Toyota Set to Debut Electric Concept Car

Toyota Motor Corp. says it will unveil a “battery-electric vehicle” concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.

No further details are released on the car.

Although a leader in hybrid-electric vehicles, Toyota has not stated an intention to mass-market fully electric vehicles.

Japanese competitors Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., as well as General Motors Corp., all have plans to bring EVs to market in the coming years.

Nissan is set to debut an EV in late 2010 and Mitsubishi will begin retailing its i-MiEV car next year in Japan.

GM’s Chevy Volt, which has the ability to travel 40 miles (64 km) on an electric battery, but also boasts a gas-engine generator, will go on sale in 2010 as an ‘11 model.

All the vehicles will use lithium-ion batteries as a power source.

Toyota’s battery joint-venture with Panasonic EV Energy Co. Ltd. in Japan is adding a dedicated production line for Li-ion batteries, which the auto maker earlier said would be installed primarily in its next-generation HEVs.