Global progress on hybrids

Looks like hybrid cars are making progress globally; Toyota recently announced plans for “a $192 million plant in Japan to produce batteries for gas-electric hybrid vehicles.” In addition, there are rumors that they’ll be developing lithium-ion batteries for automotive use by 2010. Lithium-ion batteries, which might be powering your laptop right now, “produce more power and are smaller than nickel-metal hydride batteries.” You can also charge them with household electrical outlets, which means it’s only a matter of time before they’ll be able to do this.

But one almost expects that from a country that builds robots capable of conducting symphonies. A less likely spot for this kind of alt-fuel progress is Ireland. And yet, Sustainable Energy Ireland is urging the Emerald Isle to switch over to hybrids, saying the effect would be akin to “taking 100,000 cars off the road and bring down CO2 levels by 0.35 million tons a year.” Looks like they’re taking the NYC approach, converting public transport/fleet vehicles first to get people used to the idea. It’ll work well for them, we think; not only are oil prices rising, but Ireland’s only homegrown method of finding oil - drilling under leprechaun burrows - won’t work now that leprechauns have been hunted close to extinction by rambunctious German tourists.

In any case, this is good news for anyone invested, financially or ideologically, in a solution to the fuel crisis. Let’s hope America can rise to meet these international efforts, but our burdens will be lessened come 2009 when we won’t be dipping into our oil reserves to power Dick Cheney.

5/30/08 UPDATE: Sanyo and Volkswagen announced plans to jointly develop a lithium-ion car battery.