tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844581.post8320185074026658187..comments2007-11-10T08:45:57.742-08:00Dahcredynshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687525897516386077noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9844581.post-55418545762503693842007-11-10T08:45:00.000-08:002007-11-10T08:45:00.000-08:00<B>Complete Story</B><BR/><BR/>Toyota delivered two <A HREF="http://www.soultek.com/clean_energy/hybrid_cars/hybrid_car_types/toyota_prius_hybrid.htm" REL="nofollow">Toyota Prius</A> hybrid cars that have been converted into <A HREF="http://www.soultek.com/clean_energy/hybrid_cars/better_than_hybrid_car_plug_in_hybrid_car.html" REL="nofollow">plug-in hybrid vehicles</A>; one to the University of California-Irvine, the other to UC-Berkeley. While the <A HREF="http://www.soultek.com/clean_energy/hybrid_cars/hybrid_cars.htm" REL="nofollow">hybrid cars</A> use NiMH batteries, rather than lithium-ion batteries, the vehicles have "oversized packs of nickel-metal hydride batteries that effectively simulate the level of performance Toyota expects to achieve when it eventually develops more advanced, compact and powerful battery systems," according to Toyota.<BR/><BR/>"Before we bring it to market, our customers always expect a level of quality and reliability, value and cost," said Bob Carter, who heads the Toyota brand in the United States. "It's critical that we understand the expectations of the consumers."<BR/><BR/>Susan Shaheen, research director of the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at UC Berkeley said the Berkeley car will be used to see "Where they drive, how they recharge the vehicles, when they recharge the vehicles. And we will ask them a great deal about their perceptions." Also, according to <A HREF="http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN0937759520071110?rpc=44" REL="nofollow">Reuters</A>, researchers will try learn "how long drivers want the plug-ins to run on electric power only, how much they will pay for one, and where they will use charging stations."<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, the UCI car will focus on"technical issues, such as how much electricity will be taken from the regional power grid as thousands of hybrid owners plug in."Dahcredynshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687525897516386077noreply@blogger.com