Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto announced that work on the new Prius is right on schedule. He expressed surprise that other media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, have indicated that there have been delays in the project, as well as in crafting new lithium-ion batteries for future hybrid powertrains.
"I never said there was any delay," Takimoto flatly declared to a reporter at the opening of the Toyota Motor Show. "Work on the next-generation Prius and work on the next-generation lithium-ion battery are both moving forward according to our plan."
However, Takimoto declined to say exactly when either project would be completed and ready for the market.
One thing the Toyota official did make clear was that the lithium-ion battery project and the next-generation Prius are not, in fact, linked--despite many rumors to the contrary. He said that the future Prius won't need a lithium-ion battery, because the current nickel-hydride batteries are already well-suited for the vehicle. Rather, improvements can be made to the engine and other parts in order to increase fuel efficiency.
A lithium-ion battery, in Takimoto's view, would be "more fun" in, and better suited to, a plug-in hybrid or an electric car, rather than a conventional parallel hybrid, as the Prius currently is configured. Forthcoming plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles could better utilize the advantages of a lithium-ion battery, such as greater range and a quicker recharging cycle.
Toyota is already testing plug-in hybrids at its Japanese proving grounds, so the technology may find its way into a future Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicle.