So much for Mr. Sikes

Toyota Offers Preliminary Findings From Technical Field Examination of Alleged ‘Runaway Prius’ in San Diego

• Toyota Engineers Conclude Two Days of Investigation

• Driver’s Account Of Event Inconsistent With Initial Findings

SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 15, 2010—At a press conference today, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. offered key preliminary findings of technical field examination and testing that were performed on March 10 and 11 regarding an alleged “runaway Prius” event dramatically covered by national news media.

Toyota engineers completed an investigation of the 2008 Prius driven by Mr. James Sikes that was the subject of a 911 emergency call on Monday, March 8. The driver reported that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, the accelerator pedal was stuck, and that the vehicle was out of control and could not be stopped. The emergency operator repeatedly instructed the driver to shift the car into neutral and turn off the power button.

A California Highway Patrol officer intercepted the vehicle and instructed the driver to press firmly on the brakes, apply the emergency brake and turn off the car, at which time the Prius came to a safe stop.

While a final report is not yet complete, there are strong indications that the driver’s account of the event is inconsistent with the findings of the preliminary analysis.

Toyota engineers employed data download/analysis, static and dynamic testing as well as thorough inspections of all relative components. In addition, they retraced the reported driving route taking into account driving time and accounts from the 911 recording.

The investigation revealed the following initial findings:

• The accelerator pedal was tested and found to be working normally with no mechanical binding or friction. It should be noted that the Prius is not subject to a recall for sticking accelerator pedals and the Prius component is made by a different supplier than the one recalled.

• The front brakes showed severe wear and damage from overheating. The rear brakes and parking brake were in good condition and functional.

• A Toyota carpeted floor mat of the correct type for the vehicle was installed but not secured to the retention hooks. It was not found to be interfering or even touching the accelerator pedal.

• The pushbutton power switch worked normally and shut the vehicle off when depressed for 3 seconds as the 911 operator advised Mr. Sikes to do.

• The shift lever also worked normally and neutral could be selected. The neutral position is clearly marked and can be easily engaged by moving the lever left to the “N” marking.

• There were no diagnostic trouble codes found in the power management computer, nor was the dashboard malfunction indicator light activated. The hybrid self-diagnostic system did show evidence of numerous, rapidly repeated on-and- off applications of both the accelerator and the brake pedals.

• After examination of individual components, the front brakes were replaced and the vehicle was test driven, during which the vehicle was observed to be functioning normally.

• During testing, the brakes were purposely abused by continuous light application in order to overheat them. The vehicle could be safely stopped by means of the brake pedal, even when overheated.

The Prius braking system uses both conventional hydraulic friction brakes and a regenerative braking system which switches the electric drive motors into brakes to generate electricity.

The system features a sophisticated self- protection function which cuts engine power if moderate brake pedal pressure is applied and the accelerator pedal is depressed more than approximately 50 percent, in effect providing a form of “brake override.”

This function, which is intended to protect the system from overload and possible damage, was found to be functioning normally during the preliminary field examination.

Toyota engineers believe that it would be extremely difficult for the Prius to be driven at a continuous high speed with more than light brake-pedal pressure, and that the assertion that the vehicle could not be stopped with the brakes is fundamentally inconsistent with basic vehicle design and the investigation observations.

These findings suggest that there should be further examination of Mr. Sikes account of the events of March 8.

NHTSA investigators were present during Toyota’s examination, and are conducting their own investigation of the vehicle and its performance. Toyota’s examination was also observed by a congressional staff member.

Used certification

Toyota Introduces Certified Used Hybrid Program

In an effort to attract new buyers to the hybrid market, Toyota today launched the all-new Toyota Certified Used Hybrid (TCUH) program, an extension of the Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV) brand which provides added inspection and warranty coverage on certified used Toyota hybrids.

“The program is a great way to increase awareness of certified used hybrid vehicles,” said TCUV Marketing Manager, Steve Gallagher. “As more hybrids enter the used vehicle marketplace, Toyota Certified Hybrids offer high-quality options to customers interested in purchasing these fuel-efficient vehicles.”

