EnerDel's lithium-titanate battery has been independently tested by the Center for Transportation Research of the
Illinois-based Argonne National Laboratory. For the tests, a stock Toyota Prius had its nickel metal hydride battery pack replaced with a new 1kWh lithium ion unit from EnerDel. No problems were reported, despite the fact that no additional cooling modifications were made to the vehicle or battery pack. Additionally, a test was run which was intended to predict what the battery pack would be capable of if the Prius were converted to a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Test results were promising, with the EnerDel-equipped Prius achieving 77.41 miles per gallon on the city test. Although these results are just an approximation of what a PHEV Prius could offer, they are still promising. Also of note is the fact that internal resistance of the pack was reduced by sixty-seven percent over the stock Prius pack.

According to the press release pasted after the break, EnerDel's pack could be half the size of the Prius' stock pack while still offering the same performance, meaning that a similar-sized pack as stock would offer twice the power potential. Thanks for the tip, Jan!

General Motors is forging ahead with lithium ion battery development for both the plug-in hybrid Saturn Vue
and the Chevrolet Volt. Meanwhile Toyota's executive vice president for R&D, Kazuo Okamoto is insisting (subs req'd) that they are still too hazardous for automotive use.

Toyota is still working on getting better performance out of the nickel metal hydride batteries they use in their current hybrids. Plug-in hybrids do more cycling of the battery as they charge and discharge than current hybrids. That puts more strain on the battery and raises temperatures. For now, Toyota is testing plug-in Priuses with higher capacity NiMH batteries and won't give a timeline for moving to lithium. Okamoto also listed cost as an additional factor limiting lithium.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

From DigInfo, we get our first video glimpse of the new plug-in Prius that Toyoto is testing in Japan. DigInfo went to the Toyota New Powertrain Conference and brought back a short report. There aren't any new facts (all that's known about the car is in the links below), but we at least can now see the PHEV Prius in all of its YouTube glory. Enjoy.

Related:

• Specs of the plug-in Prius Toyota is testing in Japan
• Toyota gets Japanese approval for PHEV Prius road tests
• Toyota will test plug-in Prius, with li-ion packs, in Japan

[Source: DigInfo, h/t to Linton and HUGG]

I'm just going to assume you've heard that Toyota is testing a plug-in Prius on public roads in Japan. If this has slipped by you, check out the links below. Otherwise, you know that the PHEV uses the standard nickel metal hydride batteries, not new and fancy lithium ion batteries. So, what does the plug-in NiMH give you? BusinessWeek fills us in.

First, the PHEV is 100 kilograms (220 pounds) heavier than the standard Prius. The larger battery means there's no room for a spare tire. The test models can go just 13 kilometers on electric power alone, and the 1.5-liter gas engine kicks in any time the speed goes over 100 kmh (the current Prius' gas engine starts up at 68 kmh). The batteries recharge in 60-90 minutes at 200 volts or 3-4 hours at 100 volts.

If emissions are all you're concerned about, the PHEV Prius looks good. Probably. Even with the excess weight and figuring in "emissions created in the production of the electricity used to recharge the batteries" (BusinessWeek's phrase), is cleaner than current hybrids. BusinessWeek explains the differences depending on where you plug it in:

However, the level of emissions reduction varies from country to country, depending on how the electricity is produced. In France, which relies heavily on nuclear power, the projected carbon dioxide reduction could be as much 45%, Toyota estimates. But in the U.S., where most energy is created by burning fossil fuels, the benefits are far smaller, at an estimated 4%. Toyota says those benefits could be boosted by the use of biofuels, which the plug-in Prius accepts.

So, the plug-in Prius - as it's being tested right now - nets us just four percent decrease in CO2 emissions. The good news is that that number can only get greener.

Related:

• Toyota gets Japanese approval for PHEV Prius road tests
• Toyota will test plug-in Prius, with li-ion packs, in Japan

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Here's a peek into what makes this whole share-everything/Web 2.0 thing pretty cool: we can ride along with one guy, somewhere in Seattle (username davem5321 on YouTube), who is cranking out 1000+ miles from one tank of gas in his Prius. Granted, it's a modified plug-in Prius, but you can tell he's getting serious about his hypermiling, not only using the Prius' built in record-keeping, but also a hand-held GPS unit to keep track of his travels. In fact, davem5321 has been obsessively posting videos pretty regularly about his life with his PHEV Prius. I've added all his current videos, about 15 minutes worth total, in order after the break (note how he even gets a lightweight extension cord to keep weight down!) and you can keep an eye on future reports from him on his YouTube channel.

Related:

• Hypermiling your fuel economy - The greenest extreme sport for cars

[Source: YouTube, h/t to Linton]

Hot on the heels of A123Systems announcing that they would start selling plug-in hybrid conversion kits that are developed with Hymotion, A123 is now buying Hymotion outright. Hymotion developed and fabricates battery packs that can be installed in the spare tire well of a Toyota Prius. The battery packs have integrated battery charge management electronics. So far the Hymotion system has only be available to fleets but regular consumers will be able to buy them in 2008.

[Source: A123Systems]

AutoExpress magazine in the UK has a report in this week's issue about the next generation Toyota Prius. They are reporting that the new Prius will be switching from nickel metal hydride batteries to lithium ion batteries that have greater capacity in an even smaller size. With the smaller package, interior room of the new car should be improved, especially in the back seat. The improved power output of the lithium batteries will allow the car to run on electrons-only more often in urban traffic.

According to the magazine, Toyota engineers are targeting a mileage rating of 113 mpg, with improved 0-60 mph acceleration of less than 10 seconds. The internal combustion part of the drive train is reported to be a new turbocharged 1.8L lean burn four cylinder. The car may even get factory plug-in capability when it goes on sale in 2009 and now that GM has announced their intention to offer a plug-in hybrid Saturn Vue, this one may be a certainty. The styling is also reported to be revamped, with a spy photo in the print version of the magazine.

[Source: AutoExpress]