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Tuesday January 15, 2008
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DETROIT--Toyota will have a plug-in hybrid by 2010 that gets most of its energy from an electric outlet in the garage. Or commercial garage.
Plug-in hybrids promise the ability to drive initially just on electricity--5 to 50 miles, depending on how many batteries are in the vehicle and how good they are--before switching to a combustion engine. They can be recharged in a couple of hours. At this week's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Toyota had a plug-in Prius test vehicle roving the streets of Detroit, but its two nickel-metal hydride batteries were good for a bit less than 10 miles.
At this year's NAIAS, Toyota announced plans for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles on multiple fronts. Toss them against the wall and at least some will stick. They include (most are statements of direction, not vehicles you can drive in 2008):
- A test fleet of some 400 plug-in hybrids by 2010, most likely for use in commercial fleets and not consumer vehicles.
- More Toyota and Lexus hybrid models within the next year, with a commitment to unveil one of each at the 2009 Detroit auto show. The company has already sold more than a million hybrids worldwide.
- Low-emissions diesel engines on the Toyota Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV.
Posted By:
Bill Howard
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