PHEV Prius in 2010
Photo Credit: Business 2.0
Via Cleantech.com:
Tokyo-based Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) said it plans to start selling plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2010.
That would put the new cars in direct competition with the Chevy Volt from Detroit’s General Motors (NYSE: GM), another plug-in hybrid expected to be released that year.
Toyota said the first sales of its lithium-ion battery-equipped plug-in hybrid vehicles would be to fleet customers in the U.S. and elsewhere.
This is the first of many of these sorts of announcements we should expect, the PHEV is a sensible next step in the evolution toward all electric transportation. As can be seen from the troubles with Tesla, it’s very difficult to simply jump from combustion technology to all electric (though we’re still wondering why an electric vehicle needs a transmission per se…)
From an emissions standpoint the coming of PHEVs will be great. But the overlooked part of their introduction is the demand that charging them will put on our already overtaxed electrical grid. Introduction of smart grid technologies will be vital PHEV use becomes more prevalent.
Why not use solar panels on the car to help charge batteries
Cuz solar panels don’t produce enough electricity, meaning they suck… I mean with that type of surface area you MIGHT produce 100Watts/hour… maybe.