I wonder if there's going to be a push for "best practices" on where to place a battery. If Toyota has a smaller engine for the next gen (20% lighter and smaller I think) why can't they fit in some batteries? or...putting batteries on the bottom of the car like tesla..
I can't see them doing less EV than the PIP because it's just not worth the expense and you'd get zero Fed tax credits too. My guess is somewhere close to 20 mile EV range to compete with the C-Max Energi...
Just thinking out loud here... There seems to be lots of space between the inner and outer body panels.
It's quite challenging because the battery location has to offer a certain level of protection including from impact and fire. Tesla has the battery along the floor, but protected by three shielding levels including a titanium plate.
Maybe if they had the protective circuitry in each cell, as it is in the portable version of the 18650 cell, the safety factor would be acceptable. I understand that the Tesla uses 7000 18650's each without the protective circuitry.
