Toyota on track to produce 1 million hybrids next year

1 of 10 upcoming new hybrids?

Toyota is increasing its battery production as it increases its share in Panasonic EV Energy Co. from 60 percent to more than 80 percent. As a result Toyota will manufacture enough NiMH batteries next year to produce 1.1 million hybrids.

Within the next few years Toyota is preparing to launch as many as 10 new hybrid vehicles as the automaker seeks to become 30 percent hybrid by 2020.

Wait a few months to buy a Toyota hybrid

Far fewer buyers interested in Toyota vehicles

Based on auto sales figures today, it would seem that Toyota has weathered its recall woes very well. New research, however, warns that Toyota's sales are a result of the "pull-ahead affect". Essentially, incentives brought would-be Toyota shoppers to market a bit sooner.

Moving forward, Toyota will need new consumers, and that probably won't be easy without even more incentives. Brand consideration for Toyota has dropped from 75 percent in January to 49 percent in February - about the same as domestics.

Finish: Wait a few months to buy a Toyota hybrid

Toyotagate: Hybrid cars not yet a casuality

Still the world's most important vehicle

Despite owning Toyota vehicles, I'm no huge Toyota fan. I love their hybrid cars, but I hate their dealerships. Of course, since I have a hybrid bias, Toyota is my favorite automaker, despite their crappy dealerships.

Take Toyota out of the hybrid game, and there is no game. At best you're left with a pep rally that might lead to a game. Moreover, if Toyota survives the recall scandal, their hybrid cars, and/or possibly gas prices, will put far more pressure on the Big 3 to increase their fuel economy than any government regulations.

Fortunately, despite Toyota's recalls, a new hybrid plant in Japan is set to open to help offset demand. And that's a good sign that Toyota will stay on track to be 30 percent hybrid by 2020 - far and away the industry's most aggressive battery-powered plans.

Surviving unintended acceleration is easy

Neutral, neutral, neutral

Kudos to Edmunds for putting out a number of stories focused on the real unintended acceleration story, survival.

Yes, I know, many of these unintended acceleration stories are probably nonsense, such as the latest runaway Prius story, and that might also be a piece of the 'real story'. Likewise, the chances of experiencing unintended acceleration are exceptionally slim.

Ultimately, despite what Congressional grand-standers, ambulance chasing attorneys and a drama-thirsty media would have you believe, most instances of unintended acceleration are easy to survive. According to Edmunds, shifting your car into neutral instantly ends unintended acceleration. Nevertheless, Edmunds was still was able to stop a V-6 Camry with a wide open throttle by keeping strong and constant pressure on the brakes, even without power brakes.

Essentially, almost all sudden acceleration problems are survivable, if you are an informed driver.

Speaking of which, anyone want to start a class action lawsuit against the DMV for failing to properly educate today's motorists?

Great time to crash a Toyota!

The car did it

Contrary to popular opinion, now is the greatest time ever to own a Toyota. Today you can talk and text while driving. You might even be able to get away with drunk driving, just make sure you're only drinking vodka, or something that doesn't stink too much. Even better, get a little kinky while cruising down the road.

No worries these days, at least as long as you own a Toyota, of course. If you get in a crash, no one will question you once they see you drive a Toyota.

And, when you're tired of your car, or can no longer afford the payments.......

ABC altered evidence against Toyota on recalls? Not even the half of it

Purely seeking drama for ratings?

After days of questions about whether ABC altered evidence in an important report the TV station ran on the Toyota 'unintended acceleration' recalls, and seized upon by Congress, were 'doctored', finally an answer. Turns out the automaker used fake footage to dramatize their story, as Gawker.com states was used to "make it look scarier."(tip via KickingTires)

But faked drama isn't even the real story today. Before Congress experts questioned the entire premise put forth by David W. Gilbert, an automotive technology professor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and ABC's key expert.

Chris Gerdes, director of Stanford University's Center for Automotive Research, and a consulting firm, Exponent Inc., "said the professor had tampered with wiring to create electronic glitches that could never occur on the road."

Likewise, the same tampering could achieve the same effects in many other cars, and was achieved using both the Subaru Outback and the Ford Fusion.

Toyotagate: House Panel more concerned with Big 3 profits than safety?

10,000 rollover deaths per year

Since 2000 there have been 2,600 complaints of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles that have led to 34 deaths. Rather than fix this problem, according to a Congressional Panel, Toyota was 'more concerned with profits than safety'.

