Toyota makes hybrid choice

JAPAN // After three years of extensive testing of lithium-ion batteries for its hybrid vehicles, Toyota has decided to stick with nickel batteries instead of lithium-ion batteries. Since 2006, 126 Toyota Priuses in Japan, the US and Europe have been tested with the more expensive lithium-ion batteries. While lithium-ion batteries can hold twice the energy of nickel and yield small fuel economy gains because of the lighter weight, Toyota has decided that it will be more cost-effective to use nickel batteries for mass market production of hybrid vehicles.