Toyota has decided against using lithium-ion technology in its next generation of hybrids due to questions of reliability. Look no further than the problems Sony has had with the battery technology to understand why. The company's decision to stick with nickel metal hydride batteries means that the Prius won't be getting the big boost in gas mileage that many consumers were hoping for. Toyota's decision could be a boon to General Motors, which has lagged well behind the Japanese auto maker in hybrid technology. In 2009, GM plans to launch its Saturn Vue Green Line, a two-mode hybrid crossover vehicle that has plug-in capability.
Source: DailyTech.com
