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Not All Hybrids Created Equal
Toyota Motor Sales, Ú.S.A., Inc. - When gas prices hit an all-time high during the spring/summer of 2008, the popularity of – and chatter about – hybrid vehicles soared. 'Hybrid' became the buzz word as Americans looked for ways to cut costs while also being environmentally friendly.But, not all hybrids are created equal. The basic concept of a hybrid vehicle is constant – a combination of two technologies, in this case a gasoline engine and electric motor—that work in tandem to power the vehicle. However, that's about where the similarities end.
Full hybrids-the most advanced
Hybrid powertrains differ in motor and engine combinations. The 'full hybrid' is generally the most advanced type and is the only system that can operate on electric or gasoline power, or a combination of the two. Full hybrids run on electric drive at low speeds, on gasoline and electric drive in traffic, and on gasoline alone at highway speeds. Computers automatically coordinate the electric motor and gasoline engine for an optimal balance of responsive performance, fuel economy and lower emissions.
What's more, wîth a full hybrid, the vehicle automatically shuts off the engine when coming to a stop and restarts the engine as needed when the vehicle begins to move forward again. This prevents wasted energy from idling and starting from a dead stop – two times when a vehicle's engine is the most inefficient.A full hybrid recharges the hybrid battery during operation, so it doesn't need to be plugged in for recharging. The batteries also recover energy back from the drive train in a process called regenerative braking. Regenerative braking is a mechanism that reduces vehicle speed by converting some of its kinetic energy into a storable form of energy instead of dissipating it as heat as wîth a conventional brake. The captured energy is stored for future use.
 | Vital Stats |
| Engine : 3.3 L., 6-cylinder Power: 209 hp Torque: 212 ft-lbs | |
Power-assist hybrids
The power-assist hybrid, sometimes called the 'mild hybrid,' relies on the gas engine to power the vehicle at all times. In this type of hybrid, the electric motor only assists the engine as needed for more power greater efficiency and lower emissions. Motors and batteries are less powerful than in full hybrids. The transmission can be automatic or manual, and is largely the same as in a conventional car. As wîth full hybrids, power-assist hybrids also have regenerative braking.
Toyota holds more than 1,000 patents pertaining to hybrid drive trains and shares hybrid technology, licensing cleaner vehicle technology to companies that request it. This approach will support the acceptance of all hybrid vehicles, and has the potential to make Hybrid Synergy Drive the most widely used hybrid standard in the .Source - Toyota
Toyota and Lexus Hybrids Top One Million Sales in the U.S.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), ÚSA, Inc., announced today that total combined Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicle sales in the Ú.S. have topped the one million mark.The milestone was achieved wîth an sales-leading six Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles including the Toyota Prius, the world's first mass-produced gas-electric hybrid and the all-time worldwide leader in hybrid sales.
With the expansion of its hybrid technology to a diverse group of vehicles, Toyota has commanded nearly 75 percent of all hybrid vehicles sales in the Ú.S. over the past 10 years. Overall, cumulative worldwide sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids have exceeded 1.7 million vehicles through January of this year.
'One million hybrids in less than nine years indicates how quickly American consumers have accepted this important technology,' said Jim Lentz, TMS president. 'Toyota's hybrid leadership will continue to expand in the Ú.S. and around the globe. With 10 new hybrid models between now and 2012 in various global markets, we plan to sell one million gas-electric hybrids per year, worldwide, sometime early in the next decade.'
Toyota pioneered modern gas-electric hybrid technology wîth the launch of the Prius in late 1997 in the Japan market. Its popularity in Japan encouraged the launch of Prius in the Ú.S. in July 2000. The first-generation Ú.S. Prius was a low-volume vehicle (12,000 produced annually) that gained an immediate following, particularly among environmentally conscious consumers.
The second-generation Prius launched in the fall of 2003 as a 2004 model year. With larger dimensions, all-new styling, and Toyota's new Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, Prius became an instant hit. By 2005 Toyota was producing over 100,000 vehicles annually for the Ú.S. market. Prius had propelled itself from a niche environmental car into a mainstream vehicle for everyday driving needs. With more than 107,000 sales in 2005 Prius became the third-best selling Toyota passenger car in the Ú.S. after the Camry and Corolla.
From its humble beginnings in the summer of 2000 through February 2009 more than 700,000 Prius have been sold in the Ú.S., making up more than half of the 1.2 million Prius sold worldwide.
The successful launch of the Prius encouraged expansion of its hybrid technology to existing models in both the Toyota and Lexus lineups. In April 2005, Lexus introduced the crossover RX 400h, the world's first hybrid-powered luxury vehicle. Two months later Toyota launched the Highlander Hybrid sport utility vehicle (SÚV).