As the industry’s first dedicated certified pre-owned program for hybrid vehicles, TCUH was designed to drive sales of certified used hybrids while expanding Toyota’s customer base for these types of vehicles.

Customers benefit from additional inspection and warranty coverage on Toyota hybrids within the program. Each vehicle comes with the three-month/3,000-mile comprehensive warranty, seven-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and roadside assistance plan offered on traditional TCUV models. The program also brings added awareness to a pre-existing eight-year/100,000-mile factory hybrid battery warranty. The TCUH quality insurance inspection also includes 14 additional inspection points beyond the current TCUV 160-point quality assurance inspection. This expanded 174-point Toyota Certified Hybrid inspection includes examination of key hybrid components, such as the hybrid transaxle, control modules and battery.

The Toyota Certified program combines the confidence of purchasing a new vehicle with the value of a used vehicle to provide a “like new” ownership experience. Toyota certified used vehicles offer consumers a smart alternative to traditional used car options and give them the peace of mind they seek when purchasing a used vehicle.

Work Prii

Press release…

One of the nation’s largest private fleets of alternative-fuel vehicles just got greener. ComEd has added 50 new Toyota Prius hybrids and plug-in electric hybrids to a fleet that now numbers more than 2,100 green vehicles.

Who’s looking for what

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Names Most-Researched New Vehicles of 2008

Kelley Blue Book, the leading provider of new- and used-vehicle information, today announces the most-researched new cars of 2008 on the company’s top-rated Web site, www.kbb.com. The year 2008 marks the third consecutive year that Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com saw greater than 140 million unique visitors, with more than half of all online vehicle shoppers visiting kbb.com. Because kbb.com is one of the most trafficked automotive research sites, visitation to specific vehicles has become a leading indicator of sales patterns for manufacturers.

Kbb.com’s Most-Researched New Vehicles of 2008

1. Honda Civic
2. Honda Accord
3. Toyota Camry
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Nissan Altima
6. Honda CR-V
7. Toyota Prius
8. Toyota Highlander
9. Toyota RAV4
10. Mazda3
11. Toyota Yaris
12. Ford Escape
13. Honda Odyssey
14. Honda Pilot
15. Honda Fit
16. Ford Mustang
17. Chevrolet Malibu
18. Toyota Sienna
19. MINI Cooper
20. Volkswagen Jetta

“The site traffic on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com demonstrates what is on the
minds of today’s new-car shoppers, especially when examining the
most-researched new-vehicles of 2008,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial
director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com.
“Continued interest in Honda and Toyota, Chevrolet’s home-run Malibu redesign
and an increase in visits to more fuel-efficient, economical vehicles is an
accurate reflection of the marketplace in 2008.”

…

Leaders

UK to lead on Hybrid and Electric Cars
(Source: Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform )

New initiatives to put Britain at the forefront of a green motoring revolution by encouraging a mass market in electric and hybrid cars have been announced today.

With the potential to create up to 10,000 new British jobs and help preserve many thousands more; this comes as part of wider Government plans to make the most of the low carbon economy, with estimates that around a million green jobs could be generated by 2030.

Fulfilling Gordon Brown’s pledge this summer to speed up the delivery of low carbon and electric vehicles for ordinary motorists, experts from across the globe are gathered in Whitehall today to examine how to turn this into a reality.

Speaking at this International Experts Meeting, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon set out the next steps across Government to deliver a £100 million commitment to accelerate the emergence of the greener vehicles of tomorrow. As part of this 100 electric cars will be provided in UK towns and cities to allow families and other motorists the opportunity to feedback the practical steps needed to make greener motoring an everyday reality.

He said:

“Electric cars and other low carbon vehicles, like plug-in hybrids, cut fuel costs and reduce harmful emissions. If we can inspire more people to use them, it will help us to make a positive impact on climate change.

“Alongside this, their research and manufacture is an emerging industry with the potential to create new jobs and safeguard existing employment in the UK. Therefore exploring how to ensure they are a practical and affordable everyday option makes sense all round. That is what the cross Government package of measures announced today will do.”

Motor manufacturers will be invited to bid for the opportunity to participate in a £10 million project to run electric car and ultra low carbon vehicle demonstration projects, overseen by the Technology Strategy Board. This will see around 100 electric cars provided to allow families and other motorists the opportunity to feedback the practical steps needed to make greener motoring an everyday reality.

At the same time, up to £20m has been dedicated to UK research into improving technology that could make electric and other green cars more practical and affordable.

This follows the publication of important new research which concludes that, correctly managed, the UK power system could support widespread use of electric cars and their charging needs without requiring large numbers of new power stations.

Secretary of State for Business, Lord Mandelson, said:

“Investment in greener motoring forms part of our plan to put the UK at the forefront of the new low carbon revolution. We know our automotive sector has a global reputation for taking forward new technology and we want the UK to be at the heart of new developments in electric vehicles.

“In the recent Manufacturing Strategy we made clear our determination to support the next generation of low carbon cars and today we are delivering on our promises. Work will continue next year when we produce our low carbon industrial strategy.”

Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Science and Innovation, added:

“vThe technologies for low carbon vehicles are developing fast, whether for all-electric, hybrid or alternative fuels. The challenge for the UK is to ensure industry takes full advantage of this shift and explores opportunities now, to position itself as a world leader in low carbon vehicle technology in the long term.

“To do this, the Government-funded Technology Strategy Board is providing further investment of up to £30m to support industry R&D and demonstrations of electric and other low carbon vehicles. This investment will accelerate the development of these vehicles and bring benefits to UK businesses and, ultimately, help to meet the UK’s emissions targets.”

The Government has already committed to removing the barriers that could slow a changeover to greener motoring. This includes a commitment to facilitate the roll-out of charging infrastructure through the planning system and to collaborating with other countries to develop international standards and consider how best to encourage the right consumer market to promote electric and other low carbon vehicles.

Work also continues with energy companies and the National Grid to assess the impact on the electricity system of the widespread use of electric drive vehicles.

To encourage the mass production of green vans for the first time, the Department for Transport also announced today that 10 companies have been shortlisted to bid to provide electric and low carbon vans to some councils and other public sector bodies, like the Royal Mail, as part of a £20m programme to ensure all road transport emissions are reduced. Liverpool, Newcastle, Gateshead, Coventry, Glasgow and Leeds will be among the first councils to trial green vans on their streets.

The 10 companies are: Ford; Mercedes Benz; Citroen; Ashwoods; Land Rover, Modec; Smiths; Electric Vehicles; LDV; Nissan and Allied Vehicles. A list of the public sector bodies are provided in the notes to editors.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon added:

“Vans make up around 15% of road transport emissions in the UK, and their emissions are rising more than any other mode of road transport.

“That’s why we are committed to this new programme to help kick-start the market. In the public sector there is considerable demand for vans so we want to use our spending power to lead the way in developing lower carbon options that will appeal across the board.”

Wasting time

CarMatch Presidential Poll Results In!

A popular, engaging Presidential Widget called CarMatch allows users to choose the one car that best matches each Presidential candidate by his or her personality traits.

With less than a week to the Presidential Election, the majority of the American population is focusing on the candidate’s views on economic reform, foreign policy, energy issues, and the environment to determine who will receive the votes cast on November 4.

As the countdown begins, there is yet a smaller segment of the population shifting its focus from serious political issues to the whimsical realm by using a popular, engaging Presidential Widget called CarMatch to choose the one car that best matches each Presidential candidate by his or her personality traits (http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/carzen-carmatch).

