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When you think about it … what have we been waiting for, forever now?  Well, we have been waiting for a plug-in car and that is exactly what Toyota is giving us!  Finally, they have announced that they are going to be releasing in 2011 the brand new Toyota Prius PHEV, PHEV means Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle.  This is a program that is going to start out as a lease but with success, I think that you will be able to buy these awesome cars.

Toyota will be building and deploying somewhere around six hundred examples of the Toyota Prius PHEV for testing which is mostly going to take place in Japan.  The Japanese market will get about 230 units and then about 150 will go to the states and finally, 200 will go over to Europe.

The Toyota Prius PHEV is honestly one car that I think I want to invest in.  Not only is it safe for the environment but it actually looks awesome!

As far as Chevrolet was concerned, at the recent auto show in Geneva, the brand new B segment car was the star of the show — the Chevy show, anyway. The Chevrolet Spark was first revealed as a concept, right along with the Groove and the Trax at the auto show in New York City in 2007. At that point, the public got the chance to vote on the internet for their preferred design. At that point, the Spark was called the Beat instead, but all the same, it won with a completely unanimous vote.

It is easy to see why. Now, of course, it is known as the Spark. The design has changed as well — the vehicle has gotten two more doors. Inside, things are much the same with a two tier IP layout.

How cute is this? It is the GEM Peapod, by Chrysler LLC. GEM stands for “Green Eco Mobility.” So not only is this little … thing … absolutely adorable, it is good for the environment as well!

It was revealed at the headquarters over in Michigan — Auburn Hills, to be exact. The Peapod name naturally comes from the vehicle’s exterior, which is quite like a pod, with its prominent window and its wholly organic silhouette. Inside, there is iPod integration, the seats are mesh to encourage circulation of air, and the materials used inside are not just recycled, they are also recyclable. It does not get any better than that!

The vehicle runs on six 12 volt electrolyte batteries — flooded ones, even, and it has an onboard charger.