Toyota not rushing lithium-ion tech, focusing on plug-ins
09-03-07, 08:56 AM
#1
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Toyota not rushing lithium-ion tech, focusing on plug-ins
Toyota not rushing lithium-ion tech, focusing on plug-ins
Posted on Monday 3 September 2007
Toyota admits lithium ion battery technology is still too hazardous to use in its production cars despite GM announcing earlier this year that it expects to have a plug-in hybrid vehicle with lithium batteries by the end of the decade. The Japanese giant doesn’t want to rush out products with lithium batteries and then see them fail once they’ve left the showroom floor.
The biggest factor holding it back is safety fears, revealed Toyota’s executive vice president for R&D Kazuo Okamoto during an interview with Automotive News. Instead, engineers will concentrate on improving the efficiency of current nickel-metal hydride technology. Lithium ion batteries are smaller and lighter than nickel-metal hydride but they tend to overheat and can even catch on fire.
Okamoto wasn’t willing to give a timeline for the introduction of the new batteries, explaining that there are still a lot of problems to solve.
Though lithium-ion batteries are the power source of choice for a new generation of plug-in hybrids, Toyota is still focusing on rolling out the new electric vehicles despite the expected delays in battery technology. The carmaker has just announced the formation of a new partnership with power utility Electricite de France SA (EDF) to develop electricity infrastructure for plug-in vehicles.
Posted on Monday 3 September 2007
Toyota admits lithium ion battery technology is still too hazardous to use in its production cars despite GM announcing earlier this year that it expects to have a plug-in hybrid vehicle with lithium batteries by the end of the decade. The Japanese giant doesn’t want to rush out products with lithium batteries and then see them fail once they’ve left the showroom floor.
The biggest factor holding it back is safety fears, revealed Toyota’s executive vice president for R&D Kazuo Okamoto during an interview with Automotive News. Instead, engineers will concentrate on improving the efficiency of current nickel-metal hydride technology. Lithium ion batteries are smaller and lighter than nickel-metal hydride but they tend to overheat and can even catch on fire.
Okamoto wasn’t willing to give a timeline for the introduction of the new batteries, explaining that there are still a lot of problems to solve.
Though lithium-ion batteries are the power source of choice for a new generation of plug-in hybrids, Toyota is still focusing on rolling out the new electric vehicles despite the expected delays in battery technology. The carmaker has just announced the formation of a new partnership with power utility Electricite de France SA (EDF) to develop electricity infrastructure for plug-in vehicles.
09-03-07, 09:06 AM
#2
Lexus Test Driver
I wouldn't mind a plug in, thing is what happens if you don't have a garage to park your car? If you live in a city and you park your car outside, how will the plug-in work?
09-03-07, 06:50 PM
#3
it wont... but you dont have to use plugin part at all... it is still full hybrid, just like Prius or GS450h...
09-10-07, 08:31 AM
#5
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Toyota testing plug-ins in Paris
Toyota testing plug-ins in Paris
Monday 10 September 2007
Major carmakers are rushing to develop a new generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles including industry giants Toyota and GM, who hope to have the technology ready for sale by the end of the decade. GM seems to have the lead at the moment, forming a partnership with A123Systems back in July to develop new long life lithium-ion batteries. Toyota, meanwhile, has revealed it will rely on older nickel-metal hydride batteries as its initial developments with lithium have proven too dangerous.
To show it’s not completely out of the race, Toyota has announced plans to road-test four plug-in hybrid cars based on modified versions of its Prius petrol-electric hybrid in a partnership with French energy company EDF. Changes to the regular Prius include the addition of a longer lasting battery and a new power socket for charging.
Initial tests have seen the car travel up to 10km and at speeds of 100km/h on a single charge. With a 110V power source, the batteries take roughly three to four hours to fully charge.
Monday 10 September 2007
Major carmakers are rushing to develop a new generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles including industry giants Toyota and GM, who hope to have the technology ready for sale by the end of the decade. GM seems to have the lead at the moment, forming a partnership with A123Systems back in July to develop new long life lithium-ion batteries. Toyota, meanwhile, has revealed it will rely on older nickel-metal hydride batteries as its initial developments with lithium have proven too dangerous.
To show it’s not completely out of the race, Toyota has announced plans to road-test four plug-in hybrid cars based on modified versions of its Prius petrol-electric hybrid in a partnership with French energy company EDF. Changes to the regular Prius include the addition of a longer lasting battery and a new power socket for charging.
Initial tests have seen the car travel up to 10km and at speeds of 100km/h on a single charge. With a 110V power source, the batteries take roughly three to four hours to fully charge.
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09-10-07, 04:00 PM
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09-10-07, 05:12 PM
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09-10-07, 06:16 PM
#10
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You know what I think Toyota needs to do? Active fuel management. GM does it, Chrysler, and now Honda. Take the RX400h for example. On the highway your using an electric motor to power the front wheels and 6 cylinders. Why not cut it down to 3 and boost fuel economy 2-3 mpg. I mean you are running on two systems to propel your wheels there.
09-10-07, 07:28 PM
#11
You know what I think Toyota needs to do? Active fuel management. GM does it, Chrysler, and now Honda. Take the RX400h for example. On the highway your using an electric motor to power the front wheels and 6 cylinders. Why not cut it down to 3 and boost fuel economy 2-3 mpg. I mean you are running on two systems to propel your wheels there.
09-11-07, 06:06 AM
#12
You know what I think Toyota needs to do? Active fuel management. GM does it, Chrysler, and now Honda. Take the RX400h for example. On the highway your using an electric motor to power the front wheels and 6 cylinders. Why not cut it down to 3 and boost fuel economy 2-3 mpg. I mean you are running on two systems to propel your wheels there.
of course RX400h's system is dynamic... it changes all the time what powertrain it is using and at some points, it is not using engine at all.
09-11-07, 08:48 AM
#13
More powerful electric motors, dual VVT-i, Valvematic, VVTi-E...hmm...
09-11-07, 09:09 AM
#15