Of course, since 2000, Toyota has sold many tens of millions of vehicles, and more than 99.9 percent of them have been safer and more reliable than most other brands on the road then or today. So, it isn't that surprising that Toyota was slow to react, or that they assumed the problem must be with drivers.

Nonetheless, 34 people have died. For that, Toyota deserves some vilification.

Still, in the last decade, for instance, anyone driving a Honda Civic has been 2 times safer than someone driving a Chevy Cavalier. Why? Was GM more concerned with profits than safety? Likewise years of crash data demonstrate that foreign autos are consistently and significantly safer than domestic autos. Why? Did the Big 3 sacrifice safety for profits?

Finally, there is the House Panel itself, now led by Michigan's own John Dingell, a fearless lobbyist - I mean Congressperson - for GM and the Big 3.

Finish: Toyotagate - House Panel more concerned with profits than safety

Lutz: GM to continue to build money-losing hybrids

Purely about CAFE

GM will continue to build money-losing hybrid vehicles, but only because of CAFE requirements, according to GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. And, to make up for the losses GM will have to increase the prices on the rest of their vehicles.

Fortunately, since GM sold only 800 hybrids in January, they won't have too many losses to make up.

Ultimately, Lutz believes hybrids might one day make up 10 percent of the total US fleet, but only because of fuel economy regulations - apparently future gas prices will be insignificant in terms of creating hybrid demand, at least according to Lutz.

For comparison, Toyota sold more than 12,000 hybrids in January. Likewise, Toyota has stated that it intends to be 30 percent hybrid by 2020.

Toyota recall: Why doesn't the data match the accusations?

More Toyota junk?

According to a recent MSNBC article Toyota's latest recalls are just an example of how Toyota quality has been slipping for years. Really?

And what's MSNBC's data for such a claim? A CNW perceived quality study. CNW? The same CNW that asserted that Hummers are far better for the environment than the Toyota Prius? Yup.

On the other hand, we have Consumer Reports, JD Power and NHTSA data. But, to be fair, since I'm calling CNW biased, we'll call Consumer Reports biased, since they are usually very supportive of Toyota quality, and Big 3 fans have often accused CR of bias. Fine. But then there is also the many years of JD Power's consumer-driven data that largely confirms the same reliability as suggested by CR. And, more recently, Edmunds studied the NTHSA database and found that only Mercedes, Porsche and Smart have received less quality complaints than Toyota over the last decade.

Finally, there is the unintended acceleration historical data. The problem of unintended acceleration has existed for decades and there is strong data to suggest that at least a significant percent of this problem - at least historically - has been due to driver error. Hate me for partially blaming the drivers, but that's what a significant amount of the evidence suggests.

Regardless, perhaps Toyota is more culpable this time around. Nonetheless, when it comes to the data the message seems to be clear, Toyota consumers have fewer problems with their vehicles compared to almost every other major automaker.

So, are media outlets such as MSNBC driven by perception and speculation, or the facts?

Toyota's powerful DC friends? Are you kidding me?

Can you say John Dingell?

Boy the media's coverage of Toyota-gate has become almost laughable at times. Lately, the new angle is Toyota's political friends in Washington.

"Some members of Congress have been such cheerleaders for Toyota that the public may wonder how they can act objectively as government watchdogs for auto safety and oversight."

LOL! Wow. John Dingell anyone?

Has Michigan Congressman John Dingell ever acted objectively when it has come to the Big 3, especially when Dingell was the fricken Chairmen of the HUGELY important House Energy and Commerce Committee? Is the media kidding? I mean talk about subjective cheerleaders!

Those of us that have followed CAFE for the last several years, for instance, can only chuckle at the idea that somehow Toyota has more political friends in Washington than does Detroit. For decades DC power-brokers, such as Dingell, have ensured that Big 3 SUV profits were safe from CAFE regulations, despite an average of 10,000 deaths per year because of defective and inadequate designs, despite 9/11, and despite growing evidence that foreign oil dependence was becoming an ever greater threat to American national security.

I know, Toyota-gate has also caused almost 10,000 deaths in the last year. OK, at least a couple of deaths.

Toyota deserves a lot of criticism these days, but if the media really wants to make America safer, isn't it time to start focusing on some real issues?

