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Toyota, the leader in hybrid cars, thinks that the high cost of the lithium ion batteries will keep electric cars from penetrating the mass market for another decade. Over the past three years, Toyota secretly tested lithium ion batteries as a potential replacement for the nickel metal hydride batteries now used in the Prius, according to a Bloomberg report In its tests, Toyota concluded that lithium-ion batteries were safe and reliable, but the higher cost doesn't justify a complete shift over for Toyota's hybrids, executives said. As a result, the company will remain with nickel-based batteries for most of its hybrid cars, according to the report.

OSAKA, JAPAN- From the 22nd floor of the Nakanoshima Central Tower, the offices of Hisao Fukami, comes news of Toyota's newest patent as filed with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) International Bureau, and released for international publication July 17, 2008. The Fukami Patent Office is listed as the agent for Toyota, who applied for the patent and worldwide rights January 11, 2007. The motor is interesting in its use of an "externally applied light" to a light sensitive rotor kept in a "permanent magnetic state" to generate torque.

Last week, the Japanese newspaper Nikkei caused a buzz by reporting that a redesigned Toyota Prius, to be released next year, will come equipped with solar panels. Toyota spokespeople will neither confirm nor deny the report, but several companies already offer solar roof kits for the Prius, and researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in Golden, CO, have been testing one on a Prius modified to plug into the electrical grid.

I hope the lifetime of the car will also be extended to the lifetime of the solar system? But seriously, it's hard to see the logic here.

Energy performance is a relative concept.

Hino, Toyota's truck division, is experimenting with wireless charging. In spite of inefficiences that may exist, Hino should be applauded for pushing the envelope. However, unfortunately for the future, it seems logical that only larger sponsors such as Toyota can afford this type of approach.

ultracapacitor equiped vehicles are beating conventional speed racing cars. Still to mention the cost, but the performance achieved is extraordinary...