Toyota could have plug-in hybrids by 2012
As an avid environmentalist, I immediately latched onto the hype surrounding the Toyota Prius when it was released a few years ago. The car was stylish and efficient – a combination that at that time was essentially a non-entity. With new announcements from other major manufacturers across the industry, Toyota is trying to stay at the forefront of the eco-friendly driving movement.
A recent announcement from the Japanese manufacturer claims Toyota will begin mass-producing plug-in hybrid vehicles as early as 2012, producing between 20,000-30,000 cars in the first year. While the company hasn’t announced how many of those will reach the U.S., you can bet many of those cars will be featured on Toyota Kenosha showroom floors.
This new, innovative vehicle, a product of a joint venture with Panasonic, will run on lithium-ion batteries that will go 18 miles on battery power alone before the backup gas system takes over.
Toyota has caught some flack from environmentalist auto enthusiasts over its slow move from pure hybrid engines towards lithium-ion batteries. But the manufacturer has been slow for good reason; Toyota says it has been testing its lithium-ion battery-powered system for better efficiency, durability and safety before releasing a new model based on the system. But now, the light at the end of the tunnel has come into vision for Waukegan new car dealer. The company will begin leasing 500 plug-ins to private and government fleets by the end of the year.
Can we honestly criticize Toyota for striving for perfection? I don’t think so. Better for the Prius-maker to release something truly groundbreaking than to fill your local Waukegan dealer with sub-par vehicles. I’m excited to test-drive such a vehicle; while uncertain, the future of the auto industry rests on vehicles like this one and manufacturers like Toyota who are willing to put stock in the industry’s most cutting-edge technology.
We’ve already seen Toyota venturing into unbroken ground with the Prius, a hybrid vehicle that appears to be losing steam in the U.S. market. While American sales numbers have dropped 45 percent this year, the Prius is still extremely popular overseas. Toyota’s venture into lithium-ion territory will be a big factor in commanding some of those U.S. sales back into a progressive, stylish and smooth vehicle.
I, for one, can’t wait to get to a Kenosha Toyota dealer to test-drive this innovative vehicle. Toyota has always been one of my favorite manufacturers, and the company has just given me another reason to revel in its offerings. Toyota is truly leading the way in the movement to promote a more environmentally conscious and economically efficient stance on driving.