Toyota hybrids still for sale, but does that matter?

Can't save Toyota's image now

What can you say but, WOW? Now that Toyota has suspended production on many important models, one wonders just how low Toyota's reputation will go. Down. Down. Down.

At least, for once, it's a good time to be a US automaker.

For fans of hybrid cars, however, this is terrible news. Despite the fact that Toyota is still selling all of its hybrid vehicles, there is no doubt that this recall and suspension is going to have an effect on the sale of all Toyota vehicles by association, including hybrids.

Next year, Toyota planned to double its hybrid production to one million hybrids per year. Will these plans survive? Can they?

More important, if Toyota has to scale down its hybrid plans due this suspension and this inevitable image hit, will another automaker fill the hybrid void? Unfortunately, I doubt it.

Time for Honda to embrace full hybrids?

The Honda CR-Z hybrid

About a decade ago, when both Toyota and Honda were producing their first hybrid cars, each had very different visions for the future of hybrids.

For Honda, hybrids like the original Insight were simply an interim technology until fuel cell vehicles could replace them. Thus, until recently, Honda had no serious hybrid production plans.

For Toyota, on the other hand, hybrids were intricately linked to advanced technologies and to Toyota's future. Finish Reading: Time for Honda to embrace full hybrid vehicles?

Toyota powertrain exec admires Chevy Volt

A sensible approach to plug-ins?

In a recent interview with CNN, Bill Reinert, Toyota's head of advanced powertrain research, explains that Toyota is not going to rush into pure electric cars. A combination of costs and technological limitations ensure, according to Reinert, that EVs are still far from mass consumer adoption.

Therefore, underwhelming EV consumers with expensive technology that falls short of expectations could slow EV penetration long term, according to Reinert.

However, in the interview Reinert does single out the Chevy Volt as a more sensible approach to pure EVs because it provides a realistic solution to range anxiety.

Toyota strikes major lithium deal

All plug-in ducks in a row

Toyota, via one of its partners, has joined forces with Orocobre Ltd to mine lithium in Argentina according to reports.

Aside from securing a supply of lithium, Toyota is now positioned for greater profit potential in the sale of plug-in vehicles. As it did with its current hybrid cars, Toyota is now laying the foundation for its own supply chain of essential materials for battery-powered vehicles. By keeping a significant percent of its supply chains and battery development in-house, Toyota has been able to foresee profits in battery-powered vehicles where others have not.

Now the hybrid king appears on a path to also become the plug-in hybrid king.

2011: 1 million hybrids per year for Toyota

Expanding the Prius family

This year Toyota produced about 500,000 hybrid cars worldwide.

In 2011, Toyota plans to lift its annual production to 1 million hybrids per year.

To achieve this new output, Toyota is currently expanding its production into other countries, such as China and Australia. Likewise, at least one new dedicated hybrid is expected to enter production by 2011, along the path to at least 8 new hybrids over the next three years.

New Toyota hybrid concept debuting at NAIAS (updated)

Toyota's new ultra-cheap hybrid?

Toyota has announced that it will debut a new hybrid concept at the Detroit Auto Show that is expected to go into production within the next two years. Unfortunately, few other details are available, but this is supposedly a teaser shot of the new dedicated hybrid.

For years now Toyota has considered a number of Prius-based derivatives, including both smaller and larger versions. Likewise, since Honda announced its CR-Z sports hybrid, Toyota has also indicated that it has plans for a sporty hybrid as well.

If this picture is accurate, however, then it appears that Toyota will offer its smallest hybrid yet, which could potentially push pricing well under $20,000.

While there is a lot of hype in the press today about Toyota's plug-in hybrid plans, this vehicle might offer significantly more sales potential. Ultimately, if Toyota is going to achieve its goal of 30 percent hybrid sales by 2020, cheaper hybrid cars will be critical.

Toyota to postpone plug-in Prius?

Not until 2014?

On Monday, Toyota is going to provide an update on when it plans to begin selling plug-in hybrid vehicles.

In previous, official plug-in conversations, Toyota has indicated that its launch date would be 2012, however, there are now rumors that the launch date is going to be moved back to 2014.

I can't believe Toyota would be that stupid. Today, plug-ins aren't about sales, they are about marketing and public relations. If Toyota can't keep pace with the rest of the pack on plug-ins, the PR nightmare than will ensue will be far worse than the losses on producing 10,000 or 20,000 plug-in hybrids per year.

