List of Computer Simulations
Toyota plug-in hybrid
Toyota begins testing of new plug-in hybrid
Automaker says better batteries needed for mass production
By YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press
Posted Thursday, July 26, 2007
Reporters in Tokyo get into a pair of Toyota's new Plug-in HV test vehicles before test rides
Wednesday. The Japanese automaker said it plans road tests in Europe and the U.S., too, but
wouldn't say when.
.
TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for
public road tests in Japan and is planning tests for the U.S. and Europe.
Plug-in hybrids, whose batteries can be recharged via a standard wall outlet, also are being
developed by other major automakers, including General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co.
Like most hybrids now on sale, which are powered by electric motors and gasoline engines,
the new model -- called Toyota Plug-in HV -- also gets recharged by converting energy from
braking and when the wheels spin.
But the advantage of the plug-in variety is that it runs longer on electricity than regular
hybrids. Electric cars use no gas and emit no pollution.
Masatami Takimoto, the Toyota executive in charge of technology, declined to say when
Toyota will bring a plug-in hybrid to market. Innovation in battery technology is needed, he
said.
The Plug-in HV displayed Wednesday runs on the same nickel-metal hydride battery as the
Prius and has a cruising range of 8 miles on just electricity. Prius has a cruising range of just
1.9 miles as an electric vehicle, according to Toyota. Takimoto said tests will help in deciding
the range consumers want.
The maximum speed of Plug-in HV is 62 mph as an electric vehicle. The batteries require
about 1.5 hours to recharge at 200 volts and three or four hours at 100 volts.
In a short test ride, the vehicle zoomed along a course as a quiet electric car as long as the
driver didn't accelerate quickly. When the driver suddenly stepped on the gas pedal, the car
effortlessly switched on its gas engine.
Mass production of plug-ins is so far being held back by costs and battery technology that
limit the vehicles' range. Manufacturers are racing to bring the technology to market as
consumers seek alternatives to traditional engines and high gasoline prices.
Masanao Ozaki, an expert who writes about energy and the environment, said it is still
unclear which automaker may be ahead in plug-in hybrids, and the range for Toyota's plug-in
was too short to be a practical option.
"The regular hybrid may even be better for the environment," he said. "The advantage of a
plug-in hybrid is that it uses electricity from homes. But utilities predominantly use fossil
fuels to produce electricity for homes."
Toyota, which introduced the Prius in 1997, has the advantage of 10 years of experience in
selling hybrid technology.
It now dominates the hybrid market, with several other hybrid models, including Camry and
Lexus models. It has set a target of selling a million hybrids a year sometime after 2010.
Toyota said in June its cumulative sales of hybrids passed 1 million vehicles, a landmark for
the automaker.
General Motors is developing the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and says it hopes it can reach
showrooms by 2010.
Ford has been testing plug-in hybrids based on the Escape sport-utility vehicle, for one, but
has not said when it plans to start mass-producing them.
Next
Toyota plug-in hybrid
Toyota begins testing of new plug-in hybrid
Automaker says better batteries needed for mass production
By YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press
Posted Thursday, July 26, 2007
Reporters in Tokyo get into a pair of Toyota's new Plug-in HV test vehicles before test rides
Wednesday. The Japanese automaker said it plans road tests in Europe and the U.S., too, but
wouldn't say when.
.
TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for
public road tests in Japan and is planning tests for the U.S. and Europe.
Plug-in hybrids, whose batteries can be recharged via a standard wall outlet, also are being
developed by other major automakers, including General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co.
Like most hybrids now on sale, which are powered by electric motors and gasoline engines,
the new model -- called Toyota Plug-in HV -- also gets recharged by converting energy from
braking and when the wheels spin.
But the advantage of the plug-in variety is that it runs longer on electricity than regular
hybrids. Electric cars use no gas and emit no pollution.
Masatami Takimoto, the Toyota executive in charge of technology, declined to say when
Toyota will bring a plug-in hybrid to market. Innovation in battery technology is needed, he
said.
The Plug-in HV displayed Wednesday runs on the same nickel-metal hydride battery as the
Prius and has a cruising range of 8 miles on just electricity. Prius has a cruising range of just
1.9 miles as an electric vehicle, according to Toyota. Takimoto said tests will help in deciding
the range consumers want.
The maximum speed of Plug-in HV is 62 mph as an electric vehicle. The batteries require
about 1.5 hours to recharge at 200 volts and three or four hours at 100 volts.
In a short test ride, the vehicle zoomed along a course as a quiet electric car as long as the
driver didn't accelerate quickly. When the driver suddenly stepped on the gas pedal, the car
effortlessly switched on its gas engine.
Mass production of plug-ins is so far being held back by costs and battery technology that
limit the vehicles' range. Manufacturers are racing to bring the technology to market as
consumers seek alternatives to traditional engines and high gasoline prices.
Masanao Ozaki, an expert who writes about energy and the environment, said it is still
unclear which automaker may be ahead in plug-in hybrids, and the range for Toyota's plug-in
was too short to be a practical option.
"The regular hybrid may even be better for the environment," he said. "The advantage of a
plug-in hybrid is that it uses electricity from homes. But utilities predominantly use fossil
fuels to produce electricity for homes."
Toyota, which introduced the Prius in 1997, has the advantage of 10 years of experience in
selling hybrid technology.
It now dominates the hybrid market, with several other hybrid models, including Camry and
Lexus models. It has set a target of selling a million hybrids a year sometime after 2010.
Toyota said in June its cumulative sales of hybrids passed 1 million vehicles, a landmark for
the automaker.
General Motors is developing the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and says it hopes it can reach
showrooms by 2010.
Ford has been testing plug-in hybrids based on the Escape sport-utility vehicle, for one, but
has not said when it plans to start mass-producing them.
Next
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
