TOKYO, Jan. 11 (Kyodo) — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it has donated external power-supply units to the Miyagi prefectural government, which can supply electricity through the automaker's Prius hybrid vehicles in times of emergency.
The power-supply units have a maximum output of 1,500 watts and are able to simultaneously power most household electrical appliances, including televisions and personal computers, by drawing electricity from the automobile's onboard drive battery, Toyota said.
The government of Miyagi, which was hit hard by the March earthquake and tsunami, owns 17 Prius vehicles as official cars.
Toyota Executive Vice President Atsushi Niimi said he hopes the gasoline-electric vehicles will be useful at evacuation shelters and public facilities in times of emergency.
On capabilities of the vehicles, Toyota said in a press release, "When starting with a full tank of gasoline, an estimated two days of power supply is possible even when continuously supplying power at maximum output."