Toyota's 2008 Takeover Plans - Lithium, too

[Prianista]

Toyota also said it was preparing to start mass producing lithium-ion batteries for low-emission vehicles. [more]

[Tideland Prius]

the link doesn't work.

[Prianista]

I believe I've fixed the link. Please try again.

[Tideland Prius]

Yep, it works

[daniel]

From the linked article:

Lithium-ion batteries will not be used in the Prius, on sale for a decade and the most popular hybrid on the market, according to Toyota.

The lithium-ion battery will be used in a plug-in hybrid, which would recharge from a regular home socket, and travel longer as an electric vehicle than the Prius. Toyota has started tests on its plug-in hybrid, but has not shown a model using the new battery.

Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto, who oversees technology, said Toyota had developed the lithium-ion battery to a level that it is almost ready for mass production, although that won't start until sometime after next year.

This is the first substantive information on the subject I've seen in some time. Thanks for posting this, Prianista.

I had been speculating that the Prius name plate would be Toyota's "vehicle" (pun intended) for it's latest technology, for some time to come, changing with the new technology. This makes it look like the Prius will never be a PHEV, but that Toyota is working on a brand new model that will be. That's the car I want. A proper PHEV from an automaker that puts an emphasis on quality.

[apriusfan]

Originally Posted by daniel

...I had been speculating that the Prius name plate would be Toyota's "vehicle" (pun intended) for it's latest technology, for some time to come, changing with the new technology. This makes it look like the Prius will never be a PHEV, but that Toyota is working on a brand new model that will be. That's the car I want. A proper PHEV from an automaker that puts an emphasis on quality.

Interesting. I too had thought that the Prius would be the distribution model for new technology. I wonder what format the EV will take? Larger footprint (like RAV4EV)? Or, something more along the Camry size? If Toyota wants to pull ahead of GM, something along the lines of either a Camry or a cross-over SUV would certainly be the ticket. Maybe they will call it the GoAhead?

[daniel]

Originally Posted by apriusfan

Interesting. I too had thought that the Prius would be the distribution model for new technology. I wonder what format the EV will take? Larger footprint (like RAV4EV)? Or, something more along the Camry size? If Toyota wants to pull ahead of GM, something along the lines of either a Camry or a cross-over SUV would certainly be the ticket. Maybe they will call it the GoAhead?

They're not talking about an EV. They're talking about a plug-in hybrid. I hate SUVs. And I don't need anything as big as a Camry. The Prius is the perfect size and body type for me. Not too big, but plenty of storage space with the liftback and the fold-down rear seats. I'd be happy with a Corolla-size liftback, but I'd settle for a Camry-size liftback. I'd buy a sedan, but would not be happy with that style. I probably would not buy an SUV even if it was a PHEV.

[apriusfan]

Originally Posted by daniel

They're not talking about an EV. They're talking about a plug-in hybrid. I hate SUVs. And I don't need anything as big as a Camry. The Prius is the perfect size and body type for me. Not too big, but plenty of storage space with the liftback and the fold-down rear seats. I'd be happy with a Corolla-size liftback, but I'd settle for a Camry-size liftback. I'd buy a sedan, but would not be happy with that style. I probably would not buy an SUV even if it was a PHEV.

Granted that they are not talking about an EV for the moment. But how do you think that Toyota will be able to meet a corporate average of 35 mpg when they are wanting to get into the full size truck segment? Even the most optimistic projections for hybrid trucks are stuck at the 20 - 25 mpg point. Dial in a bunch of EVs and there is a cushion that is large enough to sell the Tundra (or its follow-on equivalent).

You may not like SUVs, but your preferences do not track the rest of the market in the U.S. Toyota is first and foremost wanting to be the dominant market participant in the U.S. (they are not shy about their goal of surpassing GM in sales in 2008). The only way to balance the objective of passing GM in sales and yet meet the future 35 mpg corporate average requirement is with EVs in their product mix.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by apriusfan

Granted that they are not talking about an EV for the moment. But how do you think that Toyota will be able to meet a corporate average of 35 mpg when they are wanting to get into the full size truck segment? Even the most optimistic projections for hybrid trucks are stuck at the 20 - 25 mpg point. Dial in a bunch of EVs and there is a cushion that is large enough to sell the Tundra (or its follow-on equivalent).

Toyota no longer has to make small cars to offset large cars or small trucks to offset the Tundra. That is the big misconception about both the 2006 change to Truck CAFE and the new 35 mpg CAFE requirements. Both split vehicles into categories based on "Footprint" Each of these categories is given increasingly stringent requirements but the categories are never averaged. What is the end result? Manufacturers discontinue smaller vehicles because they are no longer needed for CAFE. This is already started to happen with trucks. Ford will be discontinuing the Ranger leaving it only with the F-Series. The end result of these CAFE changes will be a drop in real average fuel economy.

Also CAFE is not based on the EPA's new 2008 fuel economy standards but the original standard from the 70's.

[malorn]

Originally Posted by Prianista

Toyota also said it was preparing to start mass producing lithium-ion batteries for low-emission vehicles. [more]

Wasn't it toyota who was very recently claiming GM's plans for lithium batteried vehicles were not the way in the future?