Plug-in Competition Heating Up - July 28th, 2007
It’s been rumored for some time that Toyota has been working on a plug-in version of the Prius, a fact the automaker confirmed last Wednesday. Unfortunately, however, the Toyota Plug-in HV isn’t headed for public consumption.
The vehicle uses low energy nickel-metal hydride batteries. (Most folks are betting on lithium-ion as the battery of choice for plug-ins.) And it will only run eight miles on a single charge of the trunk load of batteries.
The plug-in will be tested over a three-year period in both the United States and Europe on public roads. The plan is to let this prototype gather valuable, real-life data the company can channel into future developments.
It’s just a matter of time until someone gets a plug-in market ready. GM and Ford are also at work on the concept. GM showed off a prototype of a plug-in Chevy Volt in January and Ford is tinkering with a plug-in Escape Hybrid SUV.
Although Ford has given a window of five to ten years for plug-ins to roll into showrooms, the competition is heating up. If an automaker can bring the concept to realization with a low price tag and decent performance many Americans are ready to try a plug-in as an “around town” car. This is definitely an area to watch. We’re betting it won’t take five years for the first viable plug-in to go on sale.
Posted on July 28th, 2007 by Shorty
Filed under: alternative fuels |
