Toyota will continue focusing on "clean halo" hybrids, not EVs or diesels
Toyota FT-EV concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
It's not terribly surprising that Toyota – the automaker often credited for creating the first modern mainstream hybrid automobile – would seek to continue establishing its marketplace dominance in hybrid automobiles. The Prius alone has sold well over a million units since its inception in 1997 and is undoubtedly the vehicle that defines the eco-friendly automobile market. With that in mind, don't expect the Japanese automaker to make any wholesale changes to its plans for world hybrid domination in favor of electric cars or diesels. Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister said:
One of the obstacles of the diesel is the aged perception that the diesel is smoky and stinky. It's hard to change the mind-set of consumers. Hybrid technology has such a clean halo to it.In a separate interview, incoming President Akio Toyoda added:
Electric cars' battery life is limited, and that has not been solved. We would like to utilize our hybrid technology because we have accumulated quite a bit of knowledge about battery usage for hybrid cars. Depending on how electric cars are used or how they are found to be valuable, for the time being Toyota would like to focus on hybrid technology.
Gallery: 2009 Toyota FT-EV Concept
[Sources: AutoWeek, GM-Volt.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nixon 2:20PM (7/01/2009)
There is no surprise in Toyota publicly working to maintain the status quo. They are in a great position right now with the Prius, and they would be crazy to jeopardize any sales of their new revised Prius by talking about any other possible solution.
That is because they are the market leader in the segment, by far. And talking about other products that they might release in the near future would just hurt sales of the new Prius model that they are building right now. Saying something better is coming in a year or two would just hurt sales today.
So Toyota will be the LAST to announce they have a great new product that is better than the Prius. They will have to be forced into releasing something different by competitors offering something better than the Prius.
When that day finally comes, Toyota will announce that they have invented something new that "breaks all the old paradigms", and that "everything has been changed". Toyota will then suddenly become the biggest proponent of some sort of plug-in hybrid or BEV technology. Toyota's new vehicles will happen to be ready to hit the showroom floors in a reasonable enough time that buyers will look at Toyota's competitor's new vehicle and say to themselves: "Hey, Toyota says their new car changes everything, maybe I better wait and test drive it before I buy..."
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John Rowell 12:29PM (7/01/2009)
The hybrid itself was a game-changer, and many of the car makers claimed Toyota would lose money on it. Toyota (and Honda) came introduced the hybrid which was a revolutionary concept at the time. Toyota might say they're not interested in EVs, but I have no doubt they're working feverishly on the technology albeit incognito. They've proved with their success in hybrids that they're not afraid to bring change to the market, and EVs are the next logical step.
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paulwesterberg 12:31PM (7/01/2009)
The toyota spokesman also said:
"Pay no attention to the EV behind the curtain. We are not interested in EV technology. We are not designing or testing EVs as far as I know and I would caution our competitors from being so foolish as to invest in electric vehicle technology. Follow our leadership press releases, we are the market leader and we believe that gas burning vehicles are the wave of the future."
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xyz 6:01PM (7/01/2009)
It shows again that it doesn't make sense to listen to their drivel.
Today it's NO to EV's (like VW statement), YES to hydrogen (like Banco tries to tell us all the time) or YES to hybrids or maybe not???
Guys, no matter what they tell us: If it will make money - they'll do it. Even if it does mean lying, working together with their enemies or telling even the truth.
pinili 12:37PM (7/01/2009)
When the price of the volt goes down and the lower-priced tesla models come out, and also the eventual launch of EVs from nissan/renault, toyota will know how GM feels now.
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Anonymouse 12:42PM (7/01/2009)
"Electric cars' battery life is limited, and that has not been solved. "
Earth to Toyota: the larger the pack, the lower the charge and discharge rate per cell and the fewer cycles the cells go through per mile. Hybrids -- your darling -- are *far harder* on their batteries than EVs.
You were saying, Toyota?
