TOYOTA: THE FUTURE OF MOTORING
McDilda in her book ‘365 ways to live green' says that anything that is a combination of two different components that work together to give a single output is considered to be hybrid (McDilda, 2002 ).She further defines a hybrid car a s a locomotive that combines the electric energy and gasoline energy in a way they both of them compliment each other to achieve maximum output. This is necessary because both gasoline and electricity on their own are not efficient in all situations. Furthermore production of gasoline and its emissions are not good for the environment.
There are several advantages of hybrid cars. For example they are very efficient in energy use and management since they combine two sources of energy with each being used at its best way. For instance electrical energy is used to start up the car and run it on very low speeds while gasoline energy propels the car at high speed while at the same time charging the battery during breaking. They also reduce dependency on fossil fuels and are cheap to maintain. With fossil fuel deposits reducing each day hybrid cars appear to be the future of the motoring industry and Toyota has been on the forefront in the production and innovation of these cars.
The history of the production of hybrid cars by Toyota dates back to 1977 when the first hybrid Toyota was shown to people in a motor show in Japan which was a two seat Toyota sport 800 whose transmission combined an electric motor and a gas turbine. An example of an engine that uses gas turbine is used in jets. This gas turbine charged both the batteries while at the same time powering the motor that propel the vehicle forward through a connection with the differential gear. This car however was only for show and was never sold to the public but it paved way for future models.
Toyota prius, which is the most common hybrid model by Toyota today, is a result of intensive research from 1994 which led to concepts for development of later models like the Synergy Driver and the Highlander Hybrid. This vehicle had several configurations to it in order to improve efficiency from the first Toyota sport 800. For example it had lower emissions and still was very efficient in fuel consumption. In 1995 the first prius model was shown to the public. This model had several aspects not available in other cars back then like it had computer interface controls, could shut off the engine automatically when the car is stopped and its breaking system could recreate itself. This car however stored its power in a capacitor as compared to later models that use a battery to store power and its transmission system did not use gears and rather used a belt. The first Toyota prius to be sold commercially was first made available in Toyotas home country- Japan in 1997 and arrived in the American market in the year 2000
Currently Toyota has got three hybrid models that are dominating the world market, the 3rd generation Toyota prius, Toyota Camry and the highlander hybrid. Toyota prius is currently the most economic vehicle in terms of fuel consumption and has several features that make it very efficient. For instance it uses an electric water pump and has smaller motors and a lighter engine and body components thus reducing fuel consumption. Apart from that it is the only car that has its plastics not made from fossil fuels but made from plants. It also has a very powerful navigation system and an audio system by JBL.
Toyota Camry which was first produced in 2007 is also very efficient and can comfortably cover 77 miles when its tank is full. On top of that it has other perfect features like an internal system that can monitor the pressure of tyres, blue tooth, keyless ignition, climate control and heated seats. Being a perfect hybrid car it can utililize electric power when at low speeds saving on fuel especially when one is stuck in a traffic jam and revert back to gasoline at high speed and at the same time charge the batteries. The vehicle is also relatively safer compared to other models with good safety features like braking assistance, vehicle stability control feature and Smart Stop Technology that can reduce the power of the engine when the driver steps on the breaks even though the accelerator is still stepped on and this stops the car.
The highlander hybrid is the world's first true hybrid sports utility vehicle and consumes far much less fuel compared to other SUVs in the market although it is not a good vehicle for off-road driving. However it has other exceptional features like the intelligent four wheel drive system that controls the torque in accordance with the terrain. Like other Toyota hybrid models it also has a synergy drive feature that switches the vehicles drive power to electric power when on low speeds thus reducing fuel consumption. It also has got an expanded size and at the same time reduced weight which further reduces fuel consumption and therefore less emissions
It is true to say that the future of Toyota as a dominant market leader in production of cars lies in its ability to produce hybrid cars that are efficient and valuable to customers. Although the earlier productions of hybrid cars seem to have slowed down in the late 90s and early 2000s it appears that hybrid cars are the future and Toyota is leading the way. According to AFP Toyota has recently announced they are planning to further develop the prius model by producing other models in 2010 and 2011 and 6 others by the end of 2012 (AFP, 2010).
These new models are predicted to be more stylish, more spacious with a capacity to carry five passengers and would be very different to the common Toyotas. In Toyotas new five year plan new and exiting hybrid cars are in the process of production for example the FT-86 G sports car displayed recently in Tokyo and a next generation Lexus. These cars have newer features like a lower engine capacity and a torque split unit. Reduction in the engine capacity is expected to further reduce the consumption of fuel by these new models. It has also been predicted that the company is aiming to have each of its models have at least one hybrid car within its productions in that customers can decide whether to buy a hybrid car or a gasoline powered car. They are also aiming to double the production of its hybrid cars by 2020.
