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Toyota to Stay with NiMH for Mass-Market Hybrids

Green Car Congress

Toyota Motor Corporation will continue to use NimH packs for most of its hybrid vehicles after three years of testing Priuses fitted with Li-ion packs. Toyota last month ended road tests of 126 Priuses in the US, Japan and Europe that began in 2006, company spokeswoman Jana Hartline said in an interview.

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ARTS Energy in supply agreement with Hunan Copower for NiMH cells for HEV applications in Europe; 1st step into transportation market

Green Car Congress

France-based ARTS Energy, a manufacturer of battery-based energy storage solutions using a variety of chemistries, is entering the hybrid-electric vehicle and very high power application markets via a strategic partnership with Hunan Copower EV Battery Co, a subsidiary of the Corun Group. Hunan Copower EV Battery Co.

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Toyota Sticking With NiMH for Strong Hybrids in Near Term

Green Car Congress

Although Toyota has been working on Li-ion batteries for strong hybrids, and has had 126 Priuses equipped with Li-ion packs on the road for the past three years, NiMH cost performance wins compared to lithium for this application, Kuroda said. The new Prius is in competition with the Honda Insight. Akira Kuroda.

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Toyotas Yaris hybrid concept anticipates B-segment hybrid strategy with first downsizing of HSD; Prius +

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Making its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Yaris HSD concept anticipates Toyota’s intention to bring its full hybrid Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) technology to the B-segment, the biggest volume segment in Europe. “Two years ago, 8% of European customers said they wanted their next vehicle to be a hybrid.

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Software Upgrade to Prius PHEV NiMH Conversion Kit Enables All-Electric Driving At Up to 70mph

Green Car Congress

kWh NiMH plug-in hybrid (PHEV) conversion kit that enables all-electric mode driving at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (until the battery pack is depleted) in a converted Prius. Some previous Prius plug-in conversion kits allowed motorists to go as fast as 52 miles per hour using a “forced stealth” mode.

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Toyota broadly outlines next-generation Prius; developing wireless inductive charging for the plug-in model; bullish on hydrogen

Green Car Congress

Toyota’s next-generation Prius will deliver significantly improved fuel economy in a more compact package that is lighter in weight and lower in cost, according to Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Managing Officer Satoshi Ogiso. The next Prius will feature improved batteries with higher energy density. —Satoshi Ogiso.

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Report: Toyota to boost Li-ion production for hybrids to more than 200K packs per year

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plans to increase its output of lithium-ion batteries for the Prius and other models to more than 200,000 units a year. Most of Toyota’s hybrids still rely on NiMH batteries. The Nikkei report said that Toyota hopes to extend the range of its hybrid cars by reducing their weight with smaller lithium-ion batteries.

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