Right Lane Cruiser
06-08-2009, 08:33 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg “For many consumers with short commutes of 10 miles or less … a ‘Super Prius’ will be an attractive option.” (http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/toyota-plug-in-hybrids-will-have-limited-appeal/?hp)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Toyota_OEM_PHEV-7_Trial_in_London.jpgJim Motavalli - NYTIMES (http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com) - June 7, 2009
Hesitant or not, automakers will have to invest in this technology. --Ed.
What does Toyota really think about plug-in hybrid cars? It’s probably not a stretch to say the company has mixed feelings. The Japanese automaker was a sponsor of the third annual “Meeting of the Minds” on a broad range of environmental issues in Manhattan last week. Two of its executives made presentations — one backed up with an extensive PowerPoint — to demonstrate the major challenges facing the company as it prepares to lease a fleet of 500 Prius-based range-extended hybrids around the world.
Irv Miller, Toyota’s group vice president of environmental and public affairs, said in New York that after the batteries are depleted on a plug-in hybrid they become a heavy “boat anchor” until the car can be recharged from a wall outlet. He also expressed reservations about achieving the level of battery durability that can be guaranteed with a long-term warranty.
“The dog doesn’t hunt,” Mr. Miller said. “We may be trying to change the world for a very small part of the market. My wife, for instance, drives only seven miles a day, so a plug-in hybrid makes sense for her. She would need to go to a gas station once every other month.”
Bill Reinert, the company’s national manager of advanced technology, brought the PowerPoint. In his presentation and a subsequent interview, he cast doubt on plug-in cars achieving the 100-m.p.g. claimed by some aftermarket conversions. The extra weight resulting from larger battery packs, he said, means that... http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/toyota-plug-in-hybrids-will-have-limited-appeal/?hp
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Toyota_OEM_PHEV-7_Trial_in_London.jpgJim Motavalli - NYTIMES (http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com) - June 7, 2009
Hesitant or not, automakers will have to invest in this technology. --Ed.
What does Toyota really think about plug-in hybrid cars? It’s probably not a stretch to say the company has mixed feelings. The Japanese automaker was a sponsor of the third annual “Meeting of the Minds” on a broad range of environmental issues in Manhattan last week. Two of its executives made presentations — one backed up with an extensive PowerPoint — to demonstrate the major challenges facing the company as it prepares to lease a fleet of 500 Prius-based range-extended hybrids around the world.
Irv Miller, Toyota’s group vice president of environmental and public affairs, said in New York that after the batteries are depleted on a plug-in hybrid they become a heavy “boat anchor” until the car can be recharged from a wall outlet. He also expressed reservations about achieving the level of battery durability that can be guaranteed with a long-term warranty.
“The dog doesn’t hunt,” Mr. Miller said. “We may be trying to change the world for a very small part of the market. My wife, for instance, drives only seven miles a day, so a plug-in hybrid makes sense for her. She would need to go to a gas station once every other month.”
Bill Reinert, the company’s national manager of advanced technology, brought the PowerPoint. In his presentation and a subsequent interview, he cast doubt on plug-in cars achieving the 100-m.p.g. claimed by some aftermarket conversions. The extra weight resulting from larger battery packs, he said, means that... http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/toyota-plug-in-hybrids-will-have-limited-appeal/?hp