Toyota to launch plug-in hybrid car in 2011

Toyota Motor Corp will release a plug-in hybrid vehicle that can be charged at home beginning in late 2011, the company has said.

The carmaker hopes to initially sell about 15,000 vehicles of the new model annually in the United States, and is considering releasing the model in Japan around the same time.

The vehicle likely will be priced at about 3 million yen (US$33,320) or more.
Source: asiannewsnet.net

Amid fierce competition among automakers worldwide to develop next-generation eco-cars, Toyota concluded that a plug-in hybrid vehicle, which gives better mileage than cars solely powered by electricity, will become the market mainstream.

The carmaker hopes the new model will attain market penetration with its lower price tag than electric cars.

With its fully charged high-power lithium-ion battery, Toyota’s new plug-in hybrid vehicle can operate for about 20 kilometres powered only by its motor.

Even after the battery runs out, the vehicle continues to run as a hybrid car powered by its gasoline engine.