Why?
Toyota has a better ES3diesel-electric hybrid car, which at 104 mpg gets very close to what I had predicted a diesel-electric hybrid should be able to achieve. Furthermore, it does so using today's commercial quality materials and technology, not some prohibitively expensive space-age materials such as with VW's $1 million prototype tandem 2-seat "1 Liter" concept car,(the "sausage"), which gets 265 mpg. So Toyota could put its new ES3hybrid diesel-electric car into production tomorrow morning if it really wanted to do so and could make a great commercial success of it. But as Toyota told me themselves, they have no interest in doing so.
"The ES3 has a 1.4 litre turbocharged diesel engine and CVT (continuously variable transmission). The engine cuts out when the car stops, automatically and instantly restarting when you touch the accelerator to move off again. Energy that would be lost from braking is used to charge the battery, and the body panels are made from biodegradable plastics. You will see more of these things in future Toyotas.
In developing the ES3, all aspects of recycling were taken into full consideration with special emphasis being placed on the development of materials that are compatible with a variety of recycling methods. As a new type of material, Toyota developed a biodegradable plastic made from starch extracted from sweet potatoes and other plants. This plastic was combined with natural fibers for use in the ES3's pillar garnish and other interior parts. In addition to recylability, the ES3 is free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Also, the reduction of the amount of lead used in light bulbs, paint and other items significantly decreases the overall volume of lead used in the ES3."
http://www.therant.info/archives/000060.html
http://129.33.47.206/about/environment/technology/es3.html