The hybrid's battery is about one-sixth the size and weight of those of pure electric vehicles. That reduces costs of expensive materials such as nickel and hydrogen alloys. The first hybrid car will have a 1.5-liter engine, about the size of the Toyota Corolla's engine. Toyota said the car will run about twice as far on a tank of gas as the Corolla, which gets about 28 kilometers per gallon.
Toyota is hoping to use the system in several models, but said it hasn't decided whether it will be introduced in the U.S. Because the hybrid burns gasoline, it wouldn't be able to meet California's stringent requirements for "zero emissions" in 800,000 cars on California highways by 2010, though it would qualify as a "low emissions" vehicle.
Toyota is hoping California environmental officials will ease the standards to allow hybrids to qualify, said Takehisa Yaegashi, chief engineer of Toyota's hybrid system. Last year, California did back off its previous requirement that 2% of California vehicles sold in 1998 and beyond have zero emission.
Hybridpower systems have been around for a few years but have been used primarily in trucks and buses. Volkswagen AG's Audi division has developed one for cars.
Toyota is hoping to use the system in several models, but said it hasn't decided whether it will be introduced in the U.S. Because the hybrid burns gasoline, it wouldn't be able to meet California's stringent requirements for "zero emissions" in 800,000 cars on California highways by 2010, though it would qualify as a "low emissions" vehicle.
Toyota is hoping California environmental officials will ease the standards to allow hybrids to qualify, said Takehisa Yaegashi, chief engineer of Toyota's hybrid system. Last year, California did back off its previous requirement that 2% of California vehicles sold in 1998 and beyond have zero emission.
Hybridpower systems have been around for a few years but have been used primarily in trucks and buses. Volkswagen AG's Audi division has developed one for cars.
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