Toyota Moves Up Plans for Plug-ins

As part of their introduction of their concept electric vehicle, the FT-EV, Toyota has updated the public on their future plans for hybrid and electric car technology. Like Ford, they used the Detroit Auto Show as a launching pad for their electric plans in a bid to reassure the public they are doing their best to move to electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid cars.

In summary, Toyota will launch as many as 10 new hybrid models by early 2010s, including the third generation Prius and Lexus HS 250h in an effort to sell 1 million gas-electric hybrids a year.

They are also moving up their release date on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) from 2010 to 2009. Mind, that's only going to be the hand-out of 500 plug-in Prius to fleet owners, 150 in the US. They moved the date up in an obvious response to the Chevy Volt release date of 2010.

The really good news for those who follow hybrid technology is how Toyota will use lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery packs in the plug-ins, and Toyota is also pointing out third-generation Prius is designed to use nickel metal hydride batteries, but can use the Li-Ion battery packs. Which means we may see Li-Ion in a Prius sooner rather than later.