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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius Hybrid Prius that gets over 100 Miles per Gallon
74 messages, Last post on Mar 11, 2008 at 12:31 PM
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Interesting article on a "potential" battery future for Hybrids... The great light hope for hybrid vehicles Lithium ion could be the wonder battery that enables automakers to make big profits on hybrids Richard Truett | | Automotive News / June 19, 2006 - 6:00 am Batteries may be the key to the future of gasoline-electric hybrids. If hybrids are ever going to earn automakers a profit, the cost of the batteries must decrease while the life of the battery pack increases. The number of battery suppliers also must expand so that batteries are just another commodity, like windshield wipers and headlights. Lithium ion -- the same type of powerful, compact battery in your cell phone and digital camera -- could be the wonder battery that delivers all that and more. Virtually all of today's hybrids use nickel-metal hydride batteries. Nickel metal has proved to be reliable, but the battery packs are heavy, and the materials inside are expensive compared with those in lithium-ion packs. Also, most experts think that hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid, will need a replacement battery pack after eight years or 100,000 miles. If so, that could hurt the resale value of used hybrids because it would present subsequent owners with a battery replacement bill of between $3,000 and $5,000. Manufacturers in Japan, Europe and the United States are working to replace nickel-metal hydride batteries with lithium ion. The switch could begin in the United States as early as 2008. Earlier this month, Nissan Motor Co. launched the Atlas 20 medium-duty truck in Japan with lithium-ion batteries. Officials at Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Johnson Controls Inc. say lithium-ion batteries will begin replacing nickel-metal hydride batteries in high volume around 2010. Johnson Controls has a joint venture with French battery maker Saft Groupe SA. "There's less weight, greater power density and, eventually, lower cost" with lithium ion, says Tom Watson, Ford's manager of hybrid propulsion systems. "We think that in the long term when you look at the cost-efficiency curve, lithium ion has much better potential than nickel metal. The benefits that it provides are just too overwhelmingly positive to pass up." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lithium-ion batteries ADVANTAGES Lighter than nickel-metal batteries, improving performance and fuel economy Enables plug-in hybrids Production costs should fall over time CHALLENGES Sensitive to temperature Fragile Can be slow to recharge Manufacturing and shipping issues Existing nickel-metal batteries could improve
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Replying to: toyoinfo (Jul 06, 2006 7:56 am) |
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Replying to: toyoinfo (Jul 06, 2006 7:56 am) Those so-called experts aren't all that smart or observant... since there are quite a few owners well in excess of 100,000 miles without any need for battery-pack replacement. It doesn't make sense either, since the warranty in some states is for 10 years / 150,000 miles. The latest update from Jesse (a friend of mine with a Classic Prius) is having surpassed 243,000 miles with the original still. JOHN
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Replying to: john1701a (Jul 06, 2006 8:49 am) That is pretty darn good. Longer than I would have bet on them.
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 06, 2006 12:24 pm) The new Tesla pure electric EV that was just released July 20,2006 uses lithium and they say 100,000 miles is expected. These are not your old lead acid 100 year old technology !
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Replying to: eaa (Jul 23, 2006 1:26 pm)
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Replying to: idele (Jul 24, 2006 4:24 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 24, 2006 7:39 am) |
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When Jim Press announced that Toyota was working on plug-in hybrids it was treated as something new. Actually in 2005 the Toyota Dream House (mine too) that was exhibited for 6 months at that time had a complete Prius plug-in setup. Particularly interesting to me, since I get power from a rural electric coop which has its downtimes, is the use of the Prius to supply electricity to the house if needed. I refer you to this website: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/09/toyota_dream_ho.php
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Replying to: idele (Jul 24, 2006 9:12 am) This was the first time. |
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