Diary Entry

Toyota delays next-gen Prius while GM inks deal with lithium-ion maker

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It looks like those waiting for the next generation Prius to hit the road are going to have to hold out a little bit longer. Toyota announced this week that it would be delaying plans to bring its plug-in, lithium-ion-based model to market until 2011, as opposed to 2008, due to safety concerns over the company’s chosen battery. In very related news, GM has struck a deal with Massachusetts-based battery developer A123 Systems to produce flat lithium-ion batteries for use in upcoming plug-in electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt. With regards to whether Toyota’s setback could give GM an edge in the electric car game, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said, “I think that our No. 1 competitor has some problems with their technology, and I do think that it very definitely opens a window of opportunity for us to be first to market with a genuine plug-in hybrid,” which sounds like fightin’ words, if you ask us.

Read — Toyota delays next-gen lithium-ion Prius
Read — GM says it could lead electric car race

 

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