Toyota shooting for Nurburgring EV Lap record on August 29

Toyota has reportedly announced it will attempt to smash the existing electric vehicle lap record at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife on August 29.

The current electric vehicle lap record at the 'Ring stands at 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds, a time that Toyota says it has already beaten during informal testing. On August 29, Toyota will hit the track with a battery-powered two-seater that soars to a claimed top speed of 162 miles per hours, rips from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and is loosely based on the radical Alpha-1 SRF, a vehicle developed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH for German firm e-Wolf.

Rob Leupen, Toyota Motorsport's director of business operations, told the Charging Point, "We are extremely confident we can break the record by some distance, which is an indication of how electric vehicle performance is continuously improving." Only time we tell if Toyota's attempt to tame the 'Ring blows a hole through the existing record, which is held by the spectalur Peugeot EX1.

Source: The Charging Point

Toyota and Tesla to Build RAV4 EV in Ontario Canada

Toyota and Tesla Motors confirmed today that their jointly-developed RAV4 electric vehicle will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Woodstock, Ontario beginning in 2012.

“The Tesla-Toyota joint development team has agreed that building the vehicle at the Woodstock plant on the same line as the gasoline-powered RAV4, will streamline and simplify the production process and guarantee the highest level of quality control,” said Ray Tanguay, TMMC Chairman, who hosted Canadian officials at the plant today and thanked them for their support. “This is a great example of Toyota’s determination to collaborate with companies with leading edge technology.”

As previously announced, Toyota will pay Tesla approximately $100 million to supply the electric powertrain, which includes the battery, motor, gear box and power electronics for the RAV4 EV. Tesla will build the electric powertrains at its production facility in Palo Alto, California and then ship them to TMMC for final assembly into the vehicle.

The RAV4 EV will be sold at U.S. Toyota dealers through Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS). Details including pricing, volume and regional distribution will be determined and announced at a later time.

In July of last year, Tesla and Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing, America (TEMA) collaborated to convert 32 conventional gas-engine RAV4 compact SUVs into fully functional RAV4 EV prototypes.

Toyota Targets at Least 16,000 U.S. Plug-In Prius Sales

Toyota said it expects U.S. sales of at least 16,000 plug-in Prius hatchbacks in 2012 after the model debuts early in the year.

The new version of the world’s best-selling hybrid, designed to be recharged at a standard 110-volt outlet, will go at least 13 miles solely on its lithium-ion battery pack, John Hanson, a Toyota spokesman, said in an interview. After that, it will operate like a standard Prius, averaging 50 miles per gallon of gasoline in city and highway driving, he said.

“We think it’s going to be a strong seller and we’ll deliver to whatever level the market wants,” he said yesterday. “We’re certainly on line to sell 16,000 to 17,000 in 2012.”

Toyota has dominated sales of alternative-power vehicles since it brought the Prius to the U.S. in 2000, selling 140,928 of the hybrids last year. The new version from the Toyota City, Japan-based company joins a market for rechargeable autos led this year by Nissan Motor Co.’s electric Leaf and General Motors Co. (GM)’s plug-in Volt.

The Leaf and Volt offer greater all-electric range, with as much as 100 miles for the Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan’s model and about 35 miles for the GM car. The Prius plug-in will have a pricing edge. Hanson said the new version will begin U.S. sales “very early” next year, without elaborating.

Toyota’s target is “reasonable, but the issue will be availability,” said Alan Baum, principal of automotive consulting firm Baum & Associates in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The Japan-built plug-in will also be in demand in Toyota’s home market and Europe, so U.S. supplies may be tight, he said.

Federal, State Incentives

Toyota expects the plug-in Prius to sell for $3,000 to $5,000 more than a standard version, which starts at $23,520, said Jana Hartline, a company spokeswoman.

The car should qualify for a federal tax credit of at least $2,500, Hartline said. While Toyota hasn’t begun a promotional campaign for the plug-in, 29,000 potential customers have “pre- registered” to buy one on the company’s website, she said.

In California, the plug-in Prius should also qualify for a $1,500 rebate and be allowed to use carpool lanes even with a solo driver, said Mike Ferry, program manager for the state’s Center for Sustainable Energy, which distributes the payments. The most populous U.S. state is requiring sales of plug-ins and battery-only autos starting in 2012 to reduce pollution.
Leaf, Volt Prices

Nissan said yesterday that 2012 model Leafs would cost $35,200 to $37,250, an increase of 7.4 percent and 10 percent from 2011 versions, to cover additional equipment. That’s before a $7,500 federal tax credit. Ferry said the Leaf also qualifies for a $2,500 California rebate in 2012 and carpool-lane access.

GM’s Volt costs $40,280, before the $7,500 federal tax credit. While the 2011 Volt didn’t qualify for California rebates, the Detroit-based automaker has said it will meet state requirements by 2012. That would let buyers get a $1,500 rebate and access to carpool lanes with a solo driver, Ferry said.

Toyota’s Hartline said the plug-in Prius’s “relatively small battery” doesn’t require 240-volt home chargers, which cost about $2,000 to install and may also require rewiring for older houses that can add a few thousand dollars in expenses.

“We’re finding in our research, from our demonstration program, that that is an appealing factor for many people,” said Hartline, who is based at Toyota’s U.S. sales unit in Torrance, California. The model recharges in three hours from a 110-volt outlet or as little as 90 minutes from a 240-volt charger, she said.

Toyota RAV4 EV Coming to Market in 2012

Recent reports have incorrectly stated that the 2012 RAV4 EV will only be marketed to fleet and car sharing programs. We’d like to set the record straight. The 2012 RAV4 EV will definitely be sold to the general public. We anticipate robust public interest in the RAV4 EV and are keen to inform consumers that their future vehicle options include a battery electric Toyota.

Toyota is the only manufacturer bringing two battery electric vehicles to the market in 2012 - the RAV4 EV and the Scion iQ EV. While the RAV4 EV will be available to the public, the Scion iQ EV will be marketed to fleet and car sharing programs only.

Multiple reports have been corrected on various automotive blog sites

Toyota

Toyota City smart homes to use EVs for standby power

The Toyota City Low-Carbon Society Verification Promotion Council, an organization of 26 entities, including Toyota City and private companies, has completