http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wcbe/local-wcbe-751917.mp3
Columbus, OH –
General Motors' top product executive says the race between his company and Toyota to produce an electric ybrid car is meaningless because the companies' vehicles are different. Vice-chair Bob Lutz says Toyota's plug-in hybrid has a much shorter electric range than the GM model and must use a gasoline engine to go any farther. Toyota's president pledged on Thursday to bring his company's plug-in hybrid to market in 2009, while the GM model is due in showrooms in late 2010. Lutz says he expects Toyota's plug-in will be debuted in controlled fleets and not in large nubmers. He says GM will have production versions in a large test fleet in late 2009. Lester Graham reports there are concerns about whether pollution from power plants will be any better than pollution from tailpipes.