have a vehicle that you can buy today that goes on the highway and that's all electric and that costs $25,000 dollars or less. That's what we have today and we want to talk about what we can do today for people, not what maybe somebody can do in a year from now."

22. Mid shot of Toyota Prius

23. Mid shot of owner placing placard on Volkswagon sedan powered by biodiesel.

24. Close shot of placard ("Fueled by Vegetable Oil")

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) Russell Sydney, spokesman, Sustainable Transport Club.

"They work. We have to get our heads wrapped around the differences. Things like biodiesel are ready right now, we've got lots of people using the biodiesel and it's totally viable, just as viable as any other form of liquid fuel. The other ones that are coming down the line are here now, but we've got to get that into the marketplace and we've got to get the government on board with helping to make these work."

26. Mid to close shot of mini car pulling into parking space.

27. Mid shot of solar powered Toyota Prius.

28. Mid shot of people at car show.

29. Close shot of woman's shirt ("Question Internal Combustion").

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sherry Boschert, electric car owner.

"I have solar panels on my home. I drive on the sun. We need these now, they can be done now."

31. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Romano, alternative car advocate.

"I would choose to spend an extra five or six thousand dollars on a car that is better for the environment. That's a choice I'll make personally because I believe in it. So...but for other folks...to hit a mass consumer...it's about price and economy. That's basically how things will change."

32. Wide shot of alternative cars on parade.

LEADIN

If you're thinking of going green when it comes to cars, then Santa Monica, California is the place to be.

Green means clean in Santa Monica.

And the beach front community near Los Angeles is doing what it can to promote clean-burning cars.

That is, cars and other vehicles powered by something other than gasoline.

STORYLINE

In 2006 Santa Monica played host to the Alternative Car and Transportation Expo.

The city is serious about promoting clean alternative transport, with its own fleet of hybrid cars and natural gas-powered busses.

And the city-sponsored Expo showcased a hundred cars using alternative power.

That means everything from pollution-free electric or solar-powered runabouts of all shapes and sizes to sleek hybrids that use a combination of electric power and hydrogen.

It also means cars that use other fuels, like natural gas, biodiesel or ethanol.

The Expo was also a natural gathering place for the owners and would-be sellers of alternative cars.

Some alternative auto owners say clean-burning cars aren't just the wave of the future, they're here now and becoming more affordable, especially if you just want something to get to the grocery and back.

They also know they've got to get beyond the image many Americans have toward alternative fuels and the cars that run on them.

That is: too expensive, too weird and too far in the future to even think about.

But backers of alternative cars also know consumers want cars that go the distance, long distance.

And clean car advocates admit they're still struggling to convince gas-guzzling, car-crazy Americans to kick the petroleum habit.

Alternative fuels, like biodiesel, are available now at the pump and advocates hope that will help win over wary consumers.

Many clean car advocates are also long-time environmental advocates. They want clean cars because it means cleaner air.

But they also admit consumers across America may need other reasons to buy clean and green, like cheaper fuel.

Champions of the clean car can take heart - a recent Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive poll suggested a third of Americans surveyed are seriously interested in buying or leasing alternative power cars.

Keyword-environment transport

Mandarin/Eng/Nat

Although China is a country with one of Asia's lowest per-capita percentages of car ownership, an exhibit in Beijing last week was designed to catapult it onto the cutting edge of automobile technology.

A variety of non-petrol cars were put through their paces to see if they were up to the test.

Chinese, well-known for their love for the bicycle, were treated to an unusual spectacle last week as a non-petrol vehicle exhibition in Beijing drew to a close.

Cars using alternative energies such as natural gas, electricity and solar power hit the road Friday in a test to determine which future role they might play in China's expanding market.

This Chinese solar-powered entry was certainly the most eye-catching, but with only one seat and a sticker price of roughly 84-thousand U-S dollars, it may not be the ideal family vehicle.

Major international car makers such as Citroen, Toyota, Ford and others were represented at the Beijing car show, trying to drum up interest in alternative kinds of fuel.

Many of China's private cars today are owned by taxi drivers who drive some 300 to 400 kilometres (200 to 300 miles) a day, a distance no electric car could currently manage.

In a rapidly developing country like China, however, one of the biggest concerns over the expansion of the car industry is the pollution that goes with it.

And that's one of the key selling points of these vehicles.

SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)

"Of course there's no exhaust fumes, and the noise is very low as you have just heard, so of course it's beneficial to the environment."

SUPER CAPTION: Yao Binyu, Engineer

Most car makers estimate that electric vehicles might well be used as busses and other public transport to reduce noise and pollution in China's booming cities.

Demand for motor vehicles in China will increase by some 8 percent next year, reaching one point 66 (m) million vehicles, according to Chinese officials.

And without an anti-pollution strategy, that demand spells danger for China's environment.

But industry executives say it's not just China that needs progress in this area.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"It's really a matter of establishing a national fuel policy - not only in China, but in any region."

SUPER CAPTION: David Replogle, Vice President Ford Motor (China) Ltd.

This year, China is expected to build one point 55 (m) million motor vehicles and import 80-thousand.

Business and government departments buy most of China's cars.

But while the market demand for private cars is still in its early stages, it is growing rapidly.

And manufacturers hope that the success of electric vehicles in countries such as Japan will repeat itself in China.

Beijing, China, 13 December 1996

1. Chinese solar-powered vehicle

2. Various foreign and Chinese alternative fuel vehicles on display

3. Close-up of sign on engine reading "Natural Gas"

4. Chinese solar powered car pulls out for road test

5. Other cars pull-out

6. General Motors electric car pulling in

7. Interior GM electric car

8. SOUNDBITE: Yao Binyu, Engineer

9. Citroen officials with car

10. Toyota electric (grey) car pulling in

11. SOUNDBITE: David Replogle, Vice President, Ford Motor (China) Ltd

12. Solar powered car and electric car pass each other in opposite directions on track

KEYWORDS: ENVIRONMENT & POLLUTION & SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY