Toyota Rethinks Hybrid Strategy

[font=Comic Sans MS:acba2666f6]I read the article by Paul A. Eisenstein, a noted proponent of overpowered gas guzzlers. Just how is Toyota "rethinking" their hybrid strategy? They have more Prius sales than they can keep up with. The hybrid Highlander and Lexus seem to be meeting with high demand too.

As for disappointing milage, the 60/55 EPA MPG they post are MANDATED by the Feds. The can not post less. Do non-hybrid vehicles usually exceed EPA milage? Even come close? And if one gets "only" 45 MPG, isn't that a lot better than the previous vehicle?

It's true that Toyota should more heavily promote the low emissions of their hybrids. While the Federal government's official position is that we don't know if greenhouse gasses are causing global warming, the EPA does know vehicle emissions cause smog. I believe many individuals would personally like to contribule less to smog and perhaps reduce their contribution to global warming.

I wish "high-performance" referred to a different metric. It's used to mean high-torque road rockets, capable of taking corners at excessive speed, and generally driving like you see in car and truck commercials. This kind of performance should not occur on public roads. I wish it referred to high-efficiency vehicles with smart steering and braking, with controls that keep your wheels in contact with the road without "burning rubber" or losing grip. I think my Prius performs to a higher standard than any other car I've ever owned.[/font:acba2666f6]

 

In today's New York Times, in the Automoble section, there is a very interesting article about hybrids (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/automobiles/17hybrid.html). It makes the case that, with the exception of Prius and the early Civic, the new hybrids coming to market from Lexus and Accord are using the hybrid technology as a way to boost acceleration performance and not as a means to get better gas mileage and low emissions. This may make Prius the best (from a "green" perspective) hybrid to be in the market for a long time to come!

 

I have heard the comments that the car does not get the EPA mileage, but don't see it as an issue. First, no car I have ever had got anywhere close to the EPA mileage except when cruising on open highway at 55 with no airconditioning on.

I've only owned my '02 Prius for about 2,000 miles so far, but it has averaged about 52 mpg in mixed driving even with the 400 miles my 17 year old daughter put on it at about 40mpg! I would say that compares very well with the 52/45 EPA rating for that model year. Sure I know I will take about a 5 mpg hit in the winter, but even with that it will be doing very close to the 48 mixed rating from the EPA - that is the best any car I have ever had has done compared to EPA ratings.

 

there will always be cars that dont get EPA and cars that do get EPA and it may very well be the same model of car. unfortunately, the EPA will never be able to standardize the "driver-owner" factor for a car no matter what the method of locomotion.

so the EPA in its "wisdom" decided not to provide a range of figures, instead giving the official written in proverbial "uncompromising governmental bureaucratic" stone

 

I found that article interesting. I wonder where the heck the anti-hybrid crowd would flock to next.

Their arguments are insincere... "generally adding $4000 to $9000 to the price of a comparable gasoline-only vehicle" and "consumers report it more typically delivers around 40 mpg". Both really twists facts.

They don't want to admit that a Camry-Hybrid loaded with HSD only, non of the special Prius goodies, falls well below that $4000 minimum. They also don't want to admit that the 40 mpg value only applies to extremes, like me in the dead of Minnesota Winter.

Reality is grim for those not in favor of "full" hybrid technology. The price will be affordable. The efficiency will be difficult to deny. And the emissions are simply cannot be disputed. So naturally, they have to introduce this "power benefit" as a distraction technique.

Toyota has nothing to rethink. Their long-term strategy is coming along nicely. The 300,000 per year goal is now about to be achieved. Countless people swore that was impossible. Yet, they did it. Next year they are ramping up to deliver 600,000. The plan is working out nicely. The patience is really paying off. Word of mouth for very satisfied Prius owners is endorsing the technology will keep the momentum going. We win! Yippee!

 

I had heard that Toyota was split between either offering hybrid versions of models they already have, or doing as with the Prius and offering hybrid-only versions.

I feel their pain. While it makes sense to offer a hybrid version of your best selling car...the Camry....you can't deny that sales of the Prius have overshadowed not only the Highlander but also the Honda Accord and Civic. The biggest complaint about the Lexus is that it doesn't really look any different than the non-hybrid version. People want something distinct that says "look at my hybrid car".

Personally, I think they need both. The Prius for those of use that want an in your face "Hey look" and a hybrid version of a current model that is understated, a tried and true design so you get what you expect and doesn't call attention to itself.

I'd like to see Toyota develop a hybrid only truck, min-van or whatever they're calling them, and regular sedan car. But I'd also like to see hybrid versions of models they already have. I don't think they'll lose any money. And it also might be very interesting to see how the market divides itself between hybrid-only and hybrid-version.

 

Making a given model with the only difference being a normal ICE versus a Hybrid engine is probably a mistake. If they do that, within a year or two one version will languish as the other flurishes. I will make no prediction which one that will be, but consumers and the press will ultimately decide one is a good buy and the other is for suckers.

 

I would sort of prefer that my car didn't look different. I'd rather just quietly drive about in my "green" car without broadcasting it to everyone.

(What I really wanted to buy was a CR-V hybrid.)

I fully expect that when I buy my next vehicle, hybrid will be just one more option, like v-4 or v-6 right now.

I'm a little worried that the trend might be to have the hydrid option replace the bigger engine option (like the Accord). I don't want a four cylinder family sedan with the power of a v-6 and the economy of a compact. I want a super efficient family car with adequate power and super fuel economy.

Will that still be available when hybrid is just another option on each model? Or will hybrid technology just be used to add power?

 

i think it might do hybrids a great justice if Toyota did do the hybrid and regular version. maybe we do need some side by side comparisons.

honda is doing it but with (IMHO) an inferior system which (also IMHO) adds fire to the anti-hybrid debate because their numbers are not as good. they had to build something smaller than a shoebox to beat the Prius' numbers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster\";p=\"108181)</div>

If that were true, there would not be a choice of engine size. But there has been for countless years now. The choice between 4 & 6 cylinders is a common practice, as is transmission type for some vehicles.

Having the choice of HSD is a logical step forward.

There is no ultimate solution for such a diverse market. After awhile, HSD will likely become standard. Then you'll end up with a choice of a version that emphasizes power and a version that emphasizes efficiency. (Thankfully, all will be clean: SULEV or better.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant\";p=\"108029)</div>

One good change that could come from all of this flap is updating the EPA standards. During a new Toyota owner seminar, Toyota explained that the EPA standard was developed in the '50s, and that we should expect to see 44 mpg in the hills of San Francisco. That's about what I'm getting. Sometimes, out on the freeway, I get to crank that sucker up to 48 mpg for a while. What a thrill.