Toyota Motor Sales has launched a Prius plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHV) demonstration program at Georgetown University to study the performance of the vehicle and use the information in the development of Prius PHV coming to market in 2012.

As part of the study under a 150-vehicle demonstration program that Toyota is conducting throughout the US, two Prius PHVs will be loaned to the university, while the US Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program will manage the long-term evaluation of the vehicles.

Beginning this December, the program will enable several Georgetown employees to test-drive one of the vehicles in three-month rotations and use two newly installed EV charging stations in a parking garage below a university building.

The Prius PHV can travel approximately 13 miles in electric-only mode and can be charged in approximately three hours from a standard 110V electrical outlet, or in one and a half hours with a 220V electrical outlet.

Toyota Motor manager of advance technology vehicles Jaycie Chitwood said that the company is thrilled to be partnering with Clean Cities and Georgetown University to gain driver feedback on this new technology.

“These types of partnerships and programs are critical as we strive to bring advanced-technology and alternative-fuel vehicles to market that meet customer wants and needs,” Chitwood said.