Toyota's plug-in hybrids go global

Toyota Motor Corp. said it would sell plug-in hybrid cars globally in about two years, as the Japanese auto maker seeks to retain its dominance in the market for cars powered by alternative technologies. “Toyota believes that plug-in hybrids are a realistic solution among vehicles using electricity,” Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada said at a Tokyo news conference, where the company displayed a plug-in version of its Prius, the top-selling hybrid vehicle globally. As with today’s hybrids, Toyota’s plug-in models will be powered by an electric motor and a gasoline engine that kicks in to drive the wheels when the batteries run low or more power is needed. (December 15, 2009)