Toyota Unveils Electric Car Concept FT-EV at Detroit 2009
January 11, 2009 by admin
Toyota has announced that it will bring a plug-in extended range Prius to market by the end of this year. Prior to the opening of the Detroit show, Toyota sent out a press release with some news about its electric vehicle plans. It will introduce as many as ten completely new hybrids by the early 2010s, and will bring a fully electric car to market in 2012.
Toyota will be showing a battery electric concept here in Detroit called the FT-EV, in addition to the new third generation Prius and its sibling the Lexus HS250h. As previously suspected, the car is based on Toyota’s new iQ mini-car (pictured above).
To make room for the electric system Toyota had to subtract 1.5 seats to make room for the lithium ion battery pack, so the car becomes very much a direct competitor to the electric SMART.
Toyota is planning a production launch of an urban battery electric vehicle by 2012, based on this concept. In addition to the FT-EV, Toyota will be delivering 150 plug-in hybrid Priuses late this year to US based fleet customers for testing. Those will be part of a 500 vehicle fleet worldwide.
The new Prius has been designed accommodate either the nickel metal hydride batteries that will in the regular production version or new lithium ion batteries as used in the plug-in.
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