Toyota Electric Concept Coming to Detroit Auto Show

Toyota revealed a teaser image and few details about a concept vehicle it will debut next month at the 2009 Detroit auto show. The company will only say it is a battery-electric vehicle. There’s no mention of whether this will be a plug-in hybrid version of the new Prius, which will also debut at the Detroit show.

Sorry, folks, but this is all the information we have at the moment.

Comments

I doubt that this will be a plug-in hybrid Prius. I'm guessing a subcompact, purpose built electric. If the big dog delivers that it will be far superior to the Mini EV and other converted cars, which are too heavy to be practical EVs.

WSJ says it might be an IQ sized vehicle. But plug in prius have been testing in Japan for awhile too.

I've read the Plug-in Prius will debut as a 2011 model, but if they speed that up, all the better. This EV sounds enticing because of all that Toyota has learned from the Prius about electric drivetrains, batteries, regenerative braking, control systems, etc. It could be a real breakthrough vehicle.

No electric vehicle will be a breakthrough. In my mind they defeat the purpose of alternative power, since the powerplants that recharge them will still be burning coal and oil. Sure electricity is inexpensive compared to gas, but what will happen to the electric bills when millions of people are recharging their cars every night.

Millions of people charging up their cars at night is almost the ideal scenario, since 40 to 50 percent of the nation's generation capacity is not used between the hours of 9 pm and 9 am. Electricity is locally produced, and could elminate our need to import oil and that's what I call a breakthrough. If you're that concerned about emissions you can ride a bike or a horse.

What I'm saying is that your electric bill will go up to the point that it won't make a difference whether you are buying electricity or gas.

Chevy says the Volt will cost about 2 cents per mile when in the all-electric mode. Electricity from the grid costs the equivalent of $.70 per gallon gasoline, and the money stays here. The power is produced with emissions free sources such as wind, hydro, solar and nuclear, and the cars will have zero emissions as they drive all over our cities.

"The power is produced with emissions free sources such as wind, hydro, solar and nuclear, and the cars will have zero emissions as they drive all over our cities."

I will remain politely skeptical... even if only 5 per cent of cars could be charged we will still electricity produced by oil/coal/nuclear means...

Any news about how much money Toyota is going to lose this year? I have seen several numbers in the European press...

We have to look at "the big picture." Our days of tunnel vision need to cease. Our nation better wake up and smell the coffee. With all our bail outs along with the 168 billion economic stimulus package, that btw did nothing for our economy it is hard to understand why our government can't see the need to bail us out of our dependence on foreign oil. The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. Meanwhile, while we are busy doing the Happy Dance around the lower prices at the pumps, OPEC is planning to cut production to drive prices back up to between 75-100. per barrel. Why don't we invest in America's Energy Independence. It would cost the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon to charge and drive. The electricity used to charge the car could conceivably be generated by solar or wind. Why not invest some of these millions in getting some of these projects set up? Create clean cheap energy, badly needed new green collar jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. What more of a win-win situation could there be? Now there is talk of another stimulus pkg. Don't get me wrong, if you hand me a check I will take it. I am broke from this past year myself. I just think we are going about this all wrong. I just read a fascinating book by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW. We need to look at the "big picture" This book Is the big picture. www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com

I would like to see Toyota install solar panels into the roof of the new proposed plug in electric vehcile. That way I could use the sun to charge my car while I'm at work, out shopping etc. I would then only need to "plug-in" @ night to recharge what the sun didn't throughout the course of the day.