Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
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Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer Mon Jun 16, 1:44 PM ET
TOKYO - Toyota is struggling to keep up with booming demand for its hybrid vehicles because it can't make enough of the batteries that are key parts in the hit "green" cars, a senior executive said Monday.
The crunch is likely to remain the rest of the year, as battery production can't be boosted until next year, said Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada, who oversees production at Japan's top automaker.
"Hybrids are selling so well we are doing all we can to increase production," he told The Associated Press. "We need new lines."
Battery production is critical in determining how many hybrid vehicles Toyota can produce, Uchiyamada said at the company's Tokyo office.
Hybrids, including Toyota's top-selling Prius, offer better mileage than comparable gas-only cars by switching to an electric motor whenever possible...
By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer Mon Jun 16, 1:44 PM ET
TOKYO - Toyota is struggling to keep up with booming demand for its hybrid vehicles because it can't make enough of the batteries that are key parts in the hit "green" cars, a senior executive said Monday.
The crunch is likely to remain the rest of the year, as battery production can't be boosted until next year, said Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada, who oversees production at Japan's top automaker.
"Hybrids are selling so well we are doing all we can to increase production," he told The Associated Press. "We need new lines."
Battery production is critical in determining how many hybrid vehicles Toyota can produce, Uchiyamada said at the company's Tokyo office.
Hybrids, including Toyota's top-selling Prius, offer better mileage than comparable gas-only cars by switching to an electric motor whenever possible...
Last edited by haroldo; Jun 17, 2008 at 06:26 AM.
Keeping Toyota Solvent
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,069
From: Princeton, New Jersey
Re: Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
Reading between the lines:
Next year Toyota switches to Li-Ion battery technology.
??
Next year Toyota switches to Li-Ion battery technology.
??
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 244
From: Oregon
Re: Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
No reason to read between any lines when a Google search "Toyota battery plant" gives the answer that they are building a third Nickel Metal Hydride (not Lithium Ion) plant. Here's one link:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...380/1148/rss25
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...380/1148/rss25
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 21
Re: Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
Although the news story says that the plant will produce NiMH batteries, it seems likely that they will be able to switch production to new technologies when they are ready. Toyota's core expertise, after all, is in manufacturing: they have been pioneers in efficient and flexible manufacturing processes for decades.
The biggest story here is that Toyota anticipates continued strong demand for hybrids; otherwise why invest in a battery production facility. But that hardly will surprise readers of this forum!
The biggest story here is that Toyota anticipates continued strong demand for hybrids; otherwise why invest in a battery production facility. But that hardly will surprise readers of this forum!
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 255
From: Raleigh,NC
Re: Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
Yes, i am sure that demand for Toyota's hybrids went way up after i bought mine in August of last year. I waited for 3-4 weeks to get mine. I had already test drove a TCH in Jan of last year. Now that gas has been above $3.50/gal for almost 6 months, demand has gone through the roof. And i can imagine the price cuts are not as severe anymore either.
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From: New Jersey
Re: Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
Funny thing happens with supply and demand.
I'd bet that the cost of buying and driving a Suburban is cheaper today, despite gas prices nearly doubling, than it was a year or two ago (GM recently announced a $7,000 price reduction).
Drive a Suburban 12000 miles, 15 miles to the gallon comes out to 800 gallons a year. The increase in gas price $2/gal = $1600 increase in driving cost/year. The price reduction pays for nearly 4 1/2 years of increased fuel costs.
Conversely, the TCH premium (over the gas Camry) used to be around a 3-4 year payback. Now that the demand for the car has grown, the (presumed) cost increase and premium to the gas version negate much, if not all, of the savings from the TCH's efficiency.
It might (just guessing) be cheaper to buy and drive a gas Camry over the long term than to buy and own a TCH.
This will change when there are more hybrids available, but until then, it might be cheaper to own a guzzler???
Yes, there are other considerations than just the cost.
I'd bet that the cost of buying and driving a Suburban is cheaper today, despite gas prices nearly doubling, than it was a year or two ago (GM recently announced a $7,000 price reduction).
Drive a Suburban 12000 miles, 15 miles to the gallon comes out to 800 gallons a year. The increase in gas price $2/gal = $1600 increase in driving cost/year. The price reduction pays for nearly 4 1/2 years of increased fuel costs.
Conversely, the TCH premium (over the gas Camry) used to be around a 3-4 year payback. Now that the demand for the car has grown, the (presumed) cost increase and premium to the gas version negate much, if not all, of the savings from the TCH's efficiency.
It might (just guessing) be cheaper to buy and drive a gas Camry over the long term than to buy and own a TCH.
This will change when there are more hybrids available, but until then, it might be cheaper to own a guzzler???
Yes, there are other considerations than just the cost.
Keeping Toyota Solvent
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,069
From: Princeton, New Jersey
Re: Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
Beats 26 weeks it took for my '04 Prius "way back then".
Veracitorian Muser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 336
From: Tempe, Arizona
Re: Toyota hybrid battery outpaced by demand
With a better than 10 MPG average increase in milage for the 12K miles I drive a year, that is over 100 gallons of gas saved a year. So, the payoff period for my TCH was 100 gal/yr * $4/gal / (-$200) = - 2 years. See, my TCH payback for its hybrid cost penalty was 2 years before I bought it! Only half of the 4 years you suggest!
-- Alan
