I heard that toyota sells completely electric Prius's in the states, is it really true?

Question

cause my science teacher was telling us how his friend in the states has a completely electric toyota prius. i knew that technology exists to make practical electric cars, but are they already in mass production?

Answer 1

Nope.  They're gasoline-powered cars.  While it's possible to charge the battery from a home recharging scheme, the car isn't meant to run exclusively on the battery and the practice voids the warranties.  

The technology to make practical electric cars does not exist.  What you'll find is a great deal of literature that promises electric cars within several years, but very much the same literature has been offered for many years now.  

It's the same problem, as always: the batteries won't do it.  While a Prius can be propelled with its battery for a while, the heat from a large, prolonged current flow will gradually degrade the internal structure of the cells.  

Don't expect battery technology to evolve as quickly as computers or cell phones have done.  Those are exceptions to the usual rate of technological progress.

Answer 2

No it's not true.  Some companies do make modifications where you can turn your Prius into a plug-in hybrid, but even then it's not 100% electric, and Toyota hasn't made a plug-in version yet.  See here:

http://greenhome.huddler.com/products/hy...

The first affordable highway speed EV is about to come out in the US in June '08 - the Green Vehicles Traic.

http://greenhome.huddler.com/products/gr...

It will be able to go 80 mph, 100 miles per charge, and cost $20k.