The widget – which to date has over 10,000 views – gives users the chance to rate candidates on four personality traits: 1) style, 2) fiscal impact, 3) reliability, and 4) versatility. Their choices match the candidates to one of eight cars: a Honda Accord, VW Beetle, Mustang Convertible, Ferrari, Model T, Jalopy, Toyota Prius, and a Hummer H3. Barack Obama has received the most interest from widget users from among the candidates by a long shot – more than John McCain and George W. Bush combined. Obama is perceived as reliable, versatile, and having a lot of style, and voters put him in the seat of a Toyota Prius, a Ford Mustang, or even a Ferrari.

Perhaps perceived as being “worn out,” McCain’s personality traits have been matched to a Jalopy, coincidentally the same top car match for George W. Bush. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was matched to a Model T, as she has been seen as “set in her ways.” And while Biden received favorable results, matched with a Ford Mustang, he generated little interest, receiving the least amount of votes of any politician.

Widening the personality pool of candidates for widget-users, Bill & Hillary Clinton and George Washington were added to the mix. Surprisingly, Bill Clinton continues to be a hit, garnering more votes than his wife, Hillary. Bill was matched to the Prius, with Ferrari in a close second, while Hillary was matched to the less flashy VW Beetle. President George Washington is still going strong, despite leaving the White House over two centuries ago.

While meant to be fun and entertaining, the CarMatch widget actually serves as a barometer for public opinion, with Obama garnering the most interest and positive results when compared to McCain. We’ll see who can drive home the most votes in these final few days before the election.

The CarMatch widget is brought to you by CarZen (www.carzen.com) – makers of the most efficient and powerful car search tool on the web.

To access the CarMatch widget, to go http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/carzen-carmatch

Instrumentation

Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide Coaches Drivers to Maximize Fuel Efficiency on New Fusion Hybrid

Pushing a vehicle to the limit takes on a new meaning in the new 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury
Milan hybrids, thanks to Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide – an innovative new instrument cluster that provides real-time information to help drivers maximum fuel efficiency.

“SmartGauge with EcoGuide gives the customer real-world feedback to make the most of their hybrids,” said Gil Portalatin, Hybrid Applications Manager. “Unique to Ford and Mercury hybrid sedans, this instrument cluster acts as a good ‘coach,’ engaging drivers real-time to help them achieve maximum fuel economy.”

Ford collaborated with IDEO and Smart Design, two world leaders in helping consumers connect with technology, to develop the instrument cluster. Job One was properly integrating the driver with the cluster’s science and technology.

“The main question hybrid drivers had was, ‘How do I know I’m getting the most out of my hybrid?’” said Jeff Greenberg, Ford senior technical leader. “We needed to create a system that better communicates with drivers and gives them the tools to maximize fuel efficiency. That’s what SmartGauge with EcoGuide does.”

The driver is immediately engaged by the SmartGauge displays, on either side of the center-mounted analog speedometer, with a special greeting that combines illumination and graphics.

EcoGuide then uses a multi-layered approach to coach the driver to maximum fuel efficiency. A tutorial mode built into the display that helps the driver learn about the instrument cluster and the hybrid in a whimsical way that does not overpower.

For instance, drivers can choose one of four data screens to choose the information level displayed during their drives:
– Inform: Fuel level and battery charge status
– Enlighten: Adds electric vehicle mode indicator and tachometer
– Engage: Adds engine output power and battery output power
– Empower: Adds power to wheels, engine pull-up threshold and
accessory power consumption

Four Hybrids

The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids join the already successful Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids – the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the planet. With the addition of the two new hybrid sedans, Ford will double its annual hybrid volume and be the largest domestic producer of full hybrid vehicles in North America.

I think the bit where the better your efficiency is in the vehicle the more leaves are displayed is a bit too whimsical even for me. It’s a marvelous idea in concept. Anything that helps drivers increase their efficiency is good but the leaves thing might be over the top.

Dodging the issue

This appears to be some very bad politics on the part of Toyota. That this is a press release from Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade says a lot given their current fight against laws mandating switching over to hybrids in New York.

