Toyota edges ahead of General Motors in electric race

Wednesday, 16 January 2008

Toyota has unveiled plans to market a test fleet of rechargeable hybrid vehicles by the end of 2010.

The announcement has heightened competition in the already tense race to produce the first mass market plug-in electric car - General Motors has said it plans to start producing its electric car, the Volt, in the same year.

Toyota, which is likely to soon become the world's biggest motor manufacturer, plans to market its test fleet to companies and government agencies. The Japanese carmaker is preparing to build a factory to produce the lithium-ion batteries for plug-ins and all electric cars. The brand already has a 60 per cent stake in Panasonic EV Energy, collaborating with Matsushita Electric Industrial, to build batteries for its Prius hybrid.

14 Aug 2007 - General Motors launches electric car initiative
25 Apr 2007 - Toyota hits number one in car sales

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Mike said:

	Joe, you are right o... Joe, you are right on the money. Test fleet + Toyota Kool-Aid > GM Production Vehicles on the road
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January 17, 2008
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GreenEV said:

	About time too! It's... About time too! It's taken 5 years longer than necessary.
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January 16, 2008
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Joe said:

It's obvious you are...
It's obvious you are pro Toyota. The headline for your article should read: "Toyota trying to play catchup with GM's Volt". Toyota who just a while back said they would not produce a car like the Volt because the battery technology was not advanced enough. But, now they announce they will build one and that makes them a leader. Also, don't be too quick to report Toyota has overtaken GM's in worldwide sales. The figures for GM has not been reported, yet.
Now that GM is wide awake, they will be with no doubts the technological leader. It's not they were not but because of the Prius, the perception came about that Toyota was.
Look at all the recent accomplishment at GM and that should tell you something.

January 16, 2008
Votes: +0

Bill Henderson said:

	How can Toyota edge ... How can Toyota edge GM, ehen their electric vehicle will only ger 7 miles per charge and will be released later than the Saturn Vue-Plug In, which will get better than 10 miles and the Chevy Volt will get 40? Give me a break. GM is so far ahead on this technology.
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