Monday, October 22, 2007

Toyota Plugging in with Nickel Metal Hydride

Popular Mechanics got a look and briefing on Toyota's own plug-in Prius. And they said it couldn't or wouldn't be done. Or it would take Lithium to make it worthwhile. Well, surprise, surprise:
"Toyota has the knowledge and experience with nickel metal hydride. And we have to use the battery we know best, in terms of overall performance," said [Yoshitaka] Asakura [Project General Manager of Toyota's Hybrid Vehicle System Engineering Development Division.]

The prototype PHEV's use two current generation Prius battery packs sandwiched together and modified to deliver a greater ability to charge and discharge. In a presentation, Asakura said the prototypes can operate on electric power for a range of about 7 miles..."
I hope someone tells Mr Asakura about the NiMH batteries Toyota used in the RAV4 EV. Actually achieved over 15 times greater range back in 1997.

Toyota • Moving Backward?

Well, let's just say catching up with itself.

4 comments:

darell - EVnut said...

One day, I hope we can be at least back to where we were 12 years ago. Here's hoping!

Gizmo said...

Remember that Panasonic got sued by Ovonics over the patent for large scale NiMH batteries which were used in the Rav 4EV. That is still why they aren't available.

Anonymous said...

One thing I like nickel metal is that nickel metal hydride batteries can be recharged up to 1000 times.

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The best car fro Japan are the Toyota, I think that the plugging is a big help to many car drivers, so I read your info and I thin it is so interesting! d2d2