Plug-In Prius Wins Montreal Alternative Energy Rallye

For the third straight year, the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHV) was victorious in the Rallye Vert de Montréal.

The world championship of “green” rallies is the only Canadian stop on the global FIA Alternative Energies Cup circuit.

The PHV, with its unique Hybrid Synergy Drive platform, placed first in fuel consumption, with only 19L of fuel used for the 530 km of rallying, or average fuel efficiency of 3.6L/100 km. As an additional highlight for the Toyota family, the Lexus CT 200h recorded the second-best efficiency, at 4.3L/100 km.

The PHV was also first in regularity (speed accuracy). A key element of winning the rally is a combination of the consumption and regularity rankings. By placing first in both categories the PHV was the rally’s decisive winner, and with the CT200h placing a strong second.

“The PHV has consistently demonstrated that its user-selectable EV mode for short trips and hybrid fuel efficiency for everything else is a winning combination,” said Stephen Beatty, chief environmental officer of Toyota Canada Inc. “The key to victory for the PHV was its engine, which allows the driver to manually select between the EV and the hybrid mode seamlessly. The outstanding performance of the PHV and CT 200h in the Montreal rally was a compelling demonstration of the depth and breadth of Toyota’s leadership in green engineering.”

With the PHV winning the Montreal rally, Toyota Canada has earned a berth in the Rallye Monte Carlo des Energies Nouvelles, to be held next March. The Monaco event is the world’s oldest and most prestigious green rally. It will be the first rally on the 2013 FIA Alternative Energies Cup calendar.

The PHV was driven by Vinh Pham, Toyota Canada’s Advanced Technology and Powertrain Engineer, who was assisted by navigator Alan Ockwell. Pham was also behind the wheel when Toyota Canada claimed the 2011 title.