Alternative fuel is definitely going to be the future of the Auto Industry. As the current fuel prices doesn’t seem to cool down in the near future, its time for the auto manufacturers to think on this alternative fuel technology seriously. One company which always thinks ahead & works faster is the Toyota. It is the current leader in the hybrid technology and the first company to mass produce hybrid cars through Prius. This initiative made the world realize how serious they were to care about the environment. Toyota would be first company which is at least a year or two away from launching the next generation of hybrids, called “plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)“, that recharge by plugging into a wall outlet.
Toyota Plug-in HV, the first plug-in hybrid car to be tested on public roads, can zip along at a top speed of 62 miles an hour and travel up to eight miles on a single charge. The plug-in hybrid that can be recharged using a regular household power socket which will reduce the dependence of the electric motor on the petrol engine to recharge, thus further cutting down on CO, emissions that cause global warming.
A PLUG-IN HYBRID has a battery that can be charged from an external power source as opposed to regular hybrids that charge only via the engine or regenerative braking. By increasing the battery capacity of conventional hybrid cars, it is possible to drive a vehicle on electricity alone for short distances. This results in lower CO, emissions as well as lower running costs, thanks to lower usage of the internal combustion engine. Plug-in hybrids also enjoy enhanced driving range over conventional hybrids. Above all, it doesn’t need special charging facilities as the household power outlet does the job.
Plug-in hybrid cars are a practical solution for using electricity to drive conventional vehicles. Toyota plans to launch its plug-in hybrid in 2010. Currently, the prototype can run only 13km on batteries alone which isn’t much. But the company is developing high performance batteries which weigh less and will help to increase range. It is estimated that if renewable sources of energy are used to power households, which in turn charge plug-in hybrids, CO, emissions can be brought down to near zero, which is reportedly Toyota’s ultimate aim. Plug-in technology is more dependent on the battery performance, which is the major issue in battery-powered cars. Toyota, General Motors, and Ford are all working with battery companies to try to improve lithium-ion batteries. If all goes well we would see this plug-in hybrid car charged at home & driving in the streets in couple of years.
Nip/Tuck is one of my favorite shows, keep up the work!
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