Toyota's lithium contradictions and the third generation Prius
Will it be lithium powered?Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota's top guy, has been very bullish regarding lithium batteries and their ability to power Toyota's hybrid cars. He was even quoted by BusinessWeek a few months ago confirming that lithium batteries were ready for Toyota's hybrids.
Shortly thereafter, however, rumors emerged from Japan claiming that lithium would be delayed, and multiple Toyota executives have seemed to confirm these rumors. Earlier this week Kazuo Okamoto, Toyota's research and development chief, for example, claimed that Toyota's Third Generation Hybrid Synergy drive had not been delayed, however, Okamoto also made it seem as if the next gen Prius would not utilize lithium.
Likewise, regarding lithium batteries, ...Finish: Lithium contradictions and the third generation Prius
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, hymotion, lithium battery, toyota, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
10:05 AM
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Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota's top guy, has been very bullish regarding lithium batteries and their ability to power Toyota's hybrid cars. He was even quoted by BusinessWeek a few months ago confirming that lithium batteries were ready for Toyota's hybrids.
Shortly thereafter, however, rumors emerged from Japan claiming that lithium would be delayed, and multiple Toyota executives have seemed to confirm these rumors. Earlier this week Kazuo Okamoto, Toyota's research and development chief, for example, claimed that Toyota's Third Generation Hybrid Synergy drive had not been delayed, however, Okamoto also made it seem as if the next gen Prius would not utilize lithium.
Likewise, regarding lithium batteries, the AFP has stated "According to reports, Toyota is concerned the batteries could get too hot and ignite, and Toyota executive vice president Masatami Takimoto acknowledged that the question of security is essential."
Yet, Watanbe told reporters in Frankfurt that he was confident that lithium could safely be used in hybrid cars and, more interesting, that no problems with lithium had delayed Toyota's Third Generation Hybrids.
So, what's the deal?
Having witnessed Hymotion convert a conventional Prius into a lithium-powered Prius in just a few hours, it seems the battery used in Toyota's hybrids is largely irrelevant to the hybrid powertrain, especially if the package sizes are similar. Thus, if lithium batteries can be proven safe in Toyota's mind, it probably won't be that difficult for Toyota to convert the Prius from one that uses NiMH batteries to one that uses lithium batteries. Consequently, I think anything is possible.
More important, Toyota is now in a position to under-promise and over-deliver, an excellent way to manage the expectations of a highly anticipated product.
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