In a reversal of future plans to produce EV's, Toyota has given in to the obvious momentum the EV community is flowing in. This is a smart move, being that GM is behind the hybrid curve but leading in EV it's product portfolio, Toyota realize it is better to come to the party midway than too late.
The Volt is GM’s effort to leapfrog the Prius, and ever since this site began, Toyota has publicly remained very conservative about plans to produce plug-in cars.
Previously they have only openly committed to produce about 500 plug-in Priuses for global fleet testing by the end of this year.
According to the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, that’s all about to change.
Toyota has now committed to mass producing plug-in hybrid cars in 2012. These cars will apparently be plug-in hybrids, not pure electrics or EREVs. The company intends to produce from 20,000 to 30,000 in the first year. They are expected to be able to drive from 12.4 to 18.6 miles on battery power alone. Of course like most plug-in hybrid designs, the gas engine could operate even within that range when needed for power.
Toyota has already well-established a joint venture with Panasonic for the production of lithium-ion batteries to power these cars.
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