As new technology progresses in the world of fuel economy, and the 2011 electric plug-in hybrids come to fruition, it is no wonder that some Prius owners want to hop on the electric plug-in band wagon so to say, but how much is a conversion pack and is it really worth it?

Toyota has converted a Prius touring model into a plug-in version using a Hymotion L5 conversion kit sold by A123 Systems, which according to the company: can get more than 100 mpg. The work was performed at a Toyota dealership in Massachusetts, one of seven U.S. service centers that can perform the conversion.

The standard Prius hybrid system, including its nickel-metal-hydride battery, remains intact and the added weight of the the conversion battery (5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack) and a 110-volt charging port to the rear bumper, adds over 600 lbs to the Prius.

The result of the conversion project was that gas mileage increased dramatically to a whopping 67mpg but just for the first 35 miles of driving.  Overall mpg’s increased from the Prius’ original mileage of 34 mpg city/47 mpg highway, to the conversion model’s mileage: 56mpg city/75mpg highway-a dramatic difference.

A recent poll indicated that as many as 78% of all American drivers commute less than 40 miles to work each day, electric-plug-ins could result in a dramatic reduction of fossil fuel being burned every day, lowering our dependence on foreign oil and keeping CO2 emissions to a minimum. The drawback, of course is price, the conversion kits cost around $10K and the new 2011 electric plug in vehicles are not available yet at a price that the average American family can afford.

For now, the best option may be a fuel efficient combustible engine, stop in at Jim Lynch Spirit Toyota in St. Louis and test drive a few of our fuel efficient Toyota cars and trucks today.

Looking for a minivan to get the kids from point A to point B?  Toyota has the vehicle for you in the 2010 Toyota Sienna.  The Sienna is the best minivan on the market in every category, ranging from external appearance to the performance it executes on the road.  The greatest attribute of the Toyota Sienna is the safety features followed by their roominess.

When it comes to safety features, Toyota brought out all the stops in the 2010 Toyota Sienna.  Toyota installs front, front side, and side curtain airbags in all of their Siennas.  With these airbags strategically placed and tested several times before being released as the final product, Toyota was able to secure a very high crash test rating. The Sienna scored four out of five stars for driver and front passenger protection in front impact tests, and scored five stars for front and rear seat passenger protection in side-impact testing.  With the rigorous testing that the government puts vehicles through, scoring four out of five stars is really good, and five out of five stars is amazing.  The Government is not the only organization that does testing.  The most respected organization is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  The IIHS gave the 2010 Toyota Sienna their highest score in their safety tests.

When it comes to buying a minivan, purchasing one with the most room is always a consideration.  You will have no complaints with the Sienna’s generous amount of space.  When purchasing your Sienna, you can buy one that seats seven passengers or eight passengers.  These two plans are separate versions and will have to be decided on when you buy your vehicle.  The seven seat version has two captain’s chairs in the second row, and the eight seat version consists of a bench in the second row.  When it comes to extra storage space, it doesn’t matter whether you pick the seven or the eight seat version, there is plenty of space in the vehicle to store all of the luggage you need to for those long journeys.

So when you’re looking for your next Minivan, stop by your local Toyota dealer, Spirit Toyota, and see their large selection of new Toyota cars.