In a memo sent to the US Senate Finance Committee during their deliberations, Toyota outlined its concerns with the conversion of existing hybrids such as the Prius to plug-in hybrids (PHEV) in the context of proposed incentives to spur PHEV adoption. CalCars published the document.
Toyota’s view, according to Charles Ing, Director, Government Affairs Toyota Motor North America, is that PHEV converters should comply with existing standards governing second-stage manufacturers; that NHTSA and EPA should be required to establish new regulations for the certification of conversions of used vehicles—thereby putting the product liability and warranty risk onto the converter; and that the government should assure that there be no degradation in emissions and vehicle safety before it provides taxpayer incentives for conversion.
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