You may know the Toyota Prius as the car that conserves energy, but at the Frankfurt auto show, there was a Prius that gives you energy! It comes in the form of a stiff dose of caffeine and sugar, delivered in a pleasant, gingery-tasting soda. Keep the kids away, though, as the can warns: “not suitable for children.”
The other Prius debut at Frankfurt was a plug-in hybrid version of the new car. The plug-in features a lithium-ion battery, which recharges with a standard home outlet in an impressive 90 minutes. The car can drive for about 12 miles using battery power alone, after which the engine kicks in. The Prius plug-in hybrid is still just a concept, but Toyota does plan to field a test fleet of 500 examples for lease in early 2010.