Toyota Downplays Value Of Plug-In Cars

Plug-in electric cars aren't likely the panacea they're being made out to be by a public eager for alternatives to the traditional gasoline engine, a Toyota Motor Co. engineer said on Friday.

A number of serious hurdles stand between current technology and the reality of getting plug-ins on the road, Justin Ward, an engineer with Toyota's Advanced Technology Vehicles, said to an industry gathering at the annual Management Briefing Seminars. Even if the vehicles do make it to market, he said, data shows a battery-powered plug-in may be no more efficient in reducing carbon dioxide emissions than the gas-electric hybrids on the road today.


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kpaxx - 8/13/2007 1:05:32 PM

+3 Boost

No wonder...yeah let's burn coal so we can power our cars that save the environment. Duuuh!

bimmermike2 - 8/13/2007 8:41:35 PM

+2 Boost

Yes, but in the US 70% comes from burning coal. Way too many treeguggers to go nuclear. We can thank Al Gore and his entourage dating back to 3 mile island. A tiny accident and all the ballsless freaked!

1970toyotamarc - 8/13/2007 3:22:23 PM

+2 Boost

This is typical corporate Toyota.
Hybrids are better than diesels, but they buy a stake in Isuzu.
The Prius doesnt need to be plugged in to charge its batteries, but they test plug-ins.
Toyota opposed California's electric car mandates, but created the RAV4 electric vehicle (and didnt crush them).
Hydrogen vehicles are a myth, but Toyota has several being tested.

The list goes on. I just wait to judge them based on the quality of what they do put out. Not all the spin. Half of these press releases seem to just be to confuse their competitors.

Threepoint1415926 - 8/13/2007 5:54:10 PM

+3 Boost

Hydrogen vehicles are a myth... except ford keeps building and selling them as fleet vehicles?

AE86 - 8/14/2007 12:02:43 AM

+2 Boost

Hybrids are better than diesel? Back in 1980 this statement may have had an element of truth!

johnct - 8/13/2007 6:00:56 PM

+3 Boost

Toyota will realize that you can't be knocked off the top until you reach it.

EnnNorak - 8/13/2007 7:51:46 PM

+2 Boost

Toyota has just proven that their earlier faith in hybrids was misguided. I am totally not sold on hybrids, plug-in or otherwise. The only hybrids that could make any sense at all are those of the plug-in variety and even then, only for strictly urban use and only if the power companies offer lower electricity rates for charging plug-in hybrids during off peak hours.

bimmermike2 - 8/13/2007 8:43:57 PM

+2 Boost

I second that!