Toyota previously stated that it would reserve its lithium-ion battery technology for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, but the Japanese automaker will reportedly break its own rule with the Japanese launch of the Prius minivan.
According to an inside source, Toyota will launch its Prius minivan in the Japanese market with a lithium-ion battery pack. The Prius minivan will eventually reach U.S. shores as the Prius V, but that model will make do with nickel-metal hydride batteries.
According to Automotive News’ source, the decision to equip the Japanese-spec car with a lithium-ion battery pack is related to the vehicle’s packaging. The JDM car will feature three rows of seating – versus the Prius V’s two-rows – with the smaller lithium-ion batteries allowing for greater interior space.
“We are doing it only for cabin configuration considerations,” the source said.
The European version of the Prius minivan – the Prius + — is slated to have three-rows of seating, but it remains to be seen if that vehicle will use lithium-ion of nickel-metal hydride batteries.
The JDM Prius minivan will carry an equivalent price of $36,590, but Toyota is also planning to launch a cheaper version of the car with nickel-metal hydride batteries. That version will list from $28,660.
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1.’Toyota to equip…’ view