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spw 1:06PM (7/01/2009)
You source is GM-Volt.com?
Oh please, lets take things out of context, Toyota is working on both EV and Diesels.
Toyota has wide range of Diesel engines, which are considered among the best (if not the best in Europe).
What they were saying is that for mass market, world wide, they are considering hybrids to be the best bet, it doesnt mean they wont have diesels (which they have already, lol), or EV's (which are planned).
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Matt Lenart 1:07PM (7/01/2009)
Maybe they should re-examine their own RAV4-EV... a ten year-old EV that does NOT have limited battery life... at least battery life that exceeds the life of the vehicle.
A lot of times I wonder who these absurd claims are directed at.
With the introduction of the iMiEV, you can bet Toyota will respond quickly to avoid losing its market share.
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jpm 2:28PM (7/01/2009)
Exactly what I was thinking. I've spoken with two rav4 EV owners, both are ecstatic about owning it.
Alan 1:11PM (7/01/2009)
There goes the boat, Toyota aren't on board (yet).
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gorr 1:32PM (7/01/2009)
Quote from the article '' Electric cars' battery life is limited, and that has not been solved '' Then why are they doing electric battery cars ?
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win39 1:42PM (7/01/2009)
Oh, they will be very ready when the price of a suitable battery drops.
win39 1:40PM (7/01/2009)
Toyota was working on hybrid technologies at least a dozen years before the first Prius came out. Even after the Insight came out Toyota's hybrid technology was not ready either. Lots of Toyota(and Honda) executives admitted for years that they were producing them at a big loss. They may be breaking even now or making a small profit, but I doubt they have paid back their previous loss on each hybrid.
It is easy to understand in the current economic crisis that they are not willing to do that again. An EV with a decent range at a decent price is not available yet because of current battery cost. A saleable car because of price would not have the best kind of battery and what they say would be true.
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Chris M 3:42PM (7/01/2009)
Actually, Toyota started selling the Prius in Japan 3 years before the Insight was launched. Sales to the US and the rest of the world were delayed until late 2000 for the 2001 model.
It took 6 years of sales to pay back the development costs, but Toyota started turning a profit on the Prius in 2003. It has been making a solid profit ever since.
frunobulax9 1:41PM (7/01/2009)
do any of you have any actual science background? you're mostly just talking off the top of your head, or actually out your ass. wishing doesn't make it so.
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Chris M 3:50PM (7/01/2009)
This is an open comment blog, so there are all types here, wise to foolish, knowledgeable to ignorant, and to shake things up a bit, a few kooks.
There aren't many who are professional scientists or engineers, but many who have a solid knowledge and understanding of the sciences.
A word of advice: Posting vague insults and ad-hominem attacks won't make you very popular. Try to keep on target.
polo 7:20PM (7/01/2009)
Yes, I helped invent the automaton bomb, though it never caught on because it would always blow up on its own.
polo 7:23PM (7/01/2009)
Yes, I helped invent the automaton bomb, though it never caught on because it would always blow up on its own..
James 1:43PM (7/01/2009)
The 'aged perception that the diesel is smoky and stinky' is truly unfortunate. While PHEVs and EVs may be more ideal long-term solutions, diesels are an affordable powertrain alternative that could improve efficiency dramatically in the short term. We understand the technology, and it's far less expensive than HEVs, but the U.S. market will not have it. In addition to misconceptions about diesel (which continue to be reinforced aggressively by some corporations: http://bit.ly/uhaul), the U.S. tax structure and other regulations do not provide incentive to switch to diesel (as opposed to the situation in Europe).
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mel 6:12PM (7/01/2009)
Their hybrids are the perfect testbed for BEVs. They are gradually electrifying all the components, slowly increasing the size of battery pack and electric drive train and accumulating all the experience they will ever need on batteries. And some point all they need to do is kick out whatever small ICE engine is left. But of course they don't want to stir up the public about this. They just want to sell now whatever they have now, and that's hybrids.
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