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Toyota's U.S. Chief Says The Future Will Be All Hybrid

Agent009 submitted on 7/11/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 9:33:50 AM

26 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.detnews.com

Toyota Motor Corp.

's North American chief said vehicles powered by gasoline-electric hybrid engines will dominate U.S. roads as fuel prices continue to rise.

"Eventually, everything will be a hybrid," said Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor North America, in an interview Tuesday in New York. Hybrids have been driving Toyota's growth in the U.S., he said.

Toyota, Japan's largest automaker, would benefit from growing consumer acceptance of the technology. So far this year, hybrids have accounted for just 2.3 percent of all cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. while demand has grown by 60 percent.



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Toyota's U.S. Chief Says The Future Will Be All Hybrid

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Agent009

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

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Will_

The #1 automaker in the world says the future will be all hybrid? HMMmmm...

— Will_ (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 9:45:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Agent009

They are playing poker very well they are ready to up the ante.

Banking on the high cost of fuel to force consumers in to their hands (clutches?, has worked well for them.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 10:05:49 AM | | Votes: -2   

Will_

"Banking on?"

I'll take your inflammatory remark as pure sarcasm, and just a bad analogy.

...and who says you don't like Toyota! ;)

— Will_ (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 10:23:00 AM | | Votes: 3   

budfrogS4

Just change the word gas to diesel and I'm sold on the statement. But you'll never get anybody from Toyota to use the D word.

— budfrogS4 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 12:39:25 PM | | Votes: 2   

kpaxx


I guess if they are the world's largest automaker they have some ability to dictate what the market will be. But I certainly don't see the benefits of hybrid cars at this point in time. Every hybrid car (prius, camry, highlander, RX, Escape) I have driven handles like a wet noodle almost verging on dangerous. So I am inclined not to purchase hybrids.

— kpaxx (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 9:58:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

JUGNU

Toyota just introduce Hybrids in Asia, Countries like China,Russia,India,Middle East...etc and watch the growth, i am sure that in the next 10 years Toyota will be twice as big as the second biggest carmaker then (GM/Ford or do u think Honda)

As i said many times

Hybrids for Life

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 10:39:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

chuck717

I don't see it at all. This would be a huge gamble for Toyota, i doubt the board will ever sanction eggs in one basket theory. The cost of gas once the Irag issue is settled and it will be, and the Iran threat gone since many in Iran want a demoracy. Iran has it owns issues with supply that will be handled once the Gov't joins the world in the 21st century most of these oil issues will subside they have to, the industrial world can't and won't be held hostage anymore because China and Russia will be playing a huge part where as years ago they weren't a player.
The cost of fuel will be managable. Cars will get about 25 to 38 mpg without a hybird plant in them and that will satisfy the consumer in the future. Hybird will most likely be used as a source in certain models and uses but for the most part the gas powered high output engine is alive and well in the future.

— chuck717 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 11:55:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

EnnNorak

Toyota is dreaming or smoking something strange. I can see plug-in hybrids for strictly short-run urban use provided that power companies can offer special rates to consumers who charge up the plug-in hybrid batteries during off-peak hours. Electricity meters at the house would need to be computerized in a way that adjusts for lower price per kilowatt-hour during off-peak hours.

Many more nuclear power plants would have to be built and the Nevada Desert would have to be lined with cheap solar cells to generate all the extra electricity gobbled up by plug-in hybrids. Without nuclear power and cheap solar energy we would not gain much on the pollution front as we would simply be shifting the pollution problem from the car industry to the power companies. It may be easier to control pollution at the power company however.

Let's not forget consumer resistance to laying out scarce capital for the more expensive hybrids and the eventual replacement of their battery packs. Economies of scale will reduce the capital cost of these vehicles somewhat but not enough in my opinion to motivate the vast majority of consumers to opt for them.

If we can build adequate hydrogen infrastructures, we may see a hydrogen future for motorists. Hydrogen beats hybrids any day.

— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2007 4:38:56 AM | | Votes: 0   

Czelinski

Well, seeing as they've invested so heavily in it and it's deemed as their technology. Of course he's going to make a statement like that!!!

Geeze, hardly going to say, "yeah, we wasted multi millions/billions developing this technology, and well..to be honest, it's just not future proof"

— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 12:55:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

SupraNeverBack

First, the chief said, all will be Hybrids including gas, diesel, plug-in, fuel cell...

Second, gas hybrid will be cheaper, cleaner, more efficient and better performance than diesel.

In conclusion, hybrids are the future.

— SupraNeverBack (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 1:08:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Caddyman07

DITTO!!!

— Caddyman07 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 2:56:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Rupert

Just to say, you know Toyota loses money on every single Prius?

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 2:25:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Rupert

Xerokool - I'm assuming Toyota is including ALL of its hybirds, not just the Prius.
I may be wrong, but I read this last week in which?car magazine.
I thought due to its expensive construction the Prius was still a money loser, whether its other hybrids make money is a different question, but it does appear that the Prius is subsidized by Toyota.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 6:55:06 PM | | Votes: -1   

dsch_iter

The future is likely to be run on algae-harvested biodiesel, or mr. fusion.

— dsch_iter (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2007 4:38:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

enthusiastx11

toyota--and every other car manufacturer--can say whatever they want.
it's the almight consumer that will determine what does--or does not--sell.

at 2% marketshare, hybrids have a long, long way to go before they become a significant share of the auto market. and to become truly pervasive, prices need to come down dramatically to make hybrids affordable to the average american family (avg household income of $45,000).

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2007 2:29:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

bevisroy

Lexus ALWAYS understates their 0 - 60 times by at least .5 seconds. Here are the results of the 5 Top Luxury Cars in this test which was reported in the January Issue of Car and Driver. Please note these tests were all done on the same day at about the same time and at the same altitude. The results reflect the average of 3 runs and all cars are the 2007 vintage.

Mercedes S550 5.6, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.1 (Benz show 5.4 in their specs)
BMW 750iL 5.7, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.2
Jag XJ Super 6.0 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.5
Lexus LS460L 6.2 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.6
Audi A8 6.8 0 - 60 quarter mile 15.2

Note that Lexus, as usual, is more than the 5.4 the manufacturer CLAIMS to get by .8 seconds.

Also note the LS430 (prior model the LS460 replaced) was rated at 295 HP and was actually 278 when Lexus corrected their rating. And there were no refunds or apologies from the so-called "quality" car company. ABC - Always Be Careful what you buy from the (REPREHENSIBLE) Toyota/Lexus people.....

— bevisroy (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2007 6:17:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

XYZZ

ennNorak:

"Hydrogen beats hybrids any day."


don't display your IGNORANCE.

all the downsides you listed for plugin hybrids apply IN SPADES to making hydrogen.

there are FURTHER EFFICIENCY LOSSES in converting other hydrocarbons to h2, and h2 back to electricity.

there are HUGE infrastructure req'ts to support a h2 economy.

there are SEVERE LIMITATIONS in having h2 fuel tanks.

STEAM POWERED cars are more viable than hydrogen cars. if you think otherwise, you're a sucker for h2 HYPE. (mostly BY MAKERS who're NOT smart enuff to develop and market hybrids.)




— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 7:08:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

XYZZ


bevisroy, you've displayed YOUR ignorance and inability to do anything OTHER than constantly repeat yourself.

now, STFU already!

(maybe you could TRY to find a job as a drag racing chaffuer. LOL! remember to go to the BACK door at any mansion.)

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2007 7:14:51 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

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