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http://news.windingroad.com/safety/japan-report-toyota-postponing-lithium-ion-prius/


Toyota is postponing the use of lithium-ion batteries in the next Prius, according to Japan’s Nikkan Kogyo newspaper, citing safety concerns.

Lithium-ion batteries are big in consumer electronics: compact, light, and packing a sizable storage capacity, they can also bring trouble. Remember the exploding PC battery scandal that rocked Sony last year?

Compared to the nickel-metal hydride battery pack in the current Prius, lithium-ion would be the neater, more technologically advanced solution, and in Toyotaspeak are “close to the level at which they can be mounted in cars.” But, the paper says, Toyota has put caution before innovation this time round… and being mindful of Toyota’s quality issues and soaring recall rate of late, maybe that’s a sound choice.

http://i11.tinypic.com/5y8jp7l.jpg

Hi Sledge:

___This is 100% counter to what Toyota exec’s have been saying for the past 2 or 3 years now? Hmmm. Maybe their Li-Ion Chemistry is not as good as the American’s which leaves the domestics with a better shot for a HQ HEV/PHEV/EV or even more time to wallow around in the mire before dieing?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Whoa... this is not good. I've been pining for a Li-Ion-based PHEV Prius for a while now, and have already started budgeting for one that I was expecting to see next summer or the Spring of 2009.

As a total Toyota fanboi this puts me in a bind. If Toyota fails to produce a decent PHEV by the end of 2009, but Honda does, then I guess I'll be a Honda owner. If Hyundai does it then I'll be a Hyundai owner.

However, what if those companies fail to deliver, but Ford or GM do? /shudder

I don't think Honda is going to be first with a PHEV, as much as I'd like them to.

Wonder if GM will have these problems on their Volt?

Yikes! I hope this is just hearsay! :(

I was looking forward to seeing reviews of LION powered hybrids and now it looks as though it is going to be pushed out even further? :confused:

I think they should just put them in a fire-proof container and go with it. I would think that a temperature monitoring system ought to be able to catch a severe increase in temperature and allow the car to do something reasonable to protect itself. Come on! Somebody innovate this into production, already!!! :mad:

From what I heard the battery problem was a manufacturing problem exclusive to Sony. So if they stay away from what Sony used and find someone outside, they'll be just fine.