Automakers Warn Against Using Hybrids as Taxicabs

PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Safety Questions Left Unanswered, Responsibility Shifted Around

Two of the world’s largest automakers, Toyota and Honda, have issued outright warnings against using their hybrid passenger vehicles as commercial taxicabs. In addition, Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Nissan, have refused to certify the crashworthiness of their hybrid New York City taxicabs as modified with mandatory partitions. Instead, the automakers shift that responsibility to the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), which shift it to the federal government — which does not require automakers to crash test vehicles modified with the hard, bulletproof taxi partitions.
In late 2007, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) mandated that all new taxis, the vast majority of which are required to have partitions, be hybrids or other vehicles that achieve 25 miles-per-gallon, disallowing the purpose-built stretch Ford Crown Victoria taxicab. The Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade has mounted a legal challenge, citing a 2008 engineer’s report that finds hybrids to be unsafe and unfit as New York City taxicabs. The mandate has been delayed and awaits a federal court ruling expected later this month.

On August 29, 2008, Richard D. Emery, an attorney for the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, wrote to automakers including Nissan, Toyota, Ford, Honda, General Motors and Volkswagen requesting that they certify that their hybrids or alternative fuel vehicles are manufacturer-approved to be used as taxicabs and safe when modified with partitions and other TLC requirements.

In a September 19th 2008 response to Mr. Emery, a spokesman for Honda said “Honda vehicles are not sold or recommended for use as taxicabs.” However, in a July 16, 2008 industry notice informing taxi owners which vehicles they can purchase for taxi use, the TLC lists the Honda Civic Hybrid as one of nine approved vehicles for taxi use.

Another automaker, Toyota, the largest manufacturer of hybrids in the world, has not responded to Mr. Emery. However, a Toyota spokesman told the New York Times on April 27, 2008, that “our engineers are nervous about it because they were not designed for commercial use.” According to the article, “Toyota did not help convert cars into taxis because they were not intended to be driven so heavily.” Still, in the July 16, 2008 TLC industry notice, the TLC lists 3 Toyotas, the Prius, Highlander and Camry on its approved vehicle list — 1/3 of all approved vehicles. Several Toyotas remain in service as New York City taxicabs.

Nissan, which claims to be committing up to 200 Altima Hybrid taxicabs per month, refers Mr. Emery to a July 23, 2008 TLC letter that claims the partitions do not hinder side curtain airbag deployment. Nissan offers no crash test results on Altimas that are modified with partitions and concludes its response by stating: “If you have an underlying concern with the mandate to use fuel efficient vehicles, this situation is a result of New York policies, not Nissan’s actions.”

At a September 10th 2008 New York City Council hearing, Ford Motor Company acknowledged that “there is an increased risk for belted occupants to contact the partition in a collision” for “any vehicle with a smaller occupant space than the stretch Crown Victoria” noting that it is “not unique to the Escape Hybrid” which indeed has much smaller occupant space than a stretch Crown Victoria. Ford refused to certify the crashworthiness of Escape Hybrid taxicabs outfitted with partitions, instead shifting responsibility to the TLC which it says “has an important job in making judgments that balance competing benefits and risks involving driver and customer safety in a unique operating environment.”
General Motors also refused to certify the crashworthiness of its Chevy Malibu Hybrid taxicab when modified with a partition or other TLC requirements. In a letter to Mr. Emery dated September 25th, 2008, GM wrote “your client’s concerns about the taxicab partitions required by the TLC should be addressed to the TLC.” GM was silent about the Saturn Vue Hybrid, which also appears on the TLC’s approved vehicle list.

Volkswagen, which produces a clean diesel Jetta that appears on the TLC approved list, was also asked to certify the safety, suitability and crashworthiness of its TLC-approved hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles when modified with partitions and placed into service as taxicabs but, to date, has not responded.

The TLC has confirmed that it does not crash test hybrid taxicabs modified with partitions and says it relies, in large part, on federal testing to assert the safety of hybrid taxicabs. However, it has also been established that there are no federal crash tests for hybrid taxicabs modified with partitions — nor are there front or rear crash tests in unmodified hybrids for adult rear occupants, which comprise the majority of taxi passengers. Hybrid automakers explicitly warn against any modifications to hybrid vehicles in the owner manuals. And indeed, according to automotive engineer C. Bruce Gambardella, partitions in hybrids are a “crude modification” that “changes the entire interior environment and takes us back about a half a century in automotive safety.”

