coming sooner than you think: the toyota camry PHEV

[MetroMPG]

<img src="http://www.latimes.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2006-01/21716383.jpg" align="right">

i just finished reading the first review of the 07 camry hybrid.

and then it dawned on me: the release of this car in hybrid form means it's now just a matter of time (less than you might think) before america's most popular, conventional, main stream car will be available as a plug-in version that can drive 30-50 city miles in electric-only mode.

EDrive begins selling its prius phev system this spring. their site says systems are being planned for other hybrid models as well. you can be certain they'll be clamouring to do a camry version asap.

it won't be cheap - but it will be very, very cool. and it's just the start.

it's another piece of evidence - in my opinion a hugely symbolic one - of the turning point i think we're at in where cars are headed. with a camry phev, "alternative" suddenly finds itself smack in the middle of "normal".

[88HF]

What type of batteries are used in these shops? Its interesting the EDrive system uses Nimh, Chevron owns the patents for at least the process to make larger Nimh... Below is a Toyota RAV4 EV owner's youtube channel. I just noticed my IRobot Scooba has a Nimh pack.

This is about EDrive:
http://www.edrivesystems.com/faq.html
http://www.edrivesystems.com/technology.html
http://www.edrivesystems.com/

Youtube channel from Toyota Rav4 EV owner in California:
http://youtube.com/liveoilfree


"Toyota only sold about 300+ Rav4EVs. GM/Chevron sued Toyota, so Toyota had to stop making and selling them. GM/Chevron got about 30 mil from Toyota."


"The breakthrough came in 1982, when Ovshinsky, the self-made alchemist, invented small, powerful batteries made from alloys called nickel metal hydrides. American manufacturers were indifferent, but Japanese electronics giants embraced the technology. Last year 780 million NiMH batteries were made for computers, cell phones and other gadgets, most through licenses on Ovshinsky's patents. In 1988 the PBS science program Nova aired a documentary on Ovshinsky titled Japan's American Genius."