At least that's what Autocar UK's contributor Ollie Stallwood seemed to suggest based on comments from a company source. According to the source, every single Toyota model will include a hybrid option within the next 10 years.
If anyone has any doubt of the effectiveness of hybrids over frugal diesels try telling Toyota. Speaking with a source at the company today he re-iterated that every model in the range would include a hybrid option “within ten years”.Nothing surprising about the first part as Toyota have announced this long term plan for their hybrid push a couple of years ago. My eyes just popped wide open when I read the part about Hilux hybrid.
This would include the usual array of C-segment and D-segment cars of course, but interestingly it would also be extended to hybrid Hilux pick-ups (Hy-lux anyone?), Land Cruisers, and Rav4s.
Personally however I am not convinced of the news, no not about the long term hybrid model expansion plan in general. I more keen to believe Stallwood's source made that comment in the context of Toyota's domestic Japan or maybe including its North American market (Toyota's two largest market) model line up. The Hilux is not sold in Japan you see. As far as I am aware of, there is only one pick-up truck on sale in Japan - Mitsubishi Triton. The pick-up truck market in Japan is almost non-existent. Yes there will be hybrid C-segment Corollas and there will be hybrid trucks, but I speculate it will be for the full-size Tundra rather than Hilux.
If you remember, a concept Toyota hybrid truck inspired by the Tundra (A-BAT Concept) was unveiled about 2 years back. The market requirements and usage conditions of a Hilux would make it not an ideal platform to market the advantages of a hybrid powertrain. A Tundra however is targetted a different market. It is not realistic to expect every single Toyota models sold around the world, including those made by its sister company Daihatsu (i.e. Daihatsu Xenia / Toyota Avanza, Daihatsu Sirion / Toyota Passo) and those designed for third world country markets (i.e. Innova, Fortuner) to also be chosen candidates for hybridization. The upcoming low cost Toyota Emerging Family Car (EFC) is definately not a candidate for a hybrid powertrain.
Toyota previously had a joint partnership with Isuzu to develop diesel engines but ever since Akio Toyoda came took the helm of the company as President, he has terminated the deal and decided the throw all of the company resources to what it does best - hybrids.
Related link :
The great powertrain debate - diesel vs hybrid.
Busting Myths About Hybrid Battery Reliability
8 comments:
mmm.. Hilux Hybrid...
Well.. there are Prius & Camry Hybrid for US, Auris Hybrid for Europe.. Honda planning for the Fit Hybrid, not mistaken, Yaris Hybrid will also be launching soon... So, perhaps a Hilux Hybrid for Asia & Africa :P
Let say, the cost to produce 100 hybrid battery will is $1,000 each, and the cost of 100,000 will reduce the price to $100 each, therefore, what's wrong of having a Hybrid version of Vios, Avanza, Hilux etc??
TY2LS :)
Well all those cars you mentioned are predominantly European / American market cars - developed countries with a significant population who are concerned about climate change.
I doubt the $1000 cost for a hybrid battery is realistic. The cost Wh/kg power density capacity of a hybrid battery is around USD0.50 and a typical hybrid battery weighs around 50kg. Which translates to around USD 2,500. Then there are various battery packaging, cooling and power control electronics and electric engine start-stop and alternator. The price premium of a hybrid car is around USD5,000.
Honda may find it easier to offer low cost hybrids because IMA is a far more simpler / lighter system compared to Toyota's HSD. IMA is mainly is a electric assist only mild hybrid which centered around having a different transmission and crankcase components while. Toyota's HSD is more effective and powerful but is also more expensive, complicated and heavier. Fitting it on already small cars like Yaris / iQ might not yield much benefit.
Hybrid batteries usually have a narrow operating range of around 3 degrees C for optimum lifespan. The unpredictable usage conditions required of a Hilux makes this a questionable platform, in my opinion to adopt a hybrid powertrain. Keep in mind that this is not to say hybrid batteries are not reliable, as mentioned in my Prius taxis post - the key thing is the continued operation in an environment they are designed for.