MTBOT is the country’s largest taxi fleet association. It represents 27 yellow medallion taxi fleets in New York City and over 3,500 medallion taxicabs — approximately 25% of the taxi industry. MTBOT members have operated more than 30 different vehicles over several decades including minivans, Compressed Natural Gas vehicles and hybrids. MTBOT advocates on behalf of its members, its 14,000 drivers and the riding public.

Last time it was the Grand Canyon, this time…

Toyota Donation to Support Environmental Leadership and Wilderness Education Programs
at Yosemite National Park and the University of California, Merced
$600,000 and five Prius donated by Toyota to Yosemite National Park

Toyota is providing more than $600,000 and five hybrid vehicles to Yosemite National Park to support a number of environmental education programs at Yosemite and the University of California, Merced, it was announced today.

“The development of environmental education programs is key to preserving our majestic national parks for future generations,” said Bill Duff, Corporate Manager, Environmental Office, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “Toyota is proud to be part of this endeavor through our donation to The Yosemite Fund and Yosemite National Park.”

The donation was facilitated through the park’s nonprofit fundraising partner, The Yosemite Fund. The park will use Toyota’s contribution to support the Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP), a partnership between Yosemite, UC Merced and California State Parks. The internship program provides students with work experience in a park, wilderness education, a living stipend and the opportunity for possible future employment with the park. In addition, Toyota funds are being used to refurbish cabins in the park to be used as dorms for the interns.

“We are grateful for Toyota’s generous support of these key educational programs in Yosemite,” said Mike Tollefson, Yosemite National Park Superintendent. “Toyota’s grants, received through our partnership with the Yosemite Fund, ensure that parks and wild places remain relevant to future generations by providing access to higher learning and residential internships in one of America’s flagship parks.”

The Wilderness Center on the campus of UC Merced was established in part with funds from the Toyota donation. As the home base of the Yosemite Leadership Program, the Wilderness Center fosters a wilderness ethic among students, as well as assists students and faculty with planning for trips to Yosemite and other national parks and forests. Students staffing the center are also paid through a fund developed with Toyota’s grant.

“Working as partners with the National Park Service, institutions of higher learning and nonprofits, Toyota’s generous contribution advances leadership and education opportunities to protect and preserve Yosemite National Park,” said Bob Hansen, president, The Yosemite Fund. “The breadth of their contributions provides the resources to inspire new generations to develop an interest in conservation, environmental management and a passion for the outdoors.”

Toyota’s donation will also be used to establish a two-week Executive Leadership Seminar in 2009 designed specifically for experienced professionals in park and protected area land management. Leaders from government, corporate, and non-profit sectors will focus on proactive approaches and strategic leadership for use in complex, real-world land management challenges. This course draws on the University of California’s academic leadership, and pairs it with the unparalleled opportunity for field study and experiential learning in Yosemite National Park.

In addition to the monetary donation, Yosemite will receive five Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles, which will be used to support Yosemite’s air quality, bear management, wilderness education, search and rescue and visitor services.

The donation to Yosemite National Park is part of a $5 million contribution from Toyota in support of five National Parks and the National Park Foundation to enhance environmental leadership and educational programs at parks around the country. The company is also donating 23 vehicles in total to the national parks.

Not quite the comeback we’d hoped for…and more

Portland RAV4-EV Program Tops List of Toyota Sustainable Mobility Initiatives

Inc., made a series of environmental announcements at its “Sustainable
Mobility Seminar” here today, including a plan to put four off-lease RAV4
electric vehicles into operation in the Portland-area. The RAV4-EVs will
help the city and the state of Oregon develop an electric-charging
infrastructure in preparation for the arrival of future zero- and
low-emission vehicles.

