Toyota to launch plug-in Hybrid cars by 2010

Toyota is facing a critical challenge in meeting the booming demand for hybrid vehicles due to its limitation to make required batteries, which are the key components for these environment friendly cars.

Next in the series are plug-in hybrid vehicle to be launched in 2010. Sensing the limiting factor Toyota Motor Corp. revealed its plan to manufacture lithium-ion batteries by next year. These Lithium Ion batteries will be made in association with Matsushita and can be charged from home electrical unit (thus called plug-ins).

Currently nickel-metal hybrid batteries for Toyota Prius are built under a joint venture between Toyota & Panasonic (Panasonic Electric Vehicle Energy). Lithium ion batteries (common in Laptops and mobile devices), produces more power and are smaller than conventional nickel metal hybrid batteries.

Hybrid cars are gaining popularity (1.5 million Prius are sold since its launch a decade ago) since the day it launched due to some of the obvious reasons –
1) Surging gasoline prices: these vehicles expected to give better mileage.
2) Global warming and reduced emissions: These vehicles have green image because they reduce emissions (by alternating between the electricity and fuel), which are linked to global warming.

Several manufacturers are racing amongst themselves to manufacture hybrid vehicles –
GM – Plan to introduce Lithium-ion based VOLT around 2010.
Ford - Not disclosed details about its plug-in hybrid, which it first discussed in 2006.
Honda – Already Launched fuel cell based “Zero emission vehicle” FCX Clarity.

Currently Lithium Ion battery cost around $1,000 per kilowatt hour and reducing the costs would be a major challenge for all of the manufacturers to ascertain success of their project.
Role of plug-ins in reducing the pollution and Global warming can again be questioned, if the electricity used to charge these plug-ins is derived from Thermal power plants.