Toyota to bolster environmental initiatives
September 29, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Toyota is aiming to strengthen its environmental initiatives by lowering carbon output in key areas of research and development, manufacturing and social contribution (we’re unsure on the last one too).
Hybrid model Camry, Prius, Rx400h, GS450h, LS600hL & Hino truck.
The plan is to reduce CO2 emissions through the use of non-petroleum based sources of energy, thus improving air quality. Basically this will be done by ramping up Hybrid technology over the coming years, reducing the size and weight of motors, inverters, batteries and the likes and by also reducing the size and weight of vehicles according to their purpose.
In the interim, flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on E10 through E85 fuels, and even E100 in Brazil will help take Toyota forward until such time as plug-in hybrids become available in late 2009 (in Japan, Europe and the US).
Toyota is also investing heavily in new technology Lithium-Ion batteries which will see full-scale production in 2010, fuel cell hybrid (FCHV-adv) vehicles, biomass-to-liquid (BTL) fuels, and bio hydrofined diesel (BHD – as an alternative to petroleum based diesel) to ensure no stone is unturned in finding a solution to powering vehicles in the future.
It is Toyota’s belief that global warming and energy related issues cannot be solved through automotive solutions alone and that transport infrastructure, governmental actions and the actions of society (including drivers) must also combine to achieve progress on this front.
To assist drivers, Toyota will fit ‘Eco Driving Indicators’ to their vehicles which when illuminated mean the vehicle is being driven in an economic manner – reminds me of the Econogauge in early model Commodores. This is based on feedback from throttle pressure, gear selection, braking application pressure and overall fuel consumption rate.
The initiatives from Toyota’s “Fourth Toyota Environmental Action Plan” are highly commendable and show how new targets can be achieved through a diverse and strengthened approach. Kudos Toyota.
Print it: 
Millatime Says:
Can it be a coincidence that The Salesman and DanMan most often surface within minutes of each other and then universally endorse each others comments???
Well Millatime, you know what they say, great minds think alike.
It is very clear this could be debated for some time. So let’s look at the facts.
Toyota is number one in the world, how they got there is clear, they are very aggressive and business savvy.
Argue all you like, the facts can not lie.
‘Can it be a coincidence that The Salesman and DanMan most often surface within minutes of each other and then universally endorse each others comments??? ‘
Glad you notice,
is it a coincidence that we both post the most logical and fair comments on this site…
I think only envy can cause people (in this case trailer trash bogans) to dislike toyota with such a passion!
Funny that Toyota put this out just before we got to hear about the Kia Thread
“KIA has topped the Smart Green Index for the large car segment in the US”
Hmm could the lowly Korean be beating Toyota at it’s own game?. As for the salesman and DanMan, Toyota is only the No1 sale brand in one country. Yes they sell more cars around the world, as they are sold in more countries than any other single brand. They are also selling vehicles to suit the market they are going into. Do youy believe that the Toyotas in SA or the Middle East actually meet any of the enviromental regulations imposed on their vehicles sold in say, Australia or Europe, Japan or the US?? Trust me the don’t. So this is the green car company?? As has been pointed out, Citroen (that little french company that builds weird cars but has been around longer than Jesus) and Peugot have a smaller co2 foot print for their fleet than Toyota and they don’t have any Hybrids on the mass market, nor do they have LPG. THey just have small smelly diseasels. Now don’t take me wrong, Toyota are not a bad company, it’s just that they are only as good as the rest. Yes they go to respective goevrnments and lobby (read buy) legislation to siut their products, but that’s business. Ask the Victorian govt. why they gave them $35 mill and why they are in the process of changing taxi licences so that hybrids are half price? Toyota will let you smell the roses, but don’t bend down too far or you will cop a whiff of the fertiliser.
James its always like this, don’t worry, I flick through the comments to find anything insightful, and vwualla nothing.
Back to the article, I think this is a good initiative any enviromental initiative should be looked on positively even though any result has come out of it yet.
Just out of interest, recent studies conducted within where I work’s industry shows majority of people like to be ‘held by the hand’ than rather work out things through calculations, top that with illustrative and interactive instruments which account to being more intuitive, the illumination indicators a good selling point for them.
Frontman, agree, but also take account the mass of such company like Toyota, they can take more drastic steps to changing market and put their hand deeper in the cookie jar than the rest of the large manufacturers which are still a few levels below are struggling just to survive.
Agree its not the greenest car (but not sure about meeting emission standards), and that saying I doubt deep down they don’t want to be, its all about perception, and as long as its green-enough to warrant getting kudos and sales from it. No company / corporations out there is really looks at customers/environmental over sales and profit, they only do so in a PR perspective making sure people and lobby groups are satisfied ongoing with their efforts… The last thing a corporate needs is a negative legistlation or a bad rep (sticks to brand) imposed on them, which is a real killer over time.
Voila!
Frontman Says.
Do youy believe that the Toyotas in SA or the Middle East actually meet any of the enviromental regulations imposed on their vehicles sold in say, Australia or Europe, Japan or the US?? Trust me the don’t.
Why would they have different environmental regulations for different contraries?
Do they stop the line and say, okay, this lot is for the Middle East so we want more emissions please.
