Green car aficionados are waiting anxiously for the first plug-in hybrid to reach U.S. shores.  Toyota hasn't brought us one yet, but it's getting closer.

Autoblog reports, "Toyota has been testing plug-in versions of its Prius hybrid sedan on public roads in Japan for quite some time," and a few of and the cars "have made it Stateside for testing, as well. Now Toyota has begun testing its PHEV in the U.K."   The cars will be driven by employees of a British energy firm.  "Both its capabilities and the cost savings to run the PHEV will be recorded and hopefully provide some sort of useful data to Toyota."

Why London and not here?  The BBC reports, "Electricity company EDF Energy is erecting "juice points", or electric charging points, across London. And it is not alone. At this summer's London motor show, Mayor Boris Johnson vowed to start rolling out charging points over the next couple of years, and the government is eager to support a gradual shift from oil-based to electric transport."

There is no launch date for a plug-in Prius in the U.S. yet.

In fact, you should be cautious of anyone who acts as if there is.  Jalopnik recently reported that Magnussen's Toyota in Palo Alto, California found itself "deluged with requests for a plug-in Prius hybrid; knowing Toyota was working on such a vehicle, Magnussen's decided to take "deposits" for plug-in Prii, despite the fact that Toyota had not yet announced any timetable for retail sales."  Toyota's corporate office has forced the dealership to return the deposits, since no such vehicle is planned for sale in the U.S. yet.

Research the latest in green cars with U.S. News' car rankings and reviews.