As the general acceptance for the hybrid technology has grown extensively in recent years, Toyota announced it is speeding up its production of Prius plug-in cars, revealing new plans of facing rival General Motors.

The plan is to make the experimental hybrids available by the end of next year, from 2010 as initially intended, Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters. The plug-in Prius will have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and are intended for fleet operators such as corporations and municipalities.

Furthermore, Toyota is also working on an electric power small car which should be mass produced as early as 2010, however, no specific details have been given on the design or price. What we do know is that the car is intended for the general public.

In July this year, the Japanese automaker announced plans to revamp the North American market by adapting its car models to the latest tendency in gasoline princes. The company said it would replace less fuel-efficient models with hybrids and extend their availability throughout the United States.

Toyota’s strategy may actually consist in launching the plug-in cars before GM does, since the two hybrids seem to promise different performances: while Prius promises to run 10 miles on electric charge before switching to gasoline, GM’s Chevrolet Volt promises 40 miles on battery supply.

GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told the Associated Press: “A plug-in hybrid with a limited range is a very nice thing to have. It’s wonderful that Toyota is working on this. If they have some test fleets out next year that’s great. But it’s not the same thing as Chevy Volt, which is not a plug-in hybrid.”