There will be a hybrid version of the new Lexus 500 hp supercar too. I want one!
Motor Authority » Toyota cutting hybrid costs, claims every car produced will be hybrid by 2020 —
Toyota has always backed its hybrid technology as the key to reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions, but as advanced as the technology is, diesel powered cars manage to offer similar levels of eco-friendliness but with more performance to boot. It doesn’t help that hybrid vehicles are considerably more expensive than their oil-burning counterparts as well.
That’s why Toyota is hard at work developing cheaper hybrid systems. Reuters reports that Toyota is hoping to make as much money from hybrids as it does from conventional cars by the end of the decade. The news comes from Toyota’s vice president in charge of powertrain development, Masatami Takimoto, who said cost cutting on the electric motor, battery and inverter were all showing positive results and by the time Toyota’s sales goal of one million hybrids annually is reached, it “expect margins to be equal to gasoline cars”. Takimoto also made the bold claim that by 2020, hybrids will be the standard drivetrain and account for “100 percent” of Toyota’s cars as they would be no more expensive to produce than a conventional vehicle.
found by Bubba Martin
I’m a beginner mechanic and the only reason I can think of hybrids can’t be diesel is the warm-up time when it “cuts off” when a speed threshold isn’t crossed
I certainly think it likely. Not just for Toyota; but, any manufacturer with the smarts to look beyond the next couple of quarters. Admittedly, that leaves out pretty much anyone in the U.S..
All of these components haven’t been researched or upgraded for decades. Folks have been larruping along, presuming the chickens were never going to come home to roost.
The US auto industry hasnt changed in over 20 years.
In the 70’s they promised to look into alternatives. they did, then DROPPPED everything after the Gov paid the bill.
When they went for SMaller, Lighter cars, they went witht eh 3 speed transmission, to SAVE MONEY…It didnt improve much.
They RECENTLY went with the 5 speed, and those same cars are Doing ALOT better.
But, what concerns me, is that my 20 year old OLDSMOBILE, still gets 30mpg, with fuel injection.. And these cars that are 1/2 the weight, with smaller engines, ARENT.
Its funny that the Small car of the past…the VW, beat the spit, out of anything NEW. And it was made with STEEL, which is heavier then ALUMINUM.
I love my Lexus GS450h. Great performance, good gas mileage and super, ultra low emissions.
Long live Toyota! As for the U.S. auto makers, they can just wither and die for all I care.
And before you start screaming “what about the American auto workers”, remember, Toyota is hiring more and more Americans in their new U.S. plants, while GM/Ford/Chrysler are closing plants and laying off domestic workers as fast as they can. If they aren’t already, Toyota will eventually be contributing more to our economy and jobs market than the U.S. companies. And I just don’t see any way for a dinosaur like GM to turn that trend around. They will just keep digging their own grave until they suffocate in it.
In 2020 Ford, GM and Chrysler will still sell gas guzzlers because anything fuel efficient is gay.
Well, GM and Ford will still sell big cars because a portion of the market demands them, and always will. Of course if Toyota or others filled that niche as well, ho boy, pity my neighboring city to the east. Anyway, I’ll support whatever companies are still willing to employ American workers. Which is less GM and Ford that it used to be.
#7 Yes and no. There will always be a market for big pickups, but Detroit has shown time and time again that they lack any forward thinking and always seem to be about 10 years behind the cutting edge Asian makers. Then they wonder why Toyota is now #1. O well I guess we can just fire a few thousand workers and give the CEO a 50 million dollar salary package for his brilliant leadership and insight.
#7 and #8, When Toyota comes out with 3/4-ton and 1-ton pickups, kiss GM and Ford goodbye!
Oh, what the hell… let’s just go for complete capitalism, and see how much we can get for America. Let’s put the whole mutha-F’er up for sale. It’s not like anybody else has a strong enough economy, and deep enough pockets, to buy us out (for ca$h) immediately, right?!!
Stay asleep. I don’t have kids, that’s lonely but great. YOUR children will have to pay the price. Hey, they’ll be working for somebody else, without good benefits, just above minimum wage – about like you are, right now.
The development of hybrid and electric vehicles will be greatly accelerated when Cree starts making Silicon Carbide MOSFETs. Due out sometime next year, they’ll enable better motor drive and energy management systems. Their SiC Schottky diodes are already making an impact, even though their use requires a complete redesign of the power circuit.
#11 Smartalix – PZEV for conventional cars has been around since 2003, year there isn’t a single new GM/FORD/Chrysler vehicle sold with one.
Because it adds some 500$ to the price, and subtracts a few precious horsepowers.
Won’t the MOSFET’s be used for military war-bots first?
So now it’s GM/FORD/Chrysler that are becoming a nice market – the US of A.
Let’s bankrupt those companies now. Then the tens of billions in pension and retiree health care costs will disappear. And you can have new executives starting up companies. Guys that actually try to design things, and listen to customers.
12,
SiC MOSFETs directly impact operating efficiency and high-temperature operation, so they will reduce the cost and complexity of the electrical systems involved. The military will be a big beneficiary, but it isn’t like the devices will be rationed. SiC diodes are already widely available as I pointed out, they are just slow to penetrate the market due to the redesign issue.
SiC components will significantly reduce parts counts, not add to them. Add to that the ability to remove the second radiator system required to keep the power electronics cool and you’re looking at sigificant cost savings, as well. Basing projections on old tech is self-defeating.
Sadly, the redesign issue will be a bigger problem for stagnant US companies than it will be for companies like Toyota that redesign their systems regularly.
10-
What are you talking about? Are you frowning on Toyota’s success? Are you saying we should ‘buy domestic’ out of patriotism?
Good god man you are the one who should ‘stay asleep’ and keep that ranting in your head.
Toyota again proves why they are the world’s most successful (and biggest) vehicle manufacturer. I’m guessing it won’t be long before ford and GM are asking the government for a bailout like the airlines did.
Thing is, the hybrid tech still needs to advance before its any good – right now on anything larger than a Corolla its pretty much greenwashing – gas mileage is the same as the normal gas version.
Alix..are you suggesting that silicon carbide is a winner? I’m reminded of the gallium arsenide hype of a decade ago…cripes.
#9 has the right idea. Find a better way to power full size vehicles without increasing cost. When they build real trucks with these power sources, everyone who doesn’t will be toast.