Jimza Skeptic: I still stand by rushing to market. After all, both companies made very public comments (negative ) about the EREVs, BEVs and plug-ins. Then when it suddenly is clear that GM and Nissan are launching in late 2010, they change their tune. While it might be easy to dump a better battery into an existing vehicle, they are still won’t deliver until 2012. Developing anything close to the VOLT or LEAF is at least 4 years out.  (Quote)

It’s not “rushing to market.” Toyota has been in the business of building, profitably, vehicles with combined electric and gas drive for ten years. This is an evolutionary step that Toyota could take whenever they deemed the time right. Apparently, they like the economics enough at this point to do it.

Further, have you looked at gas prices, lately? A company that’s interested in MAKING MONEY is not going to drop a two billion on a car that won’t sell. Inflation adjusted, gas prices haven’t moved for 30 years.

http://www.randomuseless.info/gasprice/gasprice.html

And have you looked at the economy? Incomes are stagnant. Expensive vehicles are going to run into a lot of headwinds. Far smarter to build the most affordable car you can. The pricing on the Cruze may also be troubleseome for GM, given the economy.

Jimza Skeptic: After all, both companies made very public comments (negative ) about the EREVs, BEVs and plug-ins.

The comments from Toyota were that the battery technology was unprofitable and that electricity came from dirty sources. That’s still true… though changing.

john1701a:
That’s an interesting perspective, but easy to see it as a “waiting for the opportunity” situation instead… since the only thing needed to make the current Prius into a plug-in is a better battery-pack.The PHV model uses the same traction motor, generator motor, combustion engine, and PSD.Using those same components already being produced & sold in high-volume supports the “battery need” quite well.  

I still stand by rushing to market. After all, both companies made very public comments (negative ) about the EREVs, BEVs and plug-ins. Then when it suddenly is clear that GM and Nissan are launching in late 2010, they change their tune. While it might be easy to dump a better battery into an existing vehicle, they are still won’t deliver until 2012. Developing anything close to the VOLT or LEAF is at least 4 years out.