In September, Toyota and EDF Energy, a British subsidiary of French energy company EDF, began testing plug-in Prius hybrid vehicles on public roads in the United Kingdom.

Following Japan, the United States, France, and Belgium, the UK is the fifth nation in which Toyota has conducted tests of plug-in hybrid vehicles on public roads. Worldwide testing began in 2007.

The prototypes are designed to operate like the current Prius, yet distinguished by greater electric power via a second nickel-metal hydride hybrid battery pack. With increased electric power in reserve, the vehicle is capable of operating in pure-electric mode longer and faster than the current Prius. Toyota is also accelerating development of plug-in hybrid vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries, with sales to fleet customers planned for the end of 2009.