We based our initial comments on news reports that the vehicles would
be tested both in Japan and the U.S., but this official announcement
says the company will start in Japan, with "plans to conduct public
road tests in the U.S. and Europe." We'll get clarifications and, we
hope, further technical details, over the next few days!

Japan Certifies Toyota Plug-in Hybrid for Public-road Tests
Japan Corporate Newswire
http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=14929

Tokyo, Japan, July 25, 2007 - (JCN Newswire) - TOYOTA MOTOR
CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it has developed a plug-in
hybrid vehicle and become the first manufacturer to have such a
vehicle certified for use on public roads in Japan.

The TOYOTA Plug-in HV-certified for public road-use by Japan's
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport-uses, like earlier
TMC-developed hybrid vehicles, both a gasoline-powered internal
combustion engine and an electric motor. But increased battery
capacity gives it a longer electric-motor-only cruising range and a
battery-charging device allows users to replenish the batteries using
household electricity. These features enable the vehicle to run more
often in gasoline-free, electric-only mode, such as on short trips in
city driving. The resulting fuel efficiency improvements mean lower
CO2 emissions and less fossil fuel consumption and, therefore, less
pollution. Also, charging the battery with less-expensive nighttime
electricity lowers total running costs, providing an economic benefit
to owners.

Although challenges still exist in the development of pure electric
vehicles such as a limited cruising range and issues related to cost,
TMC still views plug-in hybrid vehicles as a promising technology for
allowing electricity to serve as a viable power source for
automobiles and is committed to their continued development as a key
environmental technology.

TMC plans to conduct public-road tests in Japan with eight units of
the TOYOTA Plug-in HV to verify electric-motor-only cruising ranges
and optimal battery capacity. While doing so, it plans to provide the
government with data for formulating testing methods for emissions
and fuel efficiency and to consider TMC's measures for promoting
plug-in hybrids and the use of electricity. There are also plans to
conduct public-road tests of the TOYOTA Plug-in HV in the United
States and in Europe.

--- Main Specifications of Toyota Plug-in HV ------------
Vehicle
Name: TOYOTA Plug-in HV
Length/Width/Height: 4,445/1,725/1,490mm
Weight: 1,360kg
Seating capacity: 5 persons
Performance in electric vehicle mode
Cruising range: 13km in the 10-15 Japanese test cycle
Maximum vehicle speed: 100km/h
Engine
Displacement: 1,496cc
Maximum output: 56kW(76PS)/5,000rpm
Maximum torque: 110N-m (11.2kg-m)/4,000rpm
Motor
Type: AC synchronous motor
Maximum output: 50kW(68PS)/1,200-1,540rpm
Maximum torque: 400N-m(40.8kg-m)/0-1,200rpm
Secondary battery
Type: Nickel-metal hydride
Capacity: 13Ah (6.5Ah x 2)
Rated voltage: 202V
Overall system
Maximum output*: 100kW (136PS)
Voltage: 202-500V
Battery charging
Power source: Household electrical power
Charging time: 1-1.5hrs (200V), 3-4hrs (100V)

Based on TMC calculations; output that the system can achieve using
engine power and electric motor power (electric motor power is
dependent on battery power)

About Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), established in 1937,
is one of the world's representative automobile manufacturers,
producing vehicles in 26 countries and regions and marketing vehicles
in more than 170 countries and regions. In fiscal 2006, Toyota
provided nearly eight million vehicles on a consolidated basis to
customers around the world under the Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino
brands. Toyota had more than 280,000 employees at the end of fiscal
2006. The company is headquartered in Aichi, Japan. For more
information, please visit www.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html .

Contact:
Toyota Motor Corporation
Corporate Communications Department
Public Affairs Division
Tel: +81-3-3817-9150
URL: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/

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Felix Kramer fkramer@...
Founder California Cars Initiative
http://www.calcars.org
http://www.calcars.org/news-archive.html
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