Li-ion? Puhleeze. Toyota working on next-next-gen batteries

My mom just bought a dark green SC430. It's actually a cute car for a lady. It rides a lot more harshly then i expected a Lexus to, though.

I took it for a spin once just to see what it was like. The transmission is excellent - it provides strong acceleration, but it shifts quickly to keep the revs down, which saves gas, I suppose.

One thing surprised me: the engine redlines at 6,000 rpm (the pushrod V8 in my Impala SS revs higher), and while the handling was stable and predictable, the steering feel/effort are awful.

I told her to buy an SL instead, but she's actually impressed by the Lexus badge (women!) and she got a really good deal on the SC.

— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 6:27:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Obama08...you should keep your head down...that shot crossed your bow at about 2inches.

+1 pushrod

— Spectator (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 9:27:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Until there is a sudden rise in demand for Zinc, then there will be a spike in price.

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 1:23:38 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

remember the thread, which pointed out without the economies of scale ONLY TOYOTA could generate, the lithium-ion batteries WILL NEVER be economically viable for GM or anybody else short of luxury makers?

maybe toyota has decided to play hard ball, going this route and leaving everyone else even FURTHER BEHIND.

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 5:15:51 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

'economies of scale ONLY TOYOTA could generate...'

How is this possible when GM builds and sells as many (arguably a few more or a few less) than Toyota??? GM buys just as many parts and supplies as Toyota, so how is Toyota able to generate an economy of scale that GM is not?

— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 6:13:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

NOBODY, least of all gm, produces as many HYBRIDS.

so no one else will be ORDERING Li-ion batteries in the numbers only toyota can/will.

if toyota SKIPS Li-ion and goes with zinc-air, the gm Volt will be DEAD before it even gets to showrooms. (unless gm wants to subsidize the high battery costs.)

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 3/10/2008 9:27:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

'...it's newest battery technology, whatever it may be.'

This article contains no actual information. You lure me in promising a story about Toyota's newest battery technology, and then i get 'whatever it may be.'

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

— pushrod27 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 6:32:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Sorry about your sex life.Slow witted one

— autopro (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 4:33:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Anything has got to be better than those lead-acid batteries that make a hybrid Camry, for example, weigh 400 lbs more than a standard Camry. Only useful in "Golf cart" mode in the city.

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 7:32:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Cool, but the air zinc batteries will be quite expensive. And it will take some years to develop it. Looks like for now, Toyota will provide it's nickel ion batteries.

— farabira1 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 10:01:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

SPECULATION! And a made up story to distract from the reality that they are losing the war on Lithium Ion Batteries.

— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 12:51:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

They only spend 10 million a day on R@D.

— autopro (View Profile)

Posted on 3/7/2008 4:38:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

What is Toyota not working on?..

— asiancars233 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/9/2008 1:41:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0