Toyota has been in the hybrid business for more than 20 years.
Toyota manufactures their own nickel batteries that have a failure rate during the 8 year 100,000 mile warranty of 0.03%.
It comes down to reliability and that is why Toyota uses nickel batteries.
Lithium is better suited for plugin and all electric automobiles and Toyota uses lithium in the plugin Prius.
Honda CRV hybrid will use a lithium battery. It will be interesting to follow longevity of the battery.
I test drove a Clarity and Insight before I purchased our Rav 4 hybrid and the Honda hybrid is a little different than the Toyota.
I hope Honda addressed the gas engine revving independent of depressing the accelerator.
I understand the gas engine powers the generator which powers the wheels and that is why the gas engine does not always respond to accelerating.
Very weird sensation that would take some getting use to.
I was also disappointed Honda stuck with the CVT for the hybrid.
Everything I have read the Toyota eCVT on paper should out last the belt pulley system in a CVT