Toyota makes 2010 plug-in hybrid pledge

[MelissaB]

Toyota makes 2010 plug-in hybrid pledge

By TOM KRISHER

DETROIT

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to test hundreds of plug-in hybrid vehicles with fleet and commercial customers worldwide by the end of 2010, company executives said Monday.

Plug-in hybrids can be recharged from a regular household outlet and generally have another power source on board to run the vehicles when the batteries become depleted.

The Japanese automaker is working on the necessary lithium-ion battery technology and is partnering with Panasonic to mass produce the batteries and produce its first plug-in, President Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters in Detroit.

Watanabe also said he has encouraged his company's engineers to meet stronger U.S. fuel economy standards before the deadline of 2020, though he gave no specific date.


More :http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8U5OSGO0.htm

[kirby]

1. Call me skeptical.

Like the previous EV vehicles, these will only be available to commercial fleets and not sold to the consumer. There is not an indication or date that it ever will be. Sad.