Toyota Will Lease Plug-In Hybrids By End Of 2009
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- singrrr
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more from News:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/03/toyota-will-lease-plugin-_n_...
Toyota said Wednesday it will start leasing plug-in hybrid cars, that are even greener than its hit Prius, by the end of this year in the U.S., Japan and Europe.Toyota Motor Corp., the world's top automaker, will start leasing 200 plug-ins in Japan, 150 in the U.S. and 150 in Europe, mostly for rental, such as through special government-backed programs, it said in a release.
Toyota will for the first time use lithium-ion batteries in the plug-ins. The batteries are already used in some cars but more common in laptops and other gadgets.
Toyota hybrids now use nickel-metal hydride batteries. Using a lithium-ion battery will produce more energy, allowing the car to run more as an electric vehicle, but there have been some technological hurdles.
A plug-in recharges from a regular household socket. When the battery runs low, it will start running as a regular hybrid so drivers don't have to worry about running out of juice on the road.
Automakers around the world are working on plug-in models. Recharging stations are expected to proliferate in the cities of the future, much like gasoline stands, for recharging.
The booming sales of the revamped Prius, which went on sale last month, have been a rare bright spot for Toyota.
Battered by the global slump and the strong yen, the maker of the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury models recorded its worst loss in its seven-decade history for the fiscal year ended March.
Toyota dealers have received 110,000 orders for the Prius in Japan. Toyota acknowledged this week an order placed this month won't get delivered until November or later.
Toyota leads the world in cumulative hybrid sales because of the popularity of the Prius, now in its third generation. The first-generation Prius went on sale in 1997.
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CofRed3
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We wonder why we have so many companies filing for bankruptcy? Its because other countries like japan are realizing the consumer need and filing it without excuses. Makes me wonder what the USA automakers really care about?
- 8 months ago
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CofRed3
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chmk
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Progress! Keep it coming.
- 8 months ago
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chmk
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kennymotown
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Leasing is a bad idea we are as a nation over extend to our eyebrows. Leasing for 400 a month because we can't afford 700 a month to buy. Don't fall for it.
- 8 months ago
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kennymotown
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rockstarmillionaire
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or water
- 8 months ago
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rockstarmillionaire
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masterzip
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electricity comes form coal fired power plants too, so it is a baby step. I also saw on BBC/Top Gear how a prius got less gas mileage than a bmw.
until we are able to power every home off the grid and on individual wind, & solar power,..than this will be completely green.....
Nikola Tesla said we will be living as one w/ nature when we fully understand electricity. - 8 months ago
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masterzip
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good_stuff
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How would there be recharging stations? From what I understand, it would take 5 hours to recharge your battery, and you can't speed the process up without ruining the batteries, which are half of the price of the car. It would be a convienent excuse though.
- 8 months ago
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good_stuff
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rockstarmillionaire
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this is a good step in the direction of going to plug in electric vehicles.
- 8 months ago
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rockstarmillionaire
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futurehempfarmer
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A step in the right dirrection hopefully these cars fair better than the pure electric vehicles that the dealers took back, crushed and sent to landfills.
- 8 months ago
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futurehempfarmer
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vistapoint
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love this greening trend!
- 8 months ago
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vistapoint
