Prince Albert of Monaco loans new Prius Plug-in

Prince Albert II of Monaco has taken delivery of the very first Toyota Prius Plug-in available in Europe for a two-month loan.

The new vehicle could soon replace the standard Prius Prince Albert currently uses.

“We are proud to deliver our first Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicle in Europe to His Serene Highness,” Didier Leroy, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, said.

“We are honoured to continue our long standing partnership to contribute to the environmental and sustainability objectives defined by Prince Albert.”

In February, 2012, the Monegasque government introduced a new incentive scheme under the direction of Prince Albert to encourage environmentally friendly vehi­cles in the Principality.

The scheme allows for subsidies of €5,500 for full hybrid vehicles emitting less than 60g/km of CO2, while full electric vehicles can receive subsidies of up to €9,000.

Leading by example, Prince Albert will now use the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid for private purposes, a vehicle delivering low CO2 emissions of 49 g/km.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid incorporates a lithium-ion battery to offer an EV driving range of 15.5 miles, and can be recharged in 90 minutes.

Beyond the electric driving range, the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid can be used as a conventional full hybrid, like the standard Prius, giving fuel economy of up to 78.5 mpg on the combined cycle.

With a choice of 424 free charging stations in Monaco, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid can travel around the Principality using pure electric mode, generating zero CO2, NOx or particulate matter emissions.

As a leader in full hybrid technology, with sales of over four million full hybrid units globally, Toyota welcomed Prince Albert’s initiative to promote the sales of environmentally friendly cars, helping the Principality become a world leader in sustainable mobility.

For more information on Toyota and its products visit the Toyota showroom situated in Mdina Road, Żebbuġ.