Not real exciting but it mentions Yaris: The US Department of Energy has so much faith in the future of li-ion that it's the only battery technology the department is funding as it develops a power source for future electric vehicles, Pesaran says. Toyota is already testing a li-ion battery in its Vitz automobile, a version of the Toyota Yaris sold in Japan. (Today's hybrid cars use rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride batteries.) http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0918/p13s01-stct.html Aslo mentions meeting for industry standards.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(etyler88 @ Sep 18 2006, 08:50 AM) [snapback]321099[/snapback]</div> I think it's more interesting that the DOE is only funding research for Li-ion, not NiMH or the light-weight lead-acid developments. NiMH (as used by all of today's hybrids) is apparently either considered mature or a dead-end? There was also this line, which EV and FCV fans have been saying for awhile: "Everything has a hazard. It's just managing it," Dr. Thompson says. "Gasoline can be hazardous if not handled properly." Each new technology has risks associated with it, he says. It's the job of engineers to assess these risks and devise ways to eliminate them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(etyler88 @ Sep 18 2006, 10:50 PM) [snapback]321099[/snapback]</div> Please note that it's not a hybrid Vitz(Yaris), but it's just idling stop/start system. Ken@Japan
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ken1784 @ Sep 18 2006, 10:48 PM) [snapback]321482[/snapback]</div> Damn!! That burst my bubble. Man, a hybrid yaris would rule
