Hybrids Electrics Hydrogen Cars Toyota to Introduce Plug-in Hybrid This Year, Hydrogen Cars by 2015
Posted by admin on Sunday Feb 8, 2009 Under Hybrids Electrics Hydrogen Cars
Hybrids Electrics Hydrogen Cars
At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the focus was largely on electric cars. The Cadillac Converj, the Chrysler 200C, an electric Ford Focus, a drop-top Fisker Karma — electric cars were everywhere. The world’s largest automaker was conspicuously absent. Toyota brought a single electric concept - a battery-powered version of its iQ city car that, the company said, it had no plans to produce anytime soon.
It turns out, however, that Toyota wasn’t behind the other automakers. If the company is to be believed, it’s ahead of them.
Toyota now says it will sell a plug-in hybrid car this year, and a hydrogen fuel-cell powered car by the year 2015.
The New York Times reports, “Toyota plans to introduce its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle late this year, a year earlier than originally planned, and a year ahead of the Chevrolet Volt. James Lentz, the president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., said in an interview that Toyota planned to initially make about 500 plug-in hybrids, which will be made available first to commercial customers. About 150 plug-ins will be slated for customers in the United States, Mr. Lentz said.”
Toyota spokesman John Hanson told Bloomberg, “Limited commercialization” of hydrogen cars “begins in 2015 and maybe sooner” according to the company’s plans. “The exact timing, sales volume and price haven’t been decided, Hanson said.”
Honda has already leased a small number of FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicles in the U.S., and General Motors has a test fleet of hydrogen-powered SUVS as well.
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