Hello.. I am a potential Prius owner... Im looking to get a 2010 but I would like to have the NEW Lithium Power /Plug in... For the likes of me, With many companies offering Lithum batter conversion kits, why is Toyota NOT coming out Li_Ion Power... for me not having Li batteries is a deal breaker. Im also suprised that there is not more discussion about not having the new power source.
You've got a wait for LiIon. They have said that the small gains in fuel economy running LiIon right now would be negated by the high cost to produce the packs. I'm sure down the road this will change but not now. It has also been discussed in othr threads, that's why you dont see anything about it now. Just search and read some of the older threads. Considering no other major manufacturer is using LiIon right now, how could it be a deal breaker? or do you jsut mean you wont be buying anything new at this time? As for the Plug In, we're all waiting for that but it's not now so any talk about it is pure speculation. They are testing a VERY small number of LiIon plug ins in the US starting the end of the year but it is a SMALL number of vehicles and for fleet only... So keep an eye and ear out come 2010, then we'll probably hear much more...
As Paradox points out, Li-ion doesn't really buy you much in the way of gains for ordinary hybrid operation. The payoff for newer battery technology comes later with plug-ins. Tom