The Toyota Sustainable Mobility Seminar featured a series of
presentations by leading third party experts and company executives. Topics
included: peak liquid oil; the nexus of water land use and energy;
intelligent transportation systems; the CAFE and regulatory environment;
urban design and green building initiatives.

Portland State University will develop a program to use the four
RAV4-EVs as station cars to shuttle people from mass-transit terminals to
downtown and suburban locations. Portland General Electric (PGE) recently
went on-line with its first free-standing public electric-recharging
station and has announced the installation of five additional plug-in
charging stations.

I would love to see the RAV4 back on sale to everyone. It’s a cool vehicle and it would be good to see Toyota out there with an EV for sale.

Toyota previously announced plans for a limited-volume placement
program for a new lithium-battery powered plug-in hybrid vehicle that will
be leased to fleet customers beginning in late 2009 in Japan, Europe and
North America. In addition, the company also has announced plans to launch
an all-new battery electric vehicle commuter car in the early 2010s.

“It’s obvious that the next several years will see a growing number of
low-emission and no-emission vehicle options, particularly electric and
hybrid vehicles,” said George Beard of PSU’s Mark O. Hatfield School of
Government. “Our region’s position in renewable energy and its leadership
reputation in urban sustainability make this partnership a natural for all
involved.”

Other announcements made at the Sustainable Mobility Seminar included:

— Toyota plans to display a CNG-powered Camry hybrid concept vehicle
at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

— The largest single roof solar power system in North America that
will go into operation in early October at Toyota’s North American Parts
Center California, supplying nearly 60 percent of its electricity needs.
The system will cover nearly four football fields and avoid carbon dioxide
emissions of about 6.4 million pounds annually, equivalent to the annual
CO2 emissions from energy use of 255 homes.

— Five more Toyota dealerships are poised to receive Leadership in
Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) before the end of the year and as many as 10 more
could be certified in 2009. To date, two Toyota dealerships are the only
dealerships in the country to have received LEED certification.

— A more than 10 percent reduction in the cost of replacement hybrid
vehicles batteries. In addition, Toyota is studying the business case for
remanufacturing HV batteries in North America to further lower replacement
costs.

Those speaking at the conference included Dr. Peter Wells from NetFlex
Petroleum Consultants, Dr. Tim Barnett from Scipps Institute, Dr. John A.
Merson from Sandia National Laborites, Dr. Jan Kreider from the University
of Colorado and Gordan Feller from the Urban Age Institute.

Who wants what

Do Americans Want the Same as Consumers in Europe When It Comes to Plug-In Hybrids?

A New Study in Europe Accentuates the Growing Need for Supporting Plug-in Hybrid Infrastructures

A new Harris Interactive® study has uncovered significant consumer demand for energy efficient technologies in the automotive sector in Europe. Comparison research in the U.S. mimics this trend.

Figures from the annual AutoTECHCAST Europe study, undertaken by global market research organization Harris Interactive, reveal that 20 percent of Europeans are very or extremely likely to purchase a vehicle that has plug-in hybrid technology, not taking into account estimated market prices. The Harris Interactive AutoTECHCAST U.S. study evaluates similar domestic consumer trends and provides comparison data for marketers and manufacturers seeking to better understand key differences (and important similarities) in U.S. and European consumer markets.

The study reveals that 30 percent of European consumers who are likely to purchase the plug-in hybrid technology in their next vehicle expect to charge it at least once a day or more. Once the vehicle is plugged in, they expect to charge it for around 5.1 hours. A similar study in the U.S. shows that Americans expect to charge their vehicles slightly more often than their European counterparts – 56 percent anticipated charging their car at least once daily and for approximately 6 hours at a time.

The convenience of plugging in a vehicle every night instead of filling it up at the gas station every week is very appealing to plug-in hybrid considerers, with 72 percent of respondents in Europe preferring the plug-in option. “It’s clear that people are open to this new approach of adding energy to the vehicle. The fact that drivers now prefer to conduct this task daily, versus once a week, shows real promise for the technology,” said Stephen A. Lovett, director of automotive and transportation research at Harris Interactive.