But as I said, these are just my own opinion. I am not convinced of a hybrid Toyota lineup globally. The cost-benefit doesn't seem convincing on a surface level.
Well, at least Toyota managed to bring down the price of Prius close to Insight.
BTW, have you seen a CEO take bus to work, earning $90k per annum, queue up for lunch with the rest of the staff? Check the link below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYSZ8TUa3Vg
Listen carefully when he was told that CEO in US making up to US$200million a year..
Not to mention Rick Wagoner taking home millions and US$74k per annum for life for doing nothing.... :( :(
mmm.. I wonder, would Ghosn take a bus to work :P
TY2LS :)
Japanese CEO vs American BIG 3 (or now, left with Ford only)
remember they flew private jet, when begging the US govt for $$$??
...while Toyota only allow its high level staff fly economy class !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjeTTQKRfWU
.... CEO who wear Armani put himself arm length from his people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ATOARgLO8
It is more like the East vs the West..
TY2LS :)
In reference to your comment, do you think the system will be too heavy for the recently announced Auris hybrid then? Maybe a revised simpler HSD system?
Well remember that a sister car to the Auris, the Blade Master has a 3.5 V6.
Yes the HSD system will have some weight penalty but I guess the performance gain should be enough to offset it. The Auris is not that small anyway but it's probably about the lowest any car company should logically go hybrid with. Anything smaller and a dedicated EV should sound more logical.
I think Toyota does have a mild hybrid for its Crown model but I don't think Toyota is interested to invest further in it. Looking at Lexus hybrid models (esp the HS250 and LF-A Nurburgring race car) and the now larger engine Prius, TMC's direction seems suggest that their focus is to potray hybrids as an alternative powertrain suitable enough for high end luxury and powerful cars. Diverting resources to develop two separate hybrid systems (strong and mild) doesn't seem to be TMC's idea.
TY2LS,
Don't be fooled by PR stunt by these TMC execs. Watanabe-san visit to P2 Rawang & ASSB somewhehe in 2006/7 using TMC private jet. The TMC staff travel by Business Class when the flight is more than 4 hrs. TMC offered one of the best perks in Japan, we can say as good as O&G (Shell, Petronas) in Malaysia. The Japs ask me why I want to leave Toyota and they were suprised when they know the pathetic state of auto industry here. With UMW group was lowest in the paygrade scale (next is P1), and the mgmt is talking about getting the best in the industries. Yeah right. You pay peanut you get monkey, remember?
However, their CR (cost reduction) is very extensive and workable, and kudos to them for that as well. The CR dont just cut cost, but saves the environment as well and all their plant are at least 14000 certified (Ford use to lead in that area by the way)
regular reader
Anonymous mentioned something that is very real. This is one of the key problems regarding our auto industry - it is a chicken and egg issue. The industry is not growing and the principal / distributor is not willing to invest further in training and recruitment. By not having a good succession plan / competitive incentive package / recruiting the best the industry continue to be manned by poorly trained managers or continue to rely on expensive expats who come and go.
The lack of growth and not having any staff development programme befitting of an MNC is one of the main reason I left the industry here. If the largest player in the industr; UMWT gets such comments, what more about other smaller players? I have meet my fair share of P2, P1 and other local auto operations managers. There aren't many that will come across you as great leaders who inspire their staffs. The size of European makes operations is very small in comparison.
It is normal for corporate Japan to not lavish their top execs with perks like Americans, but once they are posted overseas it is a different story. Maybe it is because the locals perceive Japanese bosses as a superior race. Something which I view with much disdain. Respect is earned by virtue of one's character and achievement, not ethnicity. Or it could be that the Japanese expats expect to be treated differently from the locals. I am sure many have stories to tell of local staffs who can do a much better job than Japanese expats, but for various political reasons these people are kept on a lid and they eventually leave for greener pastures.
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