If Toyota hopes to maintain their green mojo, they better bring a plug-in to market by 2011.

Toyota challenged again, at least legally, on hybrid technology

Built with the patents of others?

For years now Toyota's relative success with hybrid cars has been met with little challenge from other automakers. Toyota is simply the king of hybrids.

However, the hybrid king has been challenged a number of times in court over the years for violating patents used in elements of the Hybrid Synergy Drive.

Today, US trade officials announced they will open an investigation into whether Toyota violated patents owned by Paice LLC.

According to an AP article Toyota has responded that it "has many patents on the hybrid technology and believes that it has strong defenses against all of Paice's claims and that it will prevail in the ITC proceeding."

Toyota: Fuel cell hybrids ARE the best hybrids

A fuel cell version by 2015?

What's the future of the automobile? Hybrids, plug-ins or fuel cell vehicles?

All of the above according to Toyota.

Obviously, Toyota already sells a number of hybrid cars, and Toyota will begin rolling out plug-in electric vehicles by 2012, followed by fuel cell hybrids in 2015.

While demonstrating how Toyota plans to cut fuel cell costs, the company noted that plug-in vehicles will be used for small, short range intra-city vehicles. However, for larger vehicles and longer ranges, Toyota believes that fuel cell hybrids are the most well-to-wheel efficient autos compared to conventional hybrids, plug-in EVs and conventional gas vehicles.

Toyota: Lithium still too expensive

A plug-in Prius at HybridFest

Since 2006, in the US, Japan, and Europe, Toyota has been quietly testing 126 lithium-powered Prius hybrid cars. In fact, there was a time when a few top Toyota executives announced that lithium would power the third generation Toyota Prius.

Then a few cell phone and laptop batteries exploded. Soon after, Toyota announced that lithium would not power the third generation Prius.

So, is lithium unsafe?

According to Toyota senior staff engineer for batteries, Kazuo Tojima, Toyota's tests demonstrated that lithium's “durability, stability and safety are assured.”

Unfortunately, while lithium also provided "small" fuel-economy gains, the costs of lithium still out-weighed the benefits.

Besides, is there any reason for Toyota to rush into lithium? On the other hand, isn't there every reason for US automakers to rush into lithium?

New, tiny Lexus will be a hybrid

250h: Toyota's latest Lexus hybrid

Within the next decade, Toyota plans to begin selling 1 million hybrid cars per year. The path to that sales output will certainly require a number of new hybrids, and the next new one might just be a CT 200h, CT 300h, or CT 400h according to the latest Lexus rumors.

The new hybrid Lexus is being designed to take on the BMW 1 Series and Audi A, and it will be Toyota's smallest Lexus. More interesting, the new CT, which stands for Compact and Tourer, will only be available in a hybrid format.

A hybrid spice up for Scion?

A highly customizable city hybrid?

Toyota is seeking to spice up its Scion brand. So, how about some hybrid Scions? Could adding a few hybrid cars to the Scion brand help Toyota increase Scion sales?

For instance, wouldn't Scion be the perfect platform for a small Toyota city hybrid?

How would you spice up Scion?

Mazda dumping Ford hybrid tech for Toyota tech?

The Ford inspired Tribute hybrid

By 2013 or so, Mazda will seek to sell about 100,000 hybrid vehicles per year using a hybrid system provided by Toyota that will include batteries, motors, control units, etc according to GreenCarCongress.

In the past Mazda has developed hybrids with Ford, but that original Ford technology included licensed Toyota hybrid technology, so it isn't that odd that Mazda would seek such a relationship. It will, however, be interesting to learn whether this hybrid technology will continue to be based on NiMH battery technology, or whether it might also include lithium technology.

Regardless, Toyota believes the relationship will help make Toyota's hybrids cheaper.

Toyota's hybrid ride back to profitability

Will also start selling fuel cell hybrids in 2015

At a shareholder meeting yesterday Toyota vice president Masatami Takimoto told attendees that Toyota would increase its line of hybrid cars, in addition to cost-cutting, to return the company back to profitability.

Likewise, when asked about zero emission vehicles, Takimoto stated that Toyota would begin selling new fuel cell cars in 2015 as part of its plan to stay ahead of the green vehicle pack.

Plug-in Prius leasing coming this year, but...

Ready to lease a plug-in Prius?

