Toyota accelerates battery R&D
The world's biggest carmaker and a leader of gasoline-electric vehicles has adopted nickel-metal-hydride batteries for the current Prius hybrid and decided to use more energy-efficient lithium-ion batteries for the plug-in hybrid car, which will be launched in 2012.
"We believe a key to the electrical mobile technology lies in innovation of battery technology," said Koei Saga, Toyota's managing officer who is in charge of developing batteries. "Lithium-ion batteries will already be a step forward, but we need batteries that offer far superior performance," he added.
The new division was established in January and about 50 engineers are studying production processes for the next-generation batteries. Saga did not elaborate on what the new batteries will be like or when they will come out.
Saga also said Toyota has eyed the possibility of procuring some batteries from outside the company although the carmaker will mainly keep on using its own batteries. Toyota has developed its batteries together with Japan's consumer electronics maker Panasonic.
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A third (32 per cent) of those changing providers in October moved to small and mid-tier suppliers.
With recent research showing that that nine in ten energy switchers were happy with the process of changing suppliers and with the reassurance provided by the Energy Switch Guarantee - a series of commitments ensuring switches are simple, speedy and safe - more and more customers are now confident when looking to move.
Lawrence Slade, chief executive of Energy UK said:…
