The Japanese automaker, which produces the popular hybrid Prius, announced two new energy-efficient cars — a plug-in hybrid and a fuel cell hybrid. The plug-in hybrid, which will feature next-generation lithium-ion batteries, will be available in the U.S. and Europe in 2010.
The car will run only on electrical power and can be recharged in a home electrical outlet.
Toyota also said it has developed a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid that can go twice as far as previous fuel cell versions that did not rely on hybrid technology. The car runs on the power of a chemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen combines with oxygen, creating no exhaust, only water. Toyota’s previous fuel cell vehicle could run 205 miles on a single charge of hydrogen, but the company said the new hybrid version can go 516 miles before needing a hydrogen refill. The company did not say when the fuel cell hybrid would come on the market.
Toyota also said it has developed a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid that can go twice as far as previous fuel cell versions that did not rely on hybrid technology. The car runs on the power of a chemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen combines with oxygen, creating no exhaust, only water. Toyota’s previous fuel cell vehicle could run 205 miles on a single charge of hydrogen, but the company said the new hybrid version can go 516 miles before needing a hydrogen refill. The company did not say when the fuel cell hybrid would come on the market.