http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...qQ0kIqiWXmmNjA

 

What are they going to do for batteries? I thought they were at capacity for those in Japan???

 

I also wonder about that... :-s

 

It seems that Toyota has obtained an increse in the hybrid batteries. Being a hybrid owner I am all for the increase use of theses cars to help reduce the oil costs.

If GM would get off their A"" and work to produce ,they could lead in the US. Back in 1973 we had a gas problem and GM started to move forward, but the the gas supply increased and Gm put it on the back burner.

With the Auto Industries and oil companys pushing gas we can never get ahead in other type fuels.

When you look at all the problems today, we could have have been a leader in the world in energy. But of course that takes an effort on the part of the congress and all the Goverment to get on board.

NOW do you think thats going to happen

 

Was it Japan who backed Toyota or did they do it by themselves?

 

Sure wish Algea based Bio-D would get some attention.

Prius-D running off L-ion batteries and Bio-D getting 80 mpg would be sweet.

 

It's not just GM whose sales have tanked. Count Toyota's Prius. In fact they've decided not to complete the Mississippi plant which was supposed to come on line in 2010.

The following is from today's LA Time's Business Section:

To date, Toyota has spent about $300 million of the Mississippi plant's anticipated $1.3-billion price tag. The automaker plans to finish building the facility, now about 90% complete, but it won't install the metal-stamping machines, robotics and other expensive equipment needed to assemble cars.

Prius sales plunged 48.3% to 8,660 in November compared with the same month a year earlier, worse than the 36.7% drop in overall U.S. light vehicle sales. The year-to-date picture is somewhat better, with Prius down 9.6% versus 16.3% for the industry overall.

Prius sales have been hit by a double whammy of falling gasoline prices and the U.S. recession, which is keeping buyers out of dealer showrooms. In the summer, when gas prices were topping $4.50 a gallon, dealers in Southern California were selling Priuses for $3,000 to $5,000 over sticker, said Jesse Toprak, executive industry analyst at auto information website Edmunds.com.