Toyota Motor unveiled a “plug-in” hybrid car called Toyota Plugin HV yesterday. This car is based on Toyota’s popuar Prius model and Toyota will conduct on roads testing soon.

This plug-in cars run on a parallel system twining battery power and a combustion engine. Plugin HV is designed to enable short trips powered entirely by the electric motor, using a battery tat can be charged through an electric socket at home.

Toyota Plugin HV is environmentally friendly. By using low-energy nickel-metal hydride metal hydride batteries, it will reduce the gasoline consumptions and global-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, engineers are of the opinion that battery technology is still insufficient to store enough energy for long-distance travel.

The Toyota Plug-in HV, which is due to be tested also in the United States and Europe, has a cruising range of just 13 km (8 miles) on one charge, even with its trunkful of batteries.