aim: zero emissions

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Here at Toyota, the environment is very important to us, it really is part of our Toyota DNA. Looking back, we get the sense of this from the Toyota Principles and Earth Charter which were adopted in 1992. We believe that environmental sustainability is the single biggest challenge facing our industry and our society this century. Our reaction to this belief affects not only our products but every aspect of our business and every person in it. In this blog, I will share with you the latest thoughts and ideas that we have, and the actions we are taking that are guided by our beliefs.

PHV - It’s a hybrid Jim, but not as we know it

Posted by Colin Hensley on March 24, 2009 in 360° approach, Green Technologies

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You may have seen some press reports last week about the plans for the launch of a significant trial of Toyota plug-in hybrids (PHVs) in Strasbourg, France. This is an activity we are doing in collaboration with EDF, a major French electricity provider. Later this year about 100 PHVs will be leased to selected companies and partners and will start running around Strasbourg.
These are what I suppose we could call our second generation PHVs, they will have lithium-ion batteries. The limited trial in London and Paris with the first generation used nickel metal hydride batteries, (that’s the same type as we used in the other 1.7 million hybrids we have sold around the world.)
PHVs really give you the best of both worlds, for short trips or commutes they are an electric vehicle, but once you need to go further, they are just like a normal full hybrid. That means you get the full performance of the vehicle at all times. When you can choose to use electricity from a renewable source, the car will be running at zero-emissions while in EV mode.
One of the reasons for the trial is to really try to find the optimum balance between EV range cruising range and battery capacity. It always possible to give a car greater autonomy, by adding more batteries, but this has a negative impact in terms of cost, weight and usability.
I haven’t yet had a chance to drive the PHV, but I look forward to doing so in the future, and you can be sure you will hear about it here, first!
I’d really like to hear your thoughts on the future direction of sustainable mobility, and which type of vehicles will be the most popular. At the end of the day, it will be the customer that has to make the decision for what they want.

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Related posts:

  1. FUTURE MOTORING, AS WE SEE IT, FROM THE TOKYO MOTOR SHOW
  2. Plugging our Plug-Ins
  3. Prius Plug-in Hybrid’s are headed this way
  4. “Keep your eyes on them there hills… the PHV is a comin’”
  5. Hybrid Synergy Drive – from vision to reality

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    Jarmo Tuisk Said,

    I believe that in terms of customer conversion rates in the early adopters segment, the PHV strategy might just be the only option, but of course the limited pure-EV range does not add up to the perceived branding value of “greenness”.

    If the early-early adopters are to be considered as the main target for PHV-s, I think the actual upfront capital cost is not the main issue or barrier for greater adoption rates. I tend to agree that the “radicalness” of the innovation is what really drives this small group.

    So my general opinion is that Toyota’s current plan with 2G Prius suits more for follower groups, whose market potential will fully blossom around 2013-2014.


    KrisBelucci Said,

    Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I’ll definitely be coming back to your site.


    AndrewBoldman Said,

    I really liked this post. Can I copy it to my site? Thank you in advance.


    Kelly Brown Said,

    Hi, very nice post. I have been wonder’n bout this issue,so thanks for posting


    CrisBetewsky Said,

    Some of us even don’t realize the importance of this information. What a pity.

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