Re: EVs Pure Electric Vehicles

some big news from Toyota Aug 2007

In fact, Lithium-ion batteries are in use today in a number of consumer products and even in a Toyota car that we don't sell in the states. A high performance hybrid power management system is employed in the 'intelligent package' of Toyota Vitz vehicles sold in Japan.

Other manufacturers who are counting on this technology have also acknowledged the unique challenges. Range per charge is one such obstacle to overcome. A 10-mile round trip may be not that uncommon in some parts of the world. But in the U.S., that's a rarity, and consumers will expect considerably more in electric charge capacity
-- no matter what the battery type.

Prototype hybrids using lithium-ion batteries already exist, but promises of longer driving ranges on a single charge appear to be several years away. Why? Because nobody has fully figured out the optimum use of lithium-ion batteries in automobiles.

Are we working on this? Sure we are. So are others. Prime-time readiness for this technology will come. But there's just no way to tell when the required chemical, engineering and manufacturing breakthroughs will be made.

In the meantime, we continue to use nickel-metal- hydride batteries in our Hybrid Synergy Drive systems. For now, they represent the best technology for this use, and they're safe, reliable and recyclable --
so reliable, in fact, that we can warrantee them in our Hybrid Synergy Drive systems for 150,000 miles.

That's the kind of benchmark we are compelled to shoot for with lithium-ion batteries.

We just thought we should let you know that.