I agree, Korea is Toyota’s biggest threat.
I only state facts.
If you can present me with evidence to back your claims I am keen to learn.
Ummm (gee you toyota lovers are touchy) but every manufacturer builds their cars to be just enough for the market they are going into. Yes the South African bound / built Toyotas have less regulations on them than the Australian ones, So does every other vehicle produced for there. It is to do with little things such as the inconsistancies of the fuels and the servicing and abuse the vehicles get in these climates.
There are companies (much like theones here that convert Japanese vehicles to australian spec) that convert incomming vehicles to suit.
Point in case in the differences of countries and requirements, why do all Europeans state their cars prefer PULP? becuase European base fuel is Australian PULP. Also if everything was the same everywhere, why do the manufacturers spend millions of R&D money in countries like Australia, SA, Thailand as well as Europe, The Sates and Japan?
Go to your parts dept and have a look at Microcat, then try matching part numbers up with overseas models,you’ll be surprised at how much is different.
Car manufacturers design their engines to meet and exceed the highest emission rules. I can’t see them re tooling a factory to build a different power plant for different countries.
Maybe the regulations are different for windscreen wiper blade length, where the indicators go or the webbing of the seat belt. But emissions, no…
Sorry but car manufacturers build cars to a price, if they know they can short cut emmisions in countries then they do. All manufacturers do it so don’t feel bad. It is why they set up factories in different countries to make the same cars. Makes it easier to make the changes. Honestly, a middle eastern Camry is not the same as the one you buy here. Same factory sure, but the changes are numerous and do include emmision controls. Why was Pregio stoped from sale in Asu but still availble in the middle east and asia? Same with the Daihatsu trucks (the ones Toyota dealers used to sell as well) and F series Diesels. All still onsale with the same motors, just not available here because of our emmission controls.
I think we will have to agree to disagree. I was of the opinion that they had different factories in different contrary’s to met meet volume demands globally.
Pregio didn’t meet the euro 4 emissions compliance for Australia in the 2.7ltr diesel, true. They could have put the 2.9ltr Terrican motor in the Pregio like they have the K2900 truck
Now it is a Hyundai I Load, I think that had more to do with Hyundai not wanting Kia to dominate too many categories of the Australian market, like they do with the Carnival.
Also we don’t have the Kia Cee’d but Hyundai have the I30, same car. Kia dealers would love to have it.
Agree 100% with every thing u have said Millatime!
Frontman is right as well.
Car salesman , never us , where not cheats , a joke .
Thats why when ever you go to trade get three quotes if possible .
One of the bums will always try and ” rip you ” with a crap trade in .
And their still in business because a ” wood duck ” is born every day .
Here’s a few points in response..
1. Frontman – you are absolutely correct with different specs for different markets. And The Salesman knows it. By his admission he’s been in the industry a good many years in management roles. (Unless he’s lying and misleading us of course, remember the salesman bit.) All he’s doing is trying to confuse and have some fun, he’s throwing smoke.
A new Cruiser ute comes with low emission 4.5 V8 diesel. The old 4.2 diesel 6 was banned from sale in new vehicles in this country on 1/1/07. But go to Asia and the same new cruiser ute has the same bonnet scoop, except it’s closed. No intercooler under there. No low emission 4.5 V8 under there. But the old too dirty for Oz 4.2 diesel 6 under there.
2. Joober – you have paraphrased me perfectly, and summed up Toyota’s philosophy perfectly in your closing paragraph. I really don’t think you meant to but well done anyway!
3. The Salesman – it’s not about who’s #1 and who sells the most. Maybe in your world it is, but for the rest of us humans that don’t sell cars it’s wading through sll the corporate rubbish to establish exactly who’s doing what. You see it’s all about this strange thing called truth, what a rare and precious commodity.
4. One final point. Fitting a “Eco Driving Indicator” is a lot like giving Charles Manson a “Humane Murder Indicator”. Imagine all the 4.7 LC200 and 4.0 Prado drivers all rushing to join Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund now that their Eco Feel Good Meter lets them know how jolly good they’ve all been.
Oh nearly forgot DanMan referring to The Salesman…
“is it a coincidence that we both post the most logical and fair comments on this site…”
Definately not a coincidence mate, unfortunately, fools never differ.
Just remember to practice safe sex lads….
I frequent this site because it is the industry I live by; my opinions are based on experience and knowledge from the school of hard knocks.
The feed back I receive is invaluable for me in rounding a well diversed knowledge from more like minded people such as yourselves.
The salesman puns I have had to live with for some time and are to be expected from people who don’t understand or are uneducated about the salespersons roll in the industry. (It’s a cheep shot)
It is no secret we are there to protect the profit in the product we sell; we also understand that a win/win scenario is the only environment our clients will allow an agreement to be made so we always end up sharing the profit with the customer by way of discount.
Salesmen are a different breed of person, it has been said that sales is now just as complicated as nuclear physics, and psychology.
Despite all this you will not convince me manufactures will not try and find better ways to advance themselves in the global market.
The environment is the hot topic, so all manufactures are using this as a marketing strategy, try and find an ad now that doesn’t have fuel consumption ratings on it, or CO2 levels.