With the world fossil fuel reserves getting depleted each day, more people are turning to more fuel efficient cars that are economical and with renewed efforts to reduce carbon emissions hybrid cars appear to be the most economical answer. Toyota is currently leading the way in hybrid car productions and this is evident from the sales of its prius model where demand out passed the supply and some willing buyers have had to wait for months before getting a delivery. It seems that Toyotas slogan that the car in front of you is always a Toyota is very true in the case of hybrid vehicles
Achuka vincent
There are several advantages of hybrid cars. For example they are very efficient in energy use and management since they combine two sources of energy with each being used at its best way. For instance electrical energy is used to start up the car and run it on very low speeds while gasoline energy propels the car at high speed while at the same time charging the battery during breaking. They also reduce dependency on fossil fuels and are cheap to maintain. With fossil fuel deposits reducing each day hybrid cars appear to be the future of the motoring industry and Toyota has been on the forefront in the production and innovation of these cars.
The history of the production of hybrid cars by Toyota dates back to 1977 when the first hybrid Toyota was shown to people in a motor show in Japan which was a two seat Toyota sport 800 whose transmission combined an electric motor and a gas turbine. An example of an engine that uses gas turbine is used in jets. This gas turbine charged both the batteries while at the same time powering the motor that propel the vehicle forward through a connection with the differential gear. This car however was only for show and was never sold to the public but it paved way for future models.
Toyota prius, which is the most common hybrid model by Toyota today, is a result of intensive research from 1994 which led to concepts for development of later models like the Synergy Driver and the Highlander Hybrid. This vehicle had several configurations to it in order to improve efficiency from the first Toyota sport 800. For example it had lower emissions and still was very efficient in fuel consumption. In 1995 the first prius model was shown to the public. This model had several aspects not available in other cars back then like it had computer interface controls, could shut off the engine automatically when the car is stopped and its breaking system could recreate itself. This car however stored its power in a capacitor as compared to later models that use a battery to store power and its transmission system did not use gears and rather used a belt. The first Toyota prius to be sold commercially was first made available in Toyotas home country- Japan in 1997 and arrived in the American market in the year 2000
Currently Toyota has got three hybrid models that are dominating the world market, the 3rd generation Toyota prius, Toyota Camry and the highlander hybrid. Toyota prius is currently the most economic vehicle in terms of fuel consumption and has several features that make it very efficient. For instance it uses an electric water pump and has smaller motors and a lighter engine and body components thus reducing fuel consumption. Apart from that it is the only car that has its plastics not made from fossil fuels but made from plants. It also has a very powerful navigation system and an audio system by JBL.
Toyota Camry which was first produced in 2007 is also very efficient and can comfortably cover 77 miles when its tank is full. On top of that it has other perfect features like an internal system that can monitor the pressure of tyres, blue tooth, keyless ignition, climate control and heated seats. Being a perfect hybrid car it can utililize electric power when at low speeds saving on fuel especially when one is stuck in a traffic jam and revert back to gasoline at high speed and at the same time charge the batteries. The vehicle is also relatively safer compared to other models with good safety features like braking assistance, vehicle stability control feature and Smart Stop Technology that can reduce the power of the engine when the driver steps on the breaks even though the accelerator is still stepped on and this stops the car.
The highlander hybrid is the world's first true hybrid sports utility vehicle and consumes far much less fuel compared to other SUVs in the market although it is not a good vehicle for off-road driving. However it has other exceptional features like the intelligent four wheel drive system that controls the torque in accordance with the terrain. Like other Toyota hybrid models it also has a synergy drive feature that switches the vehicles drive power to electric power when on low speeds thus reducing fuel consumption. It also has got an expanded size and at the same time reduced weight which further reduces fuel consumption and therefore less emissions
It is true to say that the future of Toyota as a dominant market leader in production of cars lies in its ability to produce hybrid cars that are efficient and valuable to customers. Although the earlier productions of hybrid cars seem to have slowed down in the late 90s and early 2000s it appears that hybrid cars are the future and Toyota is leading the way. According to AFP Toyota has recently announced they are planning to further develop the prius model by producing other models in 2010 and 2011 and 6 others by the end of 2012 (AFP, 2010).
These new models are predicted to be more stylish, more spacious with a capacity to carry five passengers and would be very different to the common Toyotas. In Toyotas new five year plan new and exiting hybrid cars are in the process of production for example the FT-86 G sports car displayed recently in Tokyo and a next generation Lexus. These cars have newer features like a lower engine capacity and a torque split unit. Reduction in the engine capacity is expected to further reduce the consumption of fuel by these new models. It has also been predicted that the company is aiming to have each of its models have at least one hybrid car within its productions in that customers can decide whether to buy a hybrid car or a gasoline powered car. They are also aiming to double the production of its hybrid cars by 2020.
With the world fossil fuel reserves getting depleted each day, more people are turning to more fuel efficient cars that are economical and with renewed efforts to reduce carbon emissions hybrid cars appear to be the most economical answer. Toyota is currently leading the way in hybrid car productions and this is evident from the sales of its prius model where demand out passed the supply and some willing buyers have had to wait for months before getting a delivery. It seems that Toyotas slogan that the car in front of you is always a Toyota is very true in the case of hybrid vehicles
Achuka vincent
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