Australia participates in Toyota's Global Trial
Sep 27, 2010 By Toyota Australia.
Toyota announced today Australia will participate in a global trial of plug-in hybrid concept cars based on the petrol-electric Prius.
The plug-in hybrid vehicles, equipped with lithium-ion batteries, will be shared with local partners drawn from government and business.
Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said five vehicles have been allocated for the local program.
Mr Buttner said partners would be chosen based on their commitment to the technology, their ability to provide feedback and their geographic area.
He said the program would provide data for Toyota and for users about the benefits and the challenges involved in the electrification of vehicles, including the overall performance of first-generation lithium-ion batteries.
'The trial will allow Toyota and its end-user partners to gather real-world information to better understand expectations for plug-in technology,' Mr Buttner said.
The global trial involves approximately 600 cars, which have been allocated to select demonstration cities around the world.
The global trial includes Japan, the United States, the UK, European countries including France, along with countries such as Canada and New Zealand.
The Plug-in Hybrid can be charged using an external power source such as a 15-amp electric outlet, with a recharging time of about 100 minutes (220V).
With a fully charged battery, it has a cruising range in electric-vehicle mode of approximately 20km. Maximum speed in EV mode is about 100kmh.
Over longer distances, the vehicle functions as a conventional petrol-electric hybrid vehicle.
As a result, its use is not constrained by remaining battery power or availability of battery-charging infrastructure.
Mr Buttner said the global trial was the latest example of Toyota's leadership in hybrid technology.
'Toyota has been selling hybrid vehicles for more than a decade; Australian motorists can buy a hybrid vehicle today, such as Prius and Hybrid Camry,' Mr Buttner said.
'This global trial and Australia's participation demonstrate that Toyota intends to continue its leadership with this technology by continuing to develop its Hybrid Synergy Drive system.'
Mr Buttner said drivers of the Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle would not suffer the sort of 'range anxiety' faced by anyone driving a fully electric car.
'If you forget to plug it in, you will still be able to drive to work, and you will be able to continue to drive beyond the range of the battery pack.'
'Unlike electric cars, you will not have to drive with one eye on the road and one eye on the electric power gauge.'
'After using its electric-only range, the Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle reverts to normal petrol-electric hybrid operation, such as that of Prius or Hybrid Camry.'
Toyota Motor Company (TMC) in Japan believes that, to meet the diversification of energy sources, plug-in hybrid vehicles are a highly suitable environmentally considerate option.
TMC promotes the use of energy sources other than petrol, such as electricity, to limit the consumption of fossil fuels and to reduce CO2 emissions.
The company is accelerating the development of electricity-related technologies, honed by experience gained from more than 12 years selling hybrid vehicles.
TMC's Hybrid Synergy Drive system is a core technology to address issues such as dwindling oil reserves, global warming and air pollution.
The company aims to lift its annual hybrid sales to more than one million as soon as possible in the current decade. Global sales last year were 530,000.
TMC wants to offer a hybrid for every model in its line-up in the 2020s.
TOYOTA'S HYBRID MILESTONES
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