Later this year Toyota will lease a number of lithium-powered plug-in Prius hybrids. Unfortunately, only 150 of them will make it to the states in the first year.

On a side note, 110,000 orders for the 2010 Prius have been placed in Japan according to the AP.

Led by Prius, Toyota hybrid sales decline

7,232 units sold in February

Overall, for the month of February, Toyota new vehicle sales declined dramatically, although passenger car sales increased by 6.3 percent compared to last month. In terms of hybrid cars, however, the news was even worse - particularly for the Prius.

Overall, Toyota hybrid sales dropped from 11,876 units in January to 11,814 in February. The Toyota Prius went from 8,121 units in January, to 7,232 units in February.

Ironically, the Lexus RX400h hybrid saw an uptick in sales of 36.3 percent over last February.

Prius plant in America - Do you care?

An American-made foreign oil dependency fighter?

Now that Toyota is offering buyouts for US workers and cutting pay for everyone, a new US plant to develop Prius hybrids - in America - appears dead.

Do you care? Many don't because it's a foreign company.

Yet, when the first Chevy Volt hits the street in 2010, it will be manufactured with an imported engine and an imported battery - the most critical component in the vehicle.

Do you care?

Couldn't having significant numbers of Toyota hybrid vehicles built in America help develop a US battery industry? Wouldn't that be a good thing?

Is this the time for nationalism, or the intelligent acceptance of the global economy?

Toyota's used hybrid vehicle commercial campaign

Used hybrid reliability?

Toyota has been running a new used hybrid commercial campaign on KROQ, a well-known alternative rock radio station in California.

Basically, there's a three-month warranty on top of the original vehicle warranty. Ultimately, it comes down to dealership trust when buying used Toyota hybrid vehicles.

No surprise there. That's the way it is with any used car. Why should hybrids be much different?

Still, it's pretty interesting that Toyota is doing so much to promote used hybrid vehicles. Might be a good time to look for used hybrids, which just a few months ago, were priced ridiculously high. I'm hoping to follow up on that angle either tomorrow or this weekend.

Anybody do any used hybrid shopping lately?

Should Obama save the Big 3 at any cost?

25,000 per year for years now

Last night I was watching an interesting NOVA program called The Big Energy Gamble and how AB 32 is going to drastically change the auto market in California. Essentially, if California moves forward with AB 32, automakers will need to sell many millions of hybrid cars or EVs in California alone, in order to meet CO2 emissions requirements.

And, there are many states considering similar laws if California's continues to move forward.

Toyota, the king of hybrid cars, is well on its way to helping California meet its goals, and Honda is ramping up its hybrid production as well, although even Honda has some serious work ahead.

The Big 3, on the other hand, seem pathetically far behind. Possibly, Ford has some plans, but as the automaker has only been able to make 25,000 Escape hybrids per year, and has the same 25,000 cap for the Fusion hybrid, I have some serious worries. Sadly, GM and Chrysler seem even further behind.

Yet, as the bailout deadline approaches, the UAW is already calling on Obama for help. If this were the end of all bailout talk, a little extension wouldn't be a bad idea, but this is just the beginning.

GM's latest prediction for 2009 auto sales, for example, is even worse than 2008. According to Big 3 Congressional bailout testimony, GM's prediction for 2009 is unsustainable if it continues for a few years, regardless of any bailout money. UNSUSTAINABLE. The auto industry, as we know it today, would collapse.

Even if things get better, the Big 3 are still in no position to make a serious stab at fuel economy, especially if the requirement is as aggressive as AB32 - something Obama has supported. According to an economist from Moody's during Congressional testimony on the bailout, the US auto industry will need about 100 billion over the next few years just to survive.

How much more it take to make the Big 3 green?

Not one of the Big 3 has yet developed a cheap hybrid to challenge the Prius. Do they really believe that millions of Americans are going to be able to afford $40,000 Volts in five years? Will GM even be making 100,000 Volts per year by then?

President Obama's plans for an energy moon shot should move forward, and I'm sure it will, but should our moon shot be limited to the Big 3's ability to make it happen? Might it not be better, for instance, for the government to regulate standards and requirements, put all incentives in the hands of consumers, and let ALL automakers COMPETE for consumers, even if it means the UAW loses 1/2 its workforce because its products don't compete?

Or, should Obama save the Big 3 at any and all costs and make the Big 3 essential to our moon shot?

