Will Toyota need lithium faster than planned?
Running out of NiMH batteriesToyota is running out of batteries. Consequently, in Japan, the wait for a new Toyota Prius can be as much as 8 months. According to Toyota, Panasonic EV just can't keep up with demand, although plans are in place to increase production to 1,000,000 units per year by next year.
In the interim, however, Toyota is investigating the possibility of using batteries from other battery manufacturers. Moreover, according to reports, Toyota has already procured 10,000 lithium-ion batteries from Sanyo for use in 2011.
Of course, that procurement is probably for plug-in versions of the Toyota Prius. Nonetheless, might not Toyota need to consider putting lithium into some of its conventional hybrid cars as soon as possible? Why not put lithium into all Lexus hybrids, for instance?
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:08 AM
4 Comments:
I have heard that a very small % of Li Ion batteries still do explode / and even ONE lawsuit injuring a family could shut the whole Li Ion production down, as the implications for Toyota to a $45 Mill dollar verdicts, not to mention the permanent damage to its reputation could be too costly.
perhaps they are close to solving I heard that Hyundai DID solve using Li Ion Polymer battery technology ?
That's certainly been the worry, but I think there are effective battery management systems that could all but wipe out the explosion possibility, however, such systems add cost. Then there is the problem of mass production.
Hyundai's lithium polymer batteries are supposed to be safer, but more important, easier to mass produce according to what I've read. Ultimately, i believe Hyundai could be a real sleeping giant in the hybrid space.
Not if it raises prices.
true.
i hope that doesn't happen, but they are a corporation not some humanitarian organization.
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