Toyota starts testing new plug-in hybrid

Toyota has announced today that it has developed a new plug-in hybrid car based on the Prius and has started testing it in Japan with US tests to follow soon after. Toyota’s vice president in charge of powertrain development, Masatami Takimoto, revealed back in May that commercial production of plug-in hybrids is at least several years away but this latest announcement shows that it may not be too far away.

Engineers have increased battery capacity of the new car, which means it’ll be able to travel longer distances on electric power alone than previous prototypes. The vehicle has a cruising range of only 13km on a single charge and its trunk is completely filled with battery packs.
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Will_ - 7/25/2007 7:41:52 AM

+2 Boost

I want to see what kind of mileage they get out of one charge. I think the Chevy Volt concept is an interesting point of discussion here.

Anthony - 7/25/2007 9:27:16 AM

+1 Boost

An electric vehicle will not be the answer. We heard it from Toyota themselves: electric vehicles require nearly triple the amount of batteries that current hybrids due in order to reach efficiency.

paul3230 - 7/25/2007 1:33:34 PM

+1 Boost

But it is the answer if we want to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. I thought this was the whole point?

paul3230 - 7/25/2007 1:34:30 PM

+1 Boost

And just because Toyota says so doesn't mean it's "they way it is" There are other car companies in the world ya know..

SupraNeverBack - 7/25/2007 2:05:33 PM

+1 Boost

One of obstacle is Big Oil Chevron controls almost all the patents of NiMH battery. NiMH battery produced by Toyota/Panasonic has a lot of limits. Hopefully, they don't get their hands into new batteries like Lithium batteries. But I think Big Oils will do what they can to delay the coming of plug-in EVs.

SupraNeverBack - 7/25/2007 12:27:43 PM

+1 Boost

Plug-in Hybrids are coming... but I don't think people are ready to accept this big revolution yet. The changes they bring will be too big to digest.