LeBeau - Automakers open to fuel efficiency strings for cash

Time to make the best out of this bailout?

During CNBC Reports just a few minutes ago, Phil Lebeau - whom interviewed GM CEO Rick Wagoner this morning - stated that US automakers would be open to fuel economy strings for government cash.

Seems like a positive sign, and an angle that Congress should exploit.

Are Toyota's hybrid plans recession proof?

Set for launch late next year?

Last month, Toyota Prius sales were down 10 percent. Not bad, considering that October was one of the worst months ever in auto sales. And, while hybrid cars have helped Toyota's sales strength the last few years, this recession is greatly hurting Toyota.

"At least there's no red ink at the moment. But if the situation deteriorates we could be looking at that," said Ashvin Chotai, managing director of Intelligence Automotive Asia reports the AFP.

Thus, "Planned factories, existing facilities, new projects; they [Toyota] are reviewing all of them," said Toyota executive vice president Mitsuo Kinoshita.

If US auto buyers can't afford anything but the cheapest cars, amidst declining gas prices, hybrid sales will take a hit. Such a hit, I'll bet, could easily delay the launch of the 2010 Toyota Prius few months, and slow the launch of any consumer-orientated plug-in hybrids from Toyota as well. And that new Lexus hybrid? Why be in a rush when Lexus hybrid sales got hammered last month?

GM to ask Toyota for help to fix business?

Seeking some kaizen

Toyota has always been known for it's kaizen-influenced business model, or the constant move towards efficiency in all elements of its business. From manufacturing to developing new automobiles, such as hybrid cars, kaizen influences every aspect of Toyota's corporate culture.

CNBC just reported that there are now rumors that GM might seek some sort of assistance from Toyota to help turn GM's business around. Is GM seeking some kaizen?

Toyota not interested in diesel hybrids

Not unless diesel fuel costs go down

Toyota is not interested in developing diesel hybrid vehicles due to the high cost of diesel fuel according to Green Car Congress. Even though diesel is the dominate fuel in Europe and many competitors are preparing diesel hybrids for the European market, Toyota believes gasoline hybrids still are more cost effective.

Chevy Volt: Can it change perception of GM?

The Volt made a recent publicity stop at NASCAR

For many Americans, the Chevy Volt has become the savior of the US auto industry. A made in America foreign oil dependency freedom fighter. And, one day, it might just be that, but not any time soon.

In the interim, however, can it change the perception of GM and its ability to build quality automobiles?

Finish: Chevy Volt: Can it change perception of GM?

$7,500 plug-in hybrid tax credit passes Senate - Too favorable to Volt?

Only about battery capacity, not actual EV range, nor real world fuel economy?

The Senate has passed a new tax bill that will provide tax credits for plug-in hybrid vehicles ranging from $2,500 - $7,500, depending on the vehicle's battery capacity. To be eligible for the credit, such plug-in vehicles must store at least 6 kWh's of electricity.

So, battery capacity, not actual EV range nor real world fuel economy, is how Congress judges plug-in quality? Does that really make sense?

Finish: $7,500 plug-in hybrid tax credit passes Senate - Too favorable to Volt?

Toyota testing plug-ins in England, lithium coming

A plug-in Prius filling up with solar energy

Today, Toyota and EDF Energy of Britain have started road tests to evaluate Toyota's plug-in hybrid vehicles. The tests are being used to help EDF design infrastructure for recharging stations, and to determine "ease of use" according to Edmunds.

Toyota has long stated that it would offer such hybrid vehicles for fleet sales in 2010 but, due to higher energy prices, Toyota recently decided to move that date up to late 2009.

More important, Toyota seemed to confirm that when the plug-ins hit fleet sales next year, they will be lithium-powered, not NiMH-powered, as are the ones currently being tested by EDF Energy.

Toyota to launch plug-in Prius in 2009

Coming a year ahead of schedule

Due to rising fuel economy concerns, Toyota is going to "quickly and flexibly" respond according to reports coming out of Japan. Thus, Toyota will launch a plug-in Prius for fleet customers in late 2009, a year ahead of schedule. It will also speed up development on pure electric cars as the hybrid king increases production on hybrid vehicles.

Toyota preparing to mass produce lithium batteries?

A lithium-powered hybrid?

