DETROIT — Toyota said its FT-EV concept, which debuts at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, previews an urban commuter battery-electric vehicle planned for 2012.
The FT-EV shares a platform with the production Toyota iQ.
"Toyota's FT-EV concept imagines an urban dweller, driving up to 50 miles between home, work and other forms of public transportation, such as high-speed rail," said the automaker in a statement. "Although, for now, the FT-EV remains a pure concept, it represents a natural pairing of product strategies."
Toyota also said it will move up its schedule to roll out a large number of plug-in hybrid vehicles to global lease-fleet customers. It will now begin deliveries in late 2009 of 500 Prius plug-in hybrid vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries. It said 150 of these vehicles are earmarked for U.S. lease-fleet customers.
The fleet of 500 vehicles "will be used for market and engineering analysis," said Toyota.
"The Prius PHV fleet program is a key first step in confirming how and when we might bring large numbers of plug-in hybrids to global markets," Toyota explained.
The automaker said it will launch as many as 10 new hybrid models by the early 2010s in various global markets.
Inside Line says: Toyota will hammer home its alt-fuel message in the Motor City with such futuristic vehicles as the FT-EV concept. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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