Comments on: Toyota claims Prius will be Australia’s greenest car

By: Simon

Simon — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:45:40 +0000

Torque is the key factor in towing and this is where diesels shine.
Engine type does matter because, for example, you would not be likely to use a rotary engined car for towing. They can generate lots of power but not much torque relative to their displacement and mass.

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:40:57 +0000

From what I found out these are the reasons.

1 – the drivetrain\’s electric motor slip control will shut down the drivetrain when the HSD computer detects an overload.

2- the Prius rear suspension and chassis is not designed to support the tongue weight of a trailer.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:21:36 +0000

Like I said, it makes no difference whether the engine is petrol, diesel, hybrid, hydrogen, or electric. If it makes enough power, and has the appropriate weight to tow, type of engine makes no difference.

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:13:46 +0000

Dan,
Lexus does Hybrids for all models other than IS and SC. And those Hybrids can definitely tow!

True, but the affordability of a Lexus is out of reach for most. Can you tow with a Hydrogen car?

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:57:57 +0000

Bret,
“Sorry don’t care. It’s not a vehicle that suits my needs or wants.”

Exactly, why can Toyota not roll out hybrid for all models in Australia? And yes i know they are already available O/S. Surely the hybrid Kluger can tow?

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:22:58 +0000

Did i hear a rumor that the Australian government might start charging stamp duty based on emissions?

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:38:30 +0000

It is amazing how people keep repeating the same myths over and over again, especially things like the Range Rover having a lower carbon footprint than a Hybrid.
I attended the AutoCRC conference on Thursday and there was a lot of discussion around Environmentally friendly vehicles. A lot of the discussion in the serious sectors of the industry are focusing on the “Well to Wheel” analysis of Carbon footprint. As mentioned, hydrogen does not score well when non renewable electricity is used to produce it. You also have to consider the construction of the infrastructure for the distribution network. Hydrogen is not an easy substance to store or transport either. I worry that the main people promoting hydrogen as the answer to all our problems are using it as a smoke screen to keep the status quo for as long as possible.
Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels don’t seem to get the attention that they deserve either, as they have the possibility of carbon sinks during production to help offset the carbon emissions in use. They can also use the current distribution and transportation infrastructure.
Of the current fuels and vehicles available currently, Hybrids produce the least carbon emissions in their class. When considering “green” vehicles, this is surely the most important measure (and not fuel economy).

By: Neo Utopia

Neo Utopia — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:15:36 +0000

Australia’s green vehicle guide is internaly flawed, Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute is the world’s best whole of life-cycle analysis accreditor. I would like to see a comparison between the next generation volkswagen polo blue and the next generation prius. I know the polo or a Eco fiesta would have a dramaticaly less impact on both the environment and ECOLOGY!

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:01:53 +0000

I think the problem with diesels not getting into the top of the Government’s Green Guide is because the scores for these vehicles are penalised (handicapped) for their particulates and nitrogen oxide output but there is no such penalty applied to the whole of life of hybrids.

People keep talking about hybrids being “best” for city driving – as I mentioned above either carsguide.com or drive.com had a Jetta diesel long term (6 months), driving predominantly in the city, and they said it returned around 5L/100km – better than the “hybrid” they had for a similar time and driving experience.

Give me a Golf diesel over a Prius anyday – cheaper, faster, better to drive and not as damaging.

By: Frontman

Frontman — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:28:43 +0000

It is interesting to compare the Prius with other Hybrids available (whilst admitting they are not in Asutralia) but when doing comparisons it shows how far behind Toyota technology is getting. Okay by now we all know that I am Blue Oval biased, so I’ll use two of their vehicles as comparisons. The Fusion Hybrid is quoted by Ford as being a 38mpg family sized vehicle, yet several respected publications have returned far better in general driving. Figures of 41 > 43mpg combined with a usefull amount of space and proper driving dynamics are being quoted regularly. One Newspaper even quoted that they returned 51mpg in a weeks worth of LA traffic driving!! All this in a vehicle that does it’s job without screeming out to the rest of the world (in way of looking different) about it’s credentials. Also Fords Hybrid Escape has been voted best Hybrid SUV in the states in terms of economy and driving etc.
But, and it’s a major one as I see it, Ford are like a lot of other companies in this sector. They are not content to rest on their laurels, they are actively seeking new drive systems. They, like BMW, M/Benz, VWAG, Honda & Hyundai / Kia have active road going versions of Hydrogen powered vehicles undergoing tests in Germany where (although extremely small) there is supporting infrastructure.
I am not against Toyota and their efforts, it is the marketing rhetoric that surrounds them that I find abrassive. On the “allaboutprius” site they are even quoting the “World First” fitment of Photvolcaic (spelling sorry) cells to the 2010 Prius sunroof to run the a/cond fans whilst parked. Bzzz Sorry, Mazda had them in the really good looking 929 of the 90′s and even then Mazda didn’t claim them as a first so I’d reckon that someone else was first.
The next five years will be very intersting with the development of smaller more efficient and greener Petrol, Diesel and LPG engines as well as the Hybrid and plug and play brigades, and hydrogen is still comming.
I think we will find, particularly for Australia where we tend to drive greater distances, that hybrid will remain the vocal one but the alternatives will outsell and out perform for a very long time.