The Toyota and Matsushita hybrid vehicle battery partnership, formally called Panasonic EV Energy Co, have begun studying the process of mass producing lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles.

Additionally, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe, again reiterated the company's focus on hybrids as a key to a sustainable future, as well as the goal of offering a hybrid option for every Toyota vehicle.

Toyota is "a hybrid company"

A Toyota Prius hybrid car

Despite the fact that Toyota has received a lot of criticism from some environmentalists regarding its alliance with US automakers over CAFE, Toyota claims it was worth it.

"We have taken hits because of our alliance," U.S. president of Toyota, Jim Lentz, said of the unified stance with U.S. companies on the No.1 regulatory issue to face auto companies in years. "We were willing to take those hits to get a standard the industry could live with."

Nonetheless, Toyota isn't afraid of the new CAFE standards coming out of Congress.

"We're a hybrid company, especially on the passenger car side," Lentz said, noting that in addition to the conventional hybrid cars that Toyota is now selling, such as the Prius and Camry hybrid, Toyota will continue to test plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Toyota confirms 3rd generation Prius plans

Better battery, better software, better price

When Toyota moved from the first generation Prius to the second generation Prius, increased power and fuel economy was achieved. Most of this increase was accomplished by software and by a smaller and lighter battery pack, according to Toyota.

Expect the same for the 3rd generation Prius. (Finish)

Toyota's next plug-in hybrid?

The best plug-in hybrid Toyota has to offer?

It's great that this golf cart looking car is a plug-in hybrid vehicle and can improve posture, but what the heck?

It doesn't look very aerodynamic, and it looks as if it would have a hard time cruising down anything but a path or sidewalk.

I know Japan is a far different sort of driving culture than America, but what is up with the Tokyo Auto Show?

Toyota will also be showing the Hi-CT plug-in hybrid concept, "an edgy, urban vehicle, " according to the AFP "inspired by the lifestyles of youth, with a removable rear trunk and a deck to store surfboards and bicycles."

In terms of hybrid vehicles, Toyota will also show the FT-HS hybrid and the Crown luxury hybrid concept.

Honda, Toyota lead U.S. fuel economy

Prius balances Toyota's gas-guzzlers

Honda Motor Co. had the highest fuel economy of any manufacturer selling automobiles in the U.S. with 22.9 mpg, a slight decrease compared with its 2006 lineup, according to MSNBC.

Toyota posted a 22.8 mpg average for its 2007 vehicles compared with 22.4 mpg the previous year, largely driven by the Prius and Toyota's other hybrid vehicles.

22.9 mpg is the best fuel economy in America? There is only one word to describe America's fuel economy: pathetic.

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

Next generation Prius on track?

Has Toyota lost some hybrid mojo?

"I know there's a lot of speculation in the United States that we're delaying the Prius because of battery development issues," Toyota research and development chief Kazuo Okamoto told Reuters. "That's not the case."

Really?

Additionally, Kazuo stated that Toyota would not race GM to put the first commercially available plug-in hybrid on the road. GM has previously announced 2010 as their launch date.

Additionally, the first plug-in Prius hybrids will probably be very similar to current Prius hybrid technology.

"The plug-in will be an extension of the system we're using with the Prius," he said. "We see some advantages. For instance, we can add trunk space and have a lighter vehicle."

If GM is serious about the Chevy Volt and, more important, the launch date of the Volt, there is a real chance that GM could surpass Toyota in terms of viable, green technology. Now that truly would be shocking!

Can Honda build a Prius-contender?

One possible new hybrid from Honda

Honda is the undisputed greenest major automaker, yet when one thinks of green automobiles, hybrid cars automatically come to mind.

When it comes to hybrids, Honda is far behind Toyota. How did that happen?

For starters, the first generation Honda Civic hybrid, for example, was almost more of a mild hybrid than a full hybrid. Even today's Civic hybrid doesn't offer as powerful of a hybrid powertrain as does the Toyota Prius. Quite simply, the Prius is the superior hybrid, especially for urban drivers.

That doesn't mean the Civic hybrid isn't a great car, it is. Finish: Can Honda build a Prius-contender?

Hybrids to help buoy Toyota through subprime mortgage crisis?

Toyota not worried about slumping housing market?

A number of automakers and analysts have already cautioned that the subprime mortgage mess threatens to greatly disrupt the economy and, therefore, people's decisions to purchase automobiles.

