Detroit Auto Show: Toyota's all-electric city car

As the California Air Resources Board's mandate for automakers to start selling plug-in hybrids and zero-emissions cars gets ever bigger in the window (2012), the number of battery-electric vehicle prototypes is growing fast.

Nissan, Mitsubishi, Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz, among others, have announced plans to sell BEVs. The latest entry is from Toyota, which today unveiled an all-electric version of its iQ urban runabout called the FT-EV. The four-seat, lightweight commuter car -- with what might be the world's only rear-window-mounted air bags to protect rear passengers -- is expected to offer 50 miles of range.

As tempting as the BEV Toyota might be to the entire city of Santa Monica, Toyota makes clear that its Synergy hybrid gas-electric powertrain tech is its bread and butter, or seaweed and mochi. Thus sayeth the press release: "Although BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota's sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, is considered Toyota's long-term core powertrain technology."

And that brings us to the new and improved 2010 Prius, which will be unveiled Monday. Check back Monday for your nerdy green fix. In other Prius news, Toyota announced that it would pull forward its plug-in Prius project and start delivering 500 Prius plug-ins equipped with Panasonic-supplied lithium-ion batteries in 2009. Of these initial vehicles, 150 will be placed with U.S. lease-fleet customers.

And here's a tasty tidbit: The new Prius was engineered to use either nickel-metal-hydride batteries or a lithium-ion battery pack with plug-in capability.

-- Dan Neil

Photo: Toyota

Photo: Toyota's FT-EV. Credit: Dan Neil / Los Angeles Times

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In photos: Detroit Production Cars
In photos: Detroit Concept Cars

Comments

[Lifted trucks]

Very Interesting,but it is only a concept car.Toyota is an well known automotive industry and it can make it real. The FT-EV, Subaru R1e, and other BEVs should be sold in a value-leader version [DC batteries, no
spacey accessories, plain steel wheels and LT-tires.