The study also highlights that further consideration is needed of the infrastructure required to support a population of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Among the European consumers surveyed, 21 percent of those considering buying a plug-in hybrid indicate that they currently park on the street when at home.

Lovett continued, “While consumers are increasingly open to this technology, major changes in the infrastructure in both Europe and the U.S. will be critical for consumers to access the desired benefits of this technology. Our research shows that the gap between demand and available “charging supply” needs to be addressed. Due to a combination of higher fuel costs, concentrated driving conditions, and cultural differences that cater to high levels of environmental protection, Europeans have historically been more adopting of technologies that contribute to additional efficiency in their vehicles. Mounting economic and environmental trends in the U.S., however, will likely start to level the playing field in the future among U.S. and European consumers.”

In addition to the plug-in hybrid engine, Europeans also show significant interest in the Start-Stop System1 technology. Before market prices are brought into the equation, a quarter (27%) of those surveyed said they would be very or extremely likely to purchase the Start-Stop System technology for their next vehicle.

Lovett commented, “Start-Stop Systems provide the greatest benefit in city driving environments. With Europe’s higher population density and greater penetration of manual transmissions, the mindset progression to this type of system is more natural than in the US, which tends to favor more automatic dominated, highway cruising vehicles. This has been recognized by BMW, which has begun equipping many of its European models with such systems.”

The figures were taken from Harris Interactive’s AutoTECHCAST Europe study, an annual survey of adult vehicle owners in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. The research measures awareness, consideration and willingness to pay for 59 unique automotive technologies, including several alternative fuel and powertrain technologies such as the Hybrid Electric Engine, Plug-In Hybrid Engine, Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), Fuel Cell Engine and the Start-Stop System.

Hybrid loyalty

Experian Automotive study finds hybrid car owners are more likely to buy another vehicle of the same make than buyers of any other vehicle class

/PRNewswire/ – When it comes to the make of a vehicle, hybrid car owners are the most loyal buyers, with 47 percent purchasing another vehicle of the same make, according to recent research from Experian Automotive, a part of global information services company Experian. This loyalty to a vehicle’s make among hybrid owners comes in significantly higher than the 35 percent average of consumer loyalty to all vehicle classes combined.

With gas prices remaining high and green buying habits among consumers continuing to rise, hybrid vehicle sales have increased 130 percent in the past three years, according to Experian Automotive. As sales have increased, hybrid vehicle buyers have shown they are not only the most loyal segment of buyers to the make (e.g. Mercury) of a vehicle, but to a specific vehicle model (e.g. Mercury Mariner) as well. Eighteen percent of hybrid car buyers were found to purchase another vehicle of the same model; higher than any other vehicle class and the combined average loyalty of all vehicle classes of 12 percent. Toyota Prius owners were found to be the most loyal to vehicle model among hybrid car buyers, with one in four returning to purchase another Prius. When compared to all Toyota buyers, Toyota hybrid car owners ranked highest when it came to vehicle make, model and class loyalty.
“There is no doubt that economic and environmental factors are significantly changing which vehicles individuals buy and, even more interestingly, the types of vehicles they choose to purchase again,” said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. “Our data has shown that hybrid manufacturers have a clear advantage in reaching and keeping the more loyal vehicle buyers on the road today.”
The Experian Automotive study, which examined vehicle sales from January 2007 to March 2008, also found hybrid truck buyers (including SUVs) showed above-average loyalty to vehicle make with 37 percent purchasing another vehicle of the same make when compared to the 35-percent average of all vehicle classes combined.

Experian Automotive provides the information and insight that drives decisions across the entire vehicle sales cycle, ranging from market and vehicle history reporting to credit and marketing services. Experian Automotive assists manufacturers, dealers, lenders, and consumers in making sound decisions in buying and selling vehicles by helping them understand their market, manage lending risks, find new customers and provide the information needed to feel confident about their purchases.