It seems the battery issues being reported have been serious enough that the Prius is being delayed until the spring of 2009.

I'm thinking they were considering going the nickel-metal hydride route, then decided against it since the disappointment would be too high. Now they are waiting until the new lithium-ion batteries are out.


http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...fsect=BREAKING
Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to postpone the launch of the third-generation Prius hybrid model by half a year to the spring of 2009, industrial daily Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun said today.

The world's biggest automaker has not officially announced the timing of the launch, but a consensus had built among industry watchers that the popular gasoline-electric car would be remodeled by late 2008.

The Nikkan Kogyo said Toyota decided to take more time to ensure quality after it decided to forgo replacing the nickel-metal hydride battery used in the hybrid system with a lithium-ion battery for the first version of the new model.

 

In a strange and perhaps selfish way, this makes me feel better about not have obsolete technology in my car.

I hope there is an aftermarket upfit to LI-On batteries when they are stable and proven.

 

Six months really isn't such a bad delay. If half a year is what it takes to ensure that the next Prius is as safe, reliable, and durable as the current generation, then I have no problem.

Of course, that will make the timing interesting since I've read that Honda plans to release its Fit-sized "mystery" hybrid in early 2009.

 

If you don't get one from Toyota, there are already companies that convert Prius. I assume they'll be able to do the same to the next generation.