More off-topic content on hybrid vehicles, I'm afraid. From today's New York Times. Only two of the ten models were previously announced.
Also in today's Times-- but not included below-- is a longish article on Southern California's historic struggle against air pollution. A key current challenge, according to the article, is the extremely high-sulphur fuel used in cargo ships, which leads to the generation of a high amount of carcinogenic particulates. Also, sulphur in the fuel used in locomotives is an issue. California lacks regulatory authority to control either of those sources, and the feds haven't shown a strong interest. -- Toyota Developing 10 Models Using Hybrid Power By DANNY HAKIM TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 3 - Toyota is developing 10 new hybrid electric models for sale worldwide by early in the next decade, the company's top North American executive said today. The company also believes a quarter of its volume in the United States will use the technology by then as it pushes for annual sales of one million hybrid vehicles globally, a plan that would put it far ahead of projections for hybrid volume across the industry. "At our current rate of sales, that's about 600,000 hybrids in the U.S.," Jim Press, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., said at an auto industry conference in northern Michigan. "To achieve that goal, we will have to look at offering hybrid power systems in virtually all of our vehicles, including trucks." Mr. Press dismissed concerns raised by some consumers and reviewers that Toyota and Honda were using the technology to increase horsepower in newer hybrid models, eroding fuel economy benefits. He also said in his speech that the proliferation of a broad range of technology in modern cars has led to what he called an "epidemic" of recalls. "It caught up with all of us in 2004 when the industry recalled 30.6 million vehicles, nearly twice the number we sold last year," he said, adding that the problem "undermines the trust people have in the our industry." The hybrid push is a core goal of Toyota's competitive strategy as it looks to increase its overall share of the world's auto market to 15 percent, which would likely vault it past General Motors as the world's largest automaker. The volatility of gas prices, political instability and environmental issues make the continued development of the technology a priority, Mr. Press and other Toyota executives have said. "To us, it's not a passing phase but a vital technology for the 21st century," Mr. Press said. Toyota currently sells three hybrid models in the United States, the Toyota Prius, the Lexus RX 400h and a hybrid version of its Toyota Highlander S.U.V. The company has previously announced 2 of the 10 new hybrid models, versions of its Lexus GS sedan and Toyota Camry. Mr. Press declined to say what other models were under development, but did say that a pickup truck would likely be among the offerings. Toyota's plan will keep up the pressure on other automakers to develop more robust fuel economy strategies to compete with Toyota, as well as Honda, the two companies that brought the first hybrids to market. So far, only the Ford Motor Company has responded with hybrids comparable to Toyota's popular Prius, though most other automakers have models in the works. Nissan plans to sell a version of its Altima sedan that uses Toyota's technology, and G.M. and DaimlerChrysler, companies long skeptical of the technology, have said more recently that they are jointly developing a new hybrid system for trucks. Mr. Press dismissed concerns raised about newer hybrid models, like Toyota's Lexus RX 400h, that have been criticized for diminishing fuel economy returns as the advanced technology is used in large part to enhance horsepower. "A lot of that's software," he said. "I think at some point you'll even have a button you can pick, mileage versus performance, because you're managing the system. And the other part of that is, it really depends on driving habits." He said drivers who try to handle hybrids like sports cars and zoom, rather than ease, from 0 to 60 will not maximize their fuel savings. "This car, up to 12 miles an hour, it uses no gas," he said. But a recent review in The New York Times cast doubt on the fuel savings of the Lexus in a variety of conditions, saying it had "no tangible fuel economy benefits." _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
