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Toyota Promises A Plug In Hybrid For 2010

Agent009 submitted on 6/11/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 1:43:23 PM

24 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.freep.com

Toyota is introducing a plug-in hybrid with next-generation lithium-ion batteries in Japan, the U.

S. and Europe by 2010, under a widespread strategy to be green outlined today.

The ecological gas-electric vehicles, which can be recharged from a home electrical outlet, will target leasing customers, Toyota Motor Corp. said. Such plug-in hybrids can run longer as an electric vehicle than regular hybrids, and are cleaner.

Lithium-ion batteries, now common in laptops, produce more power and are smaller than nickel-metal hydride batteries used in hybrids now.




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Toyota Promises A Plug In Hybrid For 2010

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Agent009

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

— Agent009 (View Profile)


User Comments

_43LE

I guess that the rumors that said that they weren't going to do it were just that, rumors.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 2:11:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

montyz81

Most rumors have a bit of truth to them. My guess is they didn't think gas prices would get this back and they could continue with their existing Hybrid strategy.

— montyz81 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 3:24:29 PM | | Votes: 2   

Brembo

Why did they took away the plug-in electric before?

— Brembo (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 2:44:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Brembo

I got a delorean with the flux capacitor in my garage. LOL

— Brembo (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 6:35:22 PM | | Votes: 1   

kpaxx

Well there goes the environment...burn coal to power cars...I guess toyota does not want to be a green company.

— kpaxx (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 3:31:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

cyco

It is kind of funny, this 'carbon footprint' thing. Plug-in hybrids just shift wieght from one foot to the other... no real improvement, but I guess it sounds good, so people will eat 'em up.

— cyco (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 4:27:06 PM | | Votes: 1   

RealitySmack

Electricity is THE BEST way of going green!

Because you can control how electricity is delivered and that doesn't have to be coal! It could be Solar, Wind, Water, Nuclear, etc... So, that's exactly why electricity is THE BEST method over some of the other ones that other Automakers are heading towards.

— RealitySmack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 8:14:58 PM | | Votes: 6   

LexusKindaGuy12

the point is the car will be doing its part. now its time for the energy companies to do theirs and switch to other forms of generating power.

I know as a PGE Customer in California, that by 2020, 70% of their energy will come from CO2 emmission free sources. yay. that means solar, wind, and possible wave motion to generate electricity

— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 5:38:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

quik37silver

Absolutely! In the US alone, there are 72 million cars inefficiently converting fuel into energy and spewing tons of pollution! Let us assume the collective pollution of 72 million cars can be represnted as "A", and the current pollution of power plants being "B". Now, if you are able to instantly convert all cars into zero-emission electric cars, you may think that the power generation plants would now shift into pollotion B+A, but in actuality, it will be more like (B + x*A) where x equals .3 or .5 or .7, for example. So from the getgo, we would be ahead of the game. It is easier to control and enhance the efficiency of a few hundred power plants than it is to control the efficiency of 72 million cars and a few hundred power plants. Then, as LexusKindaGuy mentioned, it is up to the power plants to make the transition to renewable sources. So, I'm all for plug-in hybrids and pure electric cars!

If you haven't already done so, you need to rent the documentary film, "Who Killed the Electric Car", it is very fascinating and will move you! Poor EV1...

The lithium-ion plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt is also due out in 2010. Bring more to market! Yes, Yes, Competition!! Thank goodness for the rising gas prices, because it gets these automakers out of their comfortable cookie-cutter, lack luster, innovation-absent mentalities and forces them to push the envelope on what is possible and best for our environment. At least we're not paying $8/gallon like in Europe, but a part of me sallivates over the 16 cents a gallon they are paying in Iraq/Iran/SaudiArabia. Oh well, not here, so hmmm, I've concluded my next car will be a hybrid or electric or fuel-cell... hurry up, I want one already! I pay $50 to fill up my 4 cyl Honda Prelude (24mpg) ... Ack!

— quik37silver (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 6:54:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

LexusKindaGuy12

okay you guys arent happy with electric cars.

thats why hybrids make so much sense, since you dont have to charge them.

— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 7:24:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Agent63

I don't like the idea of plugging it in to charge. I don't think consumers will want that inconvenience. The one right now is perfectly fine.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 7:38:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

RealitySmack

How is that inconvenient? In fact, it's more convenient because you can refuel/recharge at home and not at some gas station.

— RealitySmack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 8:18:13 PM | | Votes: 2   

LexusKindaGuy12

i can see hat agent is saying though. you probably have to install some sort of machine in your garage to charge the car to convert the standard outlet to the cars voltage.

i wonder what the range on that thing is.

— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/11/2008 10:33:47 PM | | Votes: 3   

Agent63

It all boils down to how often you have to recharge it.

It is an inconvenience if you have to get up and go and have it plugged in. It can also be an annoyance.

Tell that to the GS & LS owners who will want to have to charge their own car. It's just not going to happen. You don't pay that much for a car to have you do it yourself. The technology should do it on its own. You would be surprised on how lazy Lexus owners are. I can't speak for other cities but in my city I hear stories from the shop tech's that the customers can't even walk a block down to a coffee shop but would rather be driven there while they wait for their car to be serviced. I have seen it because I see them get driven while I walk in the nice sunny weather...

Just an example

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/12/2008 7:56:17 AM | | Votes: 1   

thetruth01

Toyota is planning on offering the option of purchasing either PHEVs or HEVs. That's a major difference between them and the Volt. They realize that it is not practical for everyone to plug in their vehicles. Someone in an apartment in NYC should do well with the regular Prius. A homeowner in the Bay Area who can plug in his vehicle at night and uses (the relatively clean) PG&E would be wiser to get the PHEV.

PHEVs and EREVS (vaporware Volt) cannot solve all the problems, but in the right scenario they can provide a close to ideal solution. For others the basic hybrid is more ideal.

— thetruth01 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/12/2008 11:51:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

truckmen

Toyota is bringing lithium Ion batteries to the market? Why? What ever hapened to the new batteries that out last lithium Ion by 5 times! This car is slowly going in the right direction but not fast enough! For an example check out PML! Now they are on the cutting edge!

— truckmen (View Profile)

Posted on 6/12/2008 7:34:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

ChicaneShooter

surely you're aware it takes ANY new technology a little time for DEVELOPMENT and testing? plus debugging, and ramping production? not to mention producing in VOLUME?

ya gotta crawl before you can walk, to say nothing of run.

while toyota will soon launch their THIRD generation prius, how many car makers have yet to sell their own FIRST generation hybrid?

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 6/15/2008 3:57:10 AM | | Votes: 1   

truckmen

Yes you have stated the truth although the company Pml has done a very good job at making a hybrid, So good in fact that it makes hybrids for the military! I can imagine if it does a contract for the military it must be reliable. Any yes for the big auto industry Toyota is definatly leading the way, or should I say still 20 years behind PML.

— truckmen (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 12:56:11 AM | | Votes: 1   

truckmen

This car is dated even before it is released! There is nothing that hasn't been done here before. There has to be a consperacy theory to allowing efficient tech to the masses.

— truckmen (View Profile)

Posted on 6/14/2008 7:30:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

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