The next Prius which will launch in 2012 will feature high performance lithium-ion batteries that will allow it to travel more than 60 km per liter of gas (1.6 liters/100 km or 141 mpg-US), instead of the current model with its nickel-metal hydride battery which travels 38km per liter (2.6 liters/100 km or 89 mpg-US).