Toyota develops plug-in hybrid car

Toyota tests hybrid that plugs in at home

TOKYO - Toyota already dominates the hybrid market with more than a million of the vehicles sold over the past decade. Now, it has developed a new type of hybrid that plugs into a home socket for a longer ride as an electric car, raising the stakes in the race to develop the vehicles.

The Toyota Plug-in HV received government approval Wednesday to run on public roads for tests - the first time a manufacturer has received such certification in Japan, Toyota Motor Corp. said. Toyota plans tests for the U.S. and Europe.

Other major automakers like General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co are developing plug-in hybrids, whose batteries can be recharged via a standard wall outlet.

Source: [url=http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070726/NEWS03/707260334/1004/news03]Lansing State Journal[/url]