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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Toyota Joins GM in Race for 2010 Plug-In Hybrids

Drivers could recharge cars with normal socket

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(Newser) – Toyota, the world's leader in hybrid vehicle production, has geared up to deliver by 2010 a gas-electric hybrid car whose batteries will recharge from a normal electrical socket. With the announcement yesterday at the Detroit auto show, Toyota pits itself against General Motors, which has also pledged a plug-in hybrid by 2010, Bloomberg reports.

Toyota and GM face a serious obstacle: the lithium-ion batteries both companies plan to use in their plug-in vehicles do not yet exist in a form "suitable for the long-term rigors of everyday automotive use," said a Toyota executive. The batteries are expensive and hard to produce, and can burn if they overheat.

In this artist rendering released by Toyota Motor Corp. ahead of Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to public in Chiba, east of Tokyo, on Oct. 27, 2007, a plug-in hybrid sports-utility vehicle,
In this artist rendering released by Toyota Motor Corp. ahead of Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to public in Chiba, east of Tokyo, on Oct. 27, 2007, a plug-in hybrid sports-utility vehicle, "Hi-CT," is...   (Associated Press)
Reporters get into Toyota Motor Corp.'s plug-in hybrid vehicles for a road test in Tokyo Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Toyota said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road tests in Japan and plans the tests for the U.S. and Europe. Plug-in hybrids have batteries...
Reporters get into Toyota Motor Corp.'s plug-in hybrid vehicles for a road test in Tokyo Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Toyota said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road tests...   (Associated Press)
A reporter drives Toyota Motor Corp.'s plug-in hybrid vehicle during a test run in Tokyo Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Toyota said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road tests in Japan and plans the tests for the U.S. and Europe. Plug-in hybrids have batteries...
A reporter drives Toyota Motor Corp.'s plug-in hybrid vehicle during a test run in Tokyo Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Toyota said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road tests...   (Associated Press)
A Toyota Motor Corp. employee displays plugs for the automaker's plug-in hybrid vehicle in Tokyo Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Toyota said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road tests in Japan and plans the tests for the U.S. and Europe. Plug-in hybrids have batteries that...
A Toyota Motor Corp. employee displays plugs for the automaker's plug-in hybrid vehicle in Tokyo Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Toyota said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road...   (Associated Press)
Toyota Motor Corp.'s Chief Engineer Yoshikazu Tanaka explains the mechanism of the automaker's plug-in hybrid vehicle in Tokyo Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Toyota said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road tests in Japan and plans the tests for the U.S. and Europe. Plug-in...
Toyota Motor Corp.'s Chief Engineer Yoshikazu Tanaka explains the mechanism of the automaker's plug-in hybrid vehicle in Tokyo Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Toyota said Wednesday it has developed a plug-in...   (Associated Press)
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