Japan Certifies Toyota Plug-in Hybrid for Public-road Tests

[Cheap!]

A prototype hybrid car that can be recharged using an ordinary home electric outlet could be on streets as early as this month, sources said Wednesday.

Toyota Motor Corp. is likely to get the green light from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to make test-runs of the vehicle on public roads, the sources said.

The company will be the first Japanese carmaker to win approval from the ministry for plug-in hybrid tests, giving it a jump-start on other manufacturers eager to get ahead in the burgeoning hybrid market.



Link

News Link

URL http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/...0707200126.html

[jstack]

I didn't know they would need some kind of approval. They have already had pure electrics on the road so it's odd they would have to wait.

At least it's good to see this moving forward. There are rumors they have some PHEV vehicles here in Peroria AZ that have been on the road testing. At least they appear to have an outlet on the back of a otherwise normal looking prius near the Toyota proving grounds.

Lets all pray the testing is good and we can join in the cleaner fun soon. I'd buy onje in a second from Toyota or any other maker at a 10K premium over the standard full hybrid.

[Tideland Prius]

halleluia!

[GatorJoe]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jul 20 2007, 04:04 PM) [snapback]482444[/snapback]</div>

halleluia!
[/b]

anyone know how much power these things will drain on the avg household because if it's like running the oven or whatever, then it's not really "greener" when you consider the increased amt of electricity it is drawing.

it may be cheaper for the end user but not overall good for the environment unless it doesnt use much juice..

[Cheap!]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GatorJoe @ Jul 20 2007, 04:13 PM) [snapback]482451[/snapback]</div>

anyone know how much power these things will drain on the avg household because if it's like running the oven or whatever, then it's not really "greener" when you consider the increased amt of electricity it is drawing.

it may be cheaper for the end user but not overall good for the environment unless it doesnt use much juice..
[/b]

In fact I do. My PHEV draws 4KW a day and that is about $.32 per day on my electric bill. Now this Plug-ins that Toyota is working on may use up to twice that much. When you convert it, it comes to an equivalent of about 2 cents per mile, or 75 cent per gallon of gas, depending on how you look at it. Now those are just estimates but they are good ones.

[joe1347]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Jul 20 2007, 05:21 PM) [snapback]482457[/snapback]</div>

In fact I do. My PHEV draws 4KW a day and that is about $.32 per day on my electric bill. Now this Plug-ins that Toyota is working on may use up to twice that much. When you convert it, it comes to an equivalent of about 2 cents per mile, or 75 cent per gallon of gas, depending on how you look at it. Now those are just estimates but they are good ones.
[/b]

For some reason, the message that plug-in hybrids offer the equivalent of gas for less $1 a gallon just doesn't seem to get much political or consumer traction. Given the current oil-soaked political Administration, I can understand the lack of political traction. But for the car owning public, for some reason the media hasn't picked up on the financial benefits of plug-in hybrids. It seems like the general public associates ultra-fuel efficient vehicles (PHEV) with only the tree hugger sissy types that want to save a polar bear or two. Of course, the same group of Car owners that look upon the tree huggers with disdain, will complain in the next breath about the high cost of gas and just don't understand that a PHEV will offer the equivalent of 'cheap gas'.

[geodosch]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(joe1347 @ Jul 20 2007, 06:13 PM) [snapback]482482[/snapback]</div>

For some reason, the message that plug-in hybrids offer the equivalent of gas for less $1 a gallon just doesn't seem to get much political or consumer traction. Given the current oil-soaked political Administration, I can understand the lack of political traction. But for the car owning public, for some reason the media hasn't picked up on the financial benefits of plug-in hybrids. [...]
[/b]

Watch the movie "Who Killed the Electric Car" (it is cited often on PC). I'm not typically a conspiracy-minded type, but they really make a case for how different factions worked to sway both the media and public opinion regarding electric cars. Much of which no doubt is a factor in some of the anti-hybrid sentiment that currently exists.

[MikeSF]

Anyone think politicians are going to run around scared passing new laws if these things hit the road in force? After all all that gasoline tax will soon go away! I know there was a lot of serious talk about a per-mile tax on cars as hybrids hit it big, now we want to conserve more and WAMMO! lets tax the consumer some other way.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MikeSF @ Jul 20 2007, 06:07 PM) [snapback]482592[/snapback]</div>

Anyone think politicians are going to run around scared passing new laws if these things hit the road in force? After all all that gasoline tax will soon go away! I know there was a lot of serious talk about a per-mile tax on cars as hybrids hit it big, now we want to conserve more and WAMMO! lets tax the consumer some other way.
[/b]

Shows you were the money's really going to.... their pockets! haha

[danatt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoDosch @ Jul 20 2007, 07:40 PM) [snapback]482528[/snapback]</div>

Watch the movie "Who Killed the Electric Car" (it is cited often on PC). I'm not typically a conspiracy-minded type, but they really make a case for how different factions worked to sway both the media and public opinion regarding electric cars. Much of which no doubt is a factor in some of the anti-hybrid sentiment that currently exists.
[/b]

I agree. "Who Killed the Electric Car" is a must see for anyone who drives an automobile.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/

I also highly recommend Sherry Boschert's book "Plug-In Hybrids: The Cars that will Recharge America".
http://www.sherryboschert.com/

Following the April '07 NY Auto Show, NPR's Science Friday did a piece on "Green Cars" which started with an interview with a GM executive on their introduction of the Chevy Volt concept PHEV. They then did a follow-up interview with Sherry Boschert and Dennis Semanaitis (Engineering Editor for Road & Track) to get their scoop on it. It's definitely worth checking out. You can download an mp3 of the program at the Science Friday website. (I've found the best way to do this is to right-mouse-click on the "mp3 download" link in the "Archived Audio" box at the upper right of the webpage, and then use the "Save Target As..." option)
http://www.sciencefriday.com/pages/2007/Ap...ur2_040607.html