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2009 Prius to get 85 MPG using “Safe” Lithium Ion Batteries
Here's a good look at the next-generation Toyota Prius. The inside word from Japan is that the '09 version of the landmark hybrid will deliver both better fuel economy and more power. Engine size increases to 1.8 liters. New batteries and refinements to the Hybrid Synergy drive maybe even a solar panel on the roof and eventually plug-in capability could up city economy to 80 mpg. It may not look it, but the body will be all-new, growing 1 in. wider, but getting 1 in. shorter in overall length.
So, the word (and the picture that's worth a thousand more words) got out on the new 09 Toyota Prius. Kudos to folks at Popular Mechanics for publishing their spy report in the March 2007 issue of the magazine. There are scarce details about the next-gen Prius yet but here is what's known so far:
Toyota is preparing a new kind of Lithium Ion battery that is not subject to the same kind of thermal breakdown and catastrophic failure that have thus far stopped the wide adoption of superior battery technology for automotive applications. The new Lithium Ion batteries utilize a new phosphate based cathode material instead of the traditional cobalt-oxide cathode material. Phosphates are extremely stable in overcharge or short circuit conditions and have the ability to withstand high temperatures without decomposing. If abuse or sudden impact does occur, phosphates are not prone to thermal runaway and will not burn. Because of the use of these new batteries, electric only mode has been greatly expanded, giving the new lightly larger Prius 85mpg in combined city/hwy driving. Acceleration is expected to improve also with 0-60 times down to around 9 seconds. Toyota is hoping that this new technology will give it ability to expand range and mileage without it having to offer a plug-in version which might turn off consumers because of its added complexity.
1.) It's expected to get a new 1.8L engine and better fuel economy at the same time. Sounds like an oxymoron to me though. You'd think larger engine means more fuel consumption but we'll see.
2.) The car is going to become 1inch wider and 1 inch shorter. I think I like that. Current model looks a bit too narrow. Is it just me or you guys also think of it as not being terribly stable on the road, especially if loaded heavily as I had a chance to experience today myself. I think it has to do with the body being rather high and narrow. Even though heavy batteries on the bottom surely add stability to the current model already, and think the new Prius will benefit at least aesthetically from becoming a bit wider.
3.) The 80MPG figure announced by PM seems to be totally taken off a wall. I think that the author was participating in some earlier discussions about diesel hybrid before where the 80MPG figure was getting tossed around a lot and that stuck. Again, better fuel economy with larger engine seems rather unobtainable, but we'll see what future hold. Maybe the 09 Prius is really going top be diesel?
4.) The solar panels on the roof seems a bit looney an idea. I hope Toyota drops that. If they ever actually considered that of course. I can imagine that good panels the size of the roof will cost $2000-$3000, will be rather brittle and heavy and might only add maybe 300W if (big if!) the car is parked on scorching Sun. I don't know about you but I always instinctively park in the shadow if it's available, so the solar panels will be of little use to me. In any case, what good are the solar panels if you are parked in a garage, anyways?
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