Late in 2011, Toyota Motor Corp will launch a hybrid sub-compact and broaden its electric car line-up. The vehicle will be available for 1.5 million yen, or $15,760. Government tax breaks, subsidies on cleaner technology, and an increasing demand for gasoline-electric vehicles have promoted EVs in Japan greatly.  Toyota may have future plans to produce the new hybrid model in France as well, to cater to a European market.

According to a Japanese newspaper, Asahi Shimbun, the new hybrid compact by Toyota will use the platform and engine of the Yaris sub-compact, which is likely to be fully remodeled before launch in order to compete with the fuel efficiency and cost competitiveness of the Prius.

Dominant automakers Honda Motor Company and Toyota have reduced prices on their premier hybrid cars recently. The price of Toyota’s Prius has been lowered to 2.05 million yen and that of Honda’s Insight has been lowered to 1.89 million yen.

The month of April listed Honda’s Insight, the first hybrid car, on top of the best selling cars list. However, in May, Toyota’s new Prius replaced the Insight, and became the No.1 hybrid car in the Japanese market.

The Toyota sub-compact hybrid, which is yet to be launched, would be a tough contender to some of the upcoming small hybrid cars like Honda’s Fit Compact and the Honda CR-Z Hybrid.  It has been reported by The Daily that the automaker is likely to raise its daily production target in Japan. This will increase production to about 13,500 units in September and around 13,700 in October.

Why the sub?

Toyota and Honda have introduced sub-compact hybrid models to introduce a fresh alternative to existing hybrid cars (which were mostly SUVs) in the last couple of years. These SUV hybrids are more fuel-efficient (15 to 20 percent more than their counterparts). However, the mpg of these models ranges from the late teens to the early twenties.

The new subcompact hybrids are likely to be marked high in the fuel economy rankings, possibly at the 50 mpg mark or higher. Moreover, their prices are slated to be comparatively lower than the prices of current hybrid cars.

If the past is any predictor, car enthusiasts and organizations such as CalCars will begin upgrading these new hybrids into plug-in models as soon as they are released.  It remains to be seen, however, if and when they are brought to the American market, whether they will be adopted on a mass scale by an increasingly price-conscious and choosy consumer.

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In an excellent preview of what we can expect out of the next generation Toyota Prius, New York Times editor, Jerry Garret, takes the 2010 model out for a spin.

Before getting into his personal hands-on experience with the machine, he first mentions the “iconic” status of its predecessor:  asking the almost rhetorical question of, how can something that is a) comfortably bigger, b) faster, c) possessing an upgraded battery pack, and d) more energy efficient than a vehicle that already had so many admirers NOT be successful?

While Toyota puts the economy rating of its new Prius at 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway, Jerry is able to squeeze out an amazing 69 mpg in stop-and-go traffic.  He explains how a method he another auto journalist used called “pulse-and-glide” is especially well suited to maximizing the efficiency of this new model.   The new Prius also features several dashboard displays continuously giving you feedback on your fuel-consumption behavior.

The vehicle also offers 3 driving modes that are selectable:  EV for electric only;  ECO for economy; and POWER for brute force. The 2010 model utilizes a 98-horsepower gasoline engine and a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack.

The article also goes on to mention all the differences between the 2009 and 2010 models, from its upgraded Hybrid Synergy Drive system, to its improved aerodynamics, despite being 122 pounds heavier, and much, much more.  This review can’t help but get you excited if you’re already anticipating Toyota’s Hybrid 2.0.

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EDF, along with its subsidiary, Electricité de Strasbourg, will also be setting up hundreds of charging stations in parking lots, partner locations, public roads, and users’ homes.  A major goal of the Toyota-EDF partnership is to promote awareness and acceptance of a broad roll-out of electric vehicles in the minds of consumers.

Similar projects in Japan, the UK, and the United States are also in the works by the car company.

To read more about the recent announcement at Gizmag, click here.

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Although the company has not committed to a formal timeline, Piaggio Group Americas’ CEO has suggested in interviews that this highway-legal scooter is expected to be on the road relatively soon.

The new plug-in will be a modified version of the company’s Piaggio’s MP3 500. According to CEO Paul Timoni, the plug-in scooter will get up to 140 mpg, have an all-electric range of 40 miles per charge , and will be priced between $8000 and $9000.  There is also a  European version slated to be released later this year.

The design will utilize a 125cc combustion engine combined with an electric motor, and can be expected to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5 seconds.  The batery can also be charged on the go through regenerative braking.

The release date of Piaggio’s hybrid scooter would put it ahead of GM’s Chevy Volt by a couple months,  and it might coincide with the release of Toyota’s upcoming plug-in hybrid.

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Speaking at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, James Lentz, the president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., announced that Toyota would release its version of a plug-in hybrid towards the end of 2009, a year ahead of schedule. This would put its release date ahead of the Chevrolet Volt, perhaps giving it a first-entrant advantage over the American counterpart.

Toyota plans on releasing only about 500 vehicles for commercial customers at the outset, with 150 of those plug-ins destined for the United States.   G.M. plans to release its Volt plug-in to the public at large by the end of 2010.   With this strategy, it is reasonable to speculate that Toyota is looking for real-world feedback from its first consumers, giving the company the opportunity to improve and perfect its product by the time the Chevrolet Volt is released.

The plug-ins will be powered by lithium-ion batteries.

To read more about the announcement, read the original article.

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