Toyota was the first major automaker to introduce a series production hybrid to its lineup nearly 25 years ago. The first-generation Toyota Prius, though not the most attractive-looking vehicle, was a game-changer on many levels. Interestingly enough, the automaker today is in no rush to change its entire lineup to pure battery electrics, a decision already made by General Motors and Ford of Europe, among others.
Toyota is still investing plenty of time and money into its solid-state battery program and it’s been using lithium-ion batteries for popular models like the latest RAV4. But it still uses the old nickel-metal hydride battery, a chemistry nearly all other automakers long abandoned, if they ever even used it.
Keyword: Toyota Refuses To Abandon 25-Year-Old Technology