Toyota 1x plug-in hybrid to lead to carbon-fiber research center

Twice as efficient as the Prius

Toyota's 1/x plug-in hybrid vehicle isn't going to be on a street near you anytime soon; however, it might eventually drive carbon-fiber derived hybrid vehicles into your neighborhood in the near future.

"Despite its strength and light weight, carbon fiber's high cost has so far limited its use in mass produced automobiles.

But anticipating rising demand, Japan's Toray Industries Inc. said earlier this month it would invest 20 billion yen (170 million dollars) to set up a research and production centre for the material in Nagoya, near the Toyota headquarters, by 2010," writes the AFP.