Toyota Planning Plug-in Hybrid for 2012
Not wanting to give up the crown as top hybrid automaker, Toyota Motor Corporation is reportedly in the midst of designing a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) set to launch in 2012. Both Ford Motor Company and General Motors are planning high profile introductions of their own PHEV models due out by 2011, while Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi are planning full electric vehicles within the next two years. In response, Toyota is planning to produce 20,000 to 30,000 fuel-efficient plug-in hybrids by 2012. Toyota is already planning to offer about 500 plug-in hybrids worldwide to various government and corporations, but it will most likely begin developing a system to use for everyday use by the public shortly thereafter.
The biggest difference of the future PHEV compared to the company's current Prius hybrid is the advanced lithium ion battery pack that Toyota co-developed in a joint venture with Panasonic EV Energy Company. Unlike the Voltec technology used on the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, which is an extend-range electric vehicle, a PHEV from Toyota would likely be limited to an electric-only range that is estimated to be between 12.4 miles and 18.6 miles on a full charge. While the electric-only range is severely lower than the Volt's estimated 40 miles, the PHEV would also be able to run directly on the gasoline engine which would most likely improve performance and acceleration. The Volt seems to be the main target of such a vehicle from Toyota, but the system used on the Volt seems to be in the minority as most other major automakers are focusing more on the plug-in hybrid systems.
Official pricing has yet to be announced, but Toyota apparently wants to price it competitively with Mitsubishi's all-electric car that makes its official debut next month in Japan. That car's pricing is estimated to start around 4.59 million yen, which converted to U.S. dollars is about $47,800 (or around $10,000 more than the Chevy Volt). The drivetrain and battery systems used on a PHEV are much more advanced than a conventional hybrid-electric vehicle which adds a considerable premium to the car's bottom line price. Instead of using conventional rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, PHEVs require a larger, more powerful battery pack so the more expensive lithium-ion batteries are used. NiMH batteries are usually used in everyday rechargeable devices like cameras and flashlights, while Li-ion batteries are used in more technological applications such as cell phones and laptop computers.
As for the vehicle layout of Toyota's first PHEV, not much is known about the particulars, but Toyota could save development dollars by using the Prius as the vehicle and offer it either as the current hybrid or upgraded as a PHEV. Alternatively, Toyota could go in the same direction as Ford and use a compact crossover (Ford uses the Edge) as the basis for its PHEV adding more practicality to such a vehicle while maximizing fuel efficiency and reducing pollution.