One year later in April 2006, the Lexus GS 450h made its debut as the world's first front-engine, rear-wheel drive, full-hybrid performance sedan. (concept carz) April 2006 also marked the debut of the Camry Hybrid, becoming the first Toyota hybrid to be built in the Ú.S.
For the third consecutive year, Lexus further expanded its hybrid lineup in July 2007 wîth the launch of the LS 600h L luxury hybrid sedan, the world's first vehicle to feature a full-hybrid V8 powertrain. July 2007 saw the arrival of the second-generation 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SÚV. The all-new Highlander Hybrid raised the bar once again in the mid-size SÚV §egmènt wîth a complete redesign that was improved, refined and expanded in nearly every metric of comparison.
Ongoing improvement to its hybrid technology continues in 2009 wîth the summer arrival of the second-generation 2010 Lexus RX 450h. The all-new RX Hybrid will feature an updated version of Lexus Hybrid Drive that will improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent while generating 27 more horsepower than its predecessor.
Spring 2009 will mark the launch of the all-new and vastly improved third-generation Prius. The 2010 Toyota Prius will once again set new standards for innovative hybrid design and technology, raising its level of convenience features and performance to new heights, including a combined EPA estimated fuel efficiency rating of 50 miles-per-gallon.
Finally, late summer of 2009 will see the launch of the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid vehicle. The HS 250h will be Lexus' fourth hybrid and the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its lineup.
'For Toyota and Lexus, 2009 can easily be called ‘the year of the hybrid' wîth three new offerings including our seventh hybrid model wîth the launch of the Lexus HS 250h,' said Lentz. 'In addition to our growing hybrid presence over the next few years, expanded hybrid offerings from competitors will not only drive innovation and improvement for consumers, it will continue to help improve the environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.'Source - Toyota
| VOLVO CAR GROUP ALMOST DOUBLES PRODUCTION OF THE INNOVATIVE V60 PLUG-IN HYBRID | |
 | The success of the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid, the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, continues. Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) is now ramping up production by 90 per cent, just to keep up with the demand. The increased demand, especially in Holland, Belgium and Italy, means that the Plug-in Hybrid production at Volvo Cars' Torslanda plant in Sweden will be increased continuously from 150 to 282 units per week. All in all, Volvo Cars will produce 7,600 plug-in hybrids in 2013 - and the 2014 tar...[Read more...] |
| Porsche Debuts Plug-In Panamera At Auto Shanghai | |
 | Today Porsche is celebrating the world premiere of the 2014 Panamera at Auto Shanghai, the Asian market's leading auto show. The centerpiece of the show for Porsche is the appearance of the new Panamera S E-Hybrid, the first plug-in hybrid offering from the German automaker. Also making their debut are two luxurious Executive versions for the Panamera S and Panamera 4S, which feature an extended wheelbase and a completely new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. With this launch, the Panamera line-up...[Read more...] |
| #TOYOTA AND #LEXUS IN THE U.S. ACCOUNTED FOR NEARLY 2 MILLION OF TOTAL 5 MILLION GLOBAL HYBRID SALES REVEALED TODAY | |
 | Torrance, Calif., April 16, 2013 - Nearly 2 million (1,951,243) Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles have been sold in the United States, significantly reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. The announcement was made today by Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A, Inc. in conjunction with Toyota Motor Corporation's announcement in Japan that it has sold 5 million hybrid vehicles worldwide. Toyota estimates that its global fleet of nearly 20 hybrid vehicles has resulted in approximatel...[Read more...] |
| Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid wins EBUS Award | |
 | • Award for the advanced hybrid technology from Mercedes-Benz • Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid impresses with synergies from the passenger car segment • Judges praise the 'seriousness' of development efforts In the fuel cell bus category, the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid won the EBUS Award, the environmental award for public local transport. Roman Biondi, brand spokesman for Mercedes-Benz buses and EvoBus, and Ulrich Piotrowski, the Market Launch Manager for Mercedes-Benz hybrid and electric buses, a...[Read more...] |
| Ford Begins Taking Orders for C-MAX Hybrid – America's Most Affordable, Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Utility Vehicle | |
 | Ford dealers are starting to place orders for America's most affordable and fuel-efficient hybrid utility vehicle – the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid – with innovative technologies such as a hands-free liftgate, spaciousness for five passengers and cargo as well as the fun-to-drive character shared with well-handling cars including Ford Focus. The C-MAX is a compact hybrid utility vehicle and the company's first dedicated line of hybrids. The 2013 C-MAX Hybrid will be available this fall with a base...[Read more...] |
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