Toyota, on the other hand, isn't worried according to both Reuters and the AFP. "We now expect the US car market to shrink slightly this year compared with the previous year, while Toyota continues to strive to meet its initial target," Toyota Motor president Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters.

"Toyota has been outperforming the market by a modest margin," he said.

And, Toyota has reason to be confident. July was a rough month for automakers, yet it was a stellar month for the Toyota Prius. Hybrid cars, it appears, might just help propel Toyota past all competition.

Ohh, that quirky little Prius.

GM's hybrids: The wrong start?

Large SUVs will become GM's first hybrids

When the first full hybrid vehicles from GM hit the streets this Fall, they will come in the form of full size SUVs. And, why should anyone be surprised that GM would start with large SUVs, such as the Yukon hybrid or the Tahoe hybrid?

If large trucks are GM's bread, then large SUVs are GM's butter.

Of course, GM's bread and butter isn't as tasty to consumers as it was a decade ago. Sure, more fuel efficient hybrid versions of these gas-guzzlers might help stem the public's growing disinterest in such vehicles, but will they provide any new marketshare?

--> Finish: GM's hybrids: The wrong start?

The Chevy Malibu hybrid: GM's Big Mistake?

GM plans massive marketing blitz to challenge Camry

The Chevy Malibu is of critical importance to GM, thus the automaker will use a six-speed transmission with a four-cylinder engine to increase fuel economy. In addition, GM will spend more than $100 million marketing the Malibu in an effort to challenge the Toyota Camry.

That's great, but how much buzz would a full hybrid version of the Malibu have brought to GM dealers?

GM's Bob Lutz has essentially called the Toyota Prius a marketing coup. It's not that the Prius is breaking sale's records for any category outside of hybrid cars, rather it's the fact that the Prius is a PR machine. Even if the Prius isn't selling, it's still driving buyers into Toyota.

Moreover, while the Toyota Camry hybrid might only sell a little more than 50,000 units this year, I'll bet the Camry hybrid has also helped drive more buyers into Toyota.

So, why not a dual mode Malibu hybrid? GM's dual mode technology is ready to roll. Selling 50,000 Malibu hybrids in 2008 wouldn't just make GM the second best hybrid vehicle seller and validate GM's hybrids, it would drive incredible buzz to GM.

What's the deal? Can't GM compete?

Toyota "bemused" by hybrid delay rumors

Third generation Prius still on track?

"We've been very interested to note stories in The Wall Street Journal over the past couple of days purporting that the introduction of a next-generation Prius has been delayed because of the slow pace of development of lithium-ion batteries," writes Irv Miller, Group Vice President, Toyota Corporate Communications, according to Car&Driver.

"For that matter, we've not shared much information about a next-generation Prius, since--like most companies operating in a highly competitive market--we don't talk explicitly about future product. And we've not discussed the type of battery that any hypothetical next-generation version of Hybrid Synergy Drive might use."

HMMMM!???? That isn't exactly true. Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanbe, claimed that lithium batteries were ready for the third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive, at least according to Business Week. Watanbe's statement was not a rumor from a reliable, but unconfirmed source, it was a direct quote.

Nonetheless, Miller's press release does seem to conclusively confirm that lithium batteries are not yet ready for primetime in Toyota hybrid vehicles - at least not until Toyota can guarantee those batteries for 150,000 miles. Thus, the real question is, can Toyota achieve that kind of battery guarantee by late 2008 or early 2009 - the rumored launch of the third generation Prius?

Then again, was the speculated 2009 launch date ever more than a rumor?

Volt road ready this Spring?

Still, a long way to go

GM's Bob Lutz is a spin-master.

“I think that our No. 1 competitor has some problems with their technology, and I do think that it very definitely opens a window of opportunity for us to be first to market with a genuine plug-in hybrid,” Bob Lutz said at an automotive industry conference in Traverse City where the battery deal was announced.

While I believe that GM might offer the first "genuine plug-in hybrid", GM is also facing serious problems. For example, the Chevy Volt is still just a concept. It won't be road-ready - for testing - until the Spring of 2008, at the earliest. Additionally, if GM does produce the Volt by the end of 2010, as planned, the costs are expected to be very high. Thus, GM is considering a plan to sell Chevy Volts with optional battery leases to help make the cars a little more cost-effective.

But, back to Toyota's problems. Finish Volt road ready by this Spring