WTF? A Prototype and Concept Car In A Prius Commercial?

Prius isn't an electric car, it's a gasoline car.

Why ask for a "pure electric Prius"? How about "where's the electric Yaris?"

Nissan created a unique car when they went electric. The Leaf. I would expect Toyota not to sully the Prius name with such confusion, but would instead do what Nissan did and make an entirely new brand name for an electric car.

You've been misinformed.

There is no such thing as a pure electric Prius and from the reports I've read - Toyota's USA strategy is to keep he Prius brand as a electric-gasoline hybrid. In the next few years, Toyota will expand the Prius brand by adding three new vehicles - (1) a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius (PHEV), (2) a crossover hybrid called the Prius v(ersatile), and (3) a metro commuter called a Prius concept-C. Toyota has said over and over again that they dont like the cost-performance of the current technology for pure electric vehicles and that current BEV technology does not match/fit the Prius' targeted base/market which is focused on vehicles with a base price of 25K USD. IMHO Toyota is not likely to alter this decision..From what I understand the Prius Concept-C hybrid will be sold in Japan and Europe first where there is a significant demand and market for metro/urban commuting hybrid cars (the USA segment market for metro commuting cas is smaller ). From the initial reports, it looks like the Prius Concept-C will cost several thousands less than a regular Prius and get about 10 mpg more in the city ( but about the same mpg on the highway) as the regular Prius hatchback.

The Prius Concept-C will represent a challenge to the Honda Insight as a low cost leader for hybrids and a future match for the Hyundai Accent BlueDrive Hybrid (if it ever gets the go ahead from Hyundai's upper management for production).

However, Toyota and Tesla have a joint project to re-introduce the pure electric RAV4 EV1 in the near future but it will not be sold under the Prius brand/family. The battery electric vehicle (BEV) RAV4 will be built in a Canadian factory and it will cost about the same price and have a similar range as the Nissan Leaf. The new resurrected RAV4-EV will have a Tesla power plant and Li-ion power pack. Tom Hanks has a Youtube video on the original Toyota RAV4 EV1 - which uses NiMH batteries if IIRC. The success of this joint venture is mainly in the hands of Tesla ( so lets hope for their success!)

HTH

Walter Lee