Toyota Announces Development of Plug-In Hybrid

[OG]

from Greencarcongress

First Manufacturer to Have PHEV Certified for Public Road Use in Japan

25 July 2007

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced that it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle and become the first manufacturer to have such a vehicle certified for use on public roads in Japan. (Earlier post.)

The Toyota Plug-in HV—certified for public road-use by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport—uses a NiMH battery pack and has an all-electric range of 13 kilometers (8 miles) under the 10-15 cycle with a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).

In its press release, Toyota said that:

Although challenges still exist in the development of pure electric vehicles such as a limited cruising range and issues related to cost, TMC still views plug-in hybrid vehicles as a promising technology for allowing electricity to serve as a viable power source for automobiles and is committed to their continued development as a key environmental technology.

Toyota will conduct public-road tests in Japan with eight units of the Plug-in HV to verify electric-motor-only cruising ranges and optimal battery capacity. While doing so, it plans to provide the government with data for formulating testing methods for emissions and fuel efficiency and to consider TMC’s measures for promoting plug-in hybrids and the use of electricity. Toyota also plans to conduct public-road tests of the Plug-in HV in the United States and in Europe.

[specifications follow article at GCC]

[JiltedCitizen]

You know there is a site to post green news stories...It's linked above.

[Tripholiada]

any word when this comes to the US?

[OG]

any word when this comes to the US?

Both Ford and Toyota are testing them in California.

[Tripholiada]

any word when this comes to the US?

Both Ford and Toyota are testing them in California.

out of curiosity, are smart cars illegal in the US???

sorry never understood that, had many people say that to me, and wasn't sure with the whole saftey issue and what not.....figured if anyone would know, either you, or someone else on treehugger would know.

[OG]

out of curiosity, are smart cars illegal in the US???

Daimler's bringing them here in a few months.

sorry never understood that, had many people say that to me, and wasn't sure with the whole saftey issue and what not.....figured if anyone would know, either you, or someone else on treehugger would know.

A lot of it has to do with meeting USDOT safety standards, yes.

[Tripholiada]

out of curiosity, are smart cars illegal in the US???

Daimler's bringing them here in a few months.

sorry never understood that, had many people say that to me, and wasn't sure with the whole saftey issue and what not.....figured if anyone would know, either you, or someone else on treehugger would know.

so wait, are they currently banned???

(and yea I did see that they are comming here, i'm actually exicted about that.....)

because i've actually seen quite a few on the roads already...... and what not.

although I did see one person that really irritated me. he parked his smart car on a handicap ramp. >_>

A lot of it has to do with meeting USDOT safety standards, yes.

[OG]

because i've actually seen quite a few on the roads already...... and what not.

Any that you've seen on the road are either Daimler test vehicles, or they are grey market vehicles imported from Europe and modified to meet US safety standards. Since it's pretty spendy to do that, the price of those vehicles are high.

[Tripholiada]

because i've actually seen quite a few on the roads already...... and what not.

Any that you've seen on the road are either Daimler test vehicles, or they are grey market vehicles imported from Europe and modified to meet US safety standards. Since it's pretty spendy to do that, the price of those vehicles are high.

^^ since i'm asking all these lovely questions, which gets better mileage??? a prius (although that is being highly contested now....) or a smart car??

[Collin McConville]

I live near the Canadian border for half the year, and you will occasioanlly see smart cars coming over the border, so not necassarily all smart cars in the US at the moment are "gray market". Some are just being driven across the border for day trips from Canada.

Although I am not sure where you live, so I don't know if that is possible in your area.

[Tripholiada]

Dallas TX

kindof far away from any national borders. (mexico's a full day drive breaking all speed limits) away.

[OG]

since i'm asking all these lovely questions, which gets better mileage??? a prius (although that is being highly contested now....) or a smart car??

New EPA estimates put the Prius at 46 mpg. Real-world estimates at that link have it at 46.5 mpg, and the real-world numbers at Greenhybrid have it at 47.6. So, 46-48 mpg.

According to the FAQ on the smart USA website, "Engineering and testing continues to take place on the vehicle that will be produced for the United States. The vehicle is designed to achieve 40 plus mpg under normal driving conditions and current standards."

[OG]

Although I am not sure where you live, so I don't know if that is possible in your area.

The "street smart road show" has been in Texas just recently.

[stevejust]

New EPA estimates put the Prius at 46 mpg. Real-world estimates at that link have it at 46.5 mpg, and the real-world numbers at Greenhybrid have it at 47.6. So, 46-48 mpg.

According to the FAQ on the smart USA website, "Engineering and testing continues to take place on the vehicle that will be produced for the United States. The vehicle is designed to achieve 40 plus mpg under normal driving conditions and current standards."

Well, something I can agree with OG on.

The biggest problem with the smart car is its price point... it's tiny, half a car really, and it's 12, 14 or just under 17k, depending on trim level (17k gets you the convertible).

(www.smartusa.com)

I get 48 mpg average in my four door manual transmission hybrid civic I paid 18,600 for, and if the smart car gets 40 +, that really just doesn't cut it. It should be able to manage 60+ mpg for a car that size.

Of course, real world driving is everything. While some people can squeeze high mileage out of the Prius, people tend to average about 48 mpg. It could be that the smart won't have as large a spread of variability across drivers as the hybirds, but only time will tell.

[rhapsodyinglue]

^^ since i'm asking all these lovely questions, which gets better mileage??? a prius (although that is being highly contested now....) or a smart car??

Living here in Southern Cal, I know quite a few Prii owners. The mileage seems to vary a lot. I suspect this is because some Prius owners really make a point of changing their driving habits dramatically to maximize mileage while others push it to it's limits. I know of one person that probably only averages 40-41 while another routinely hits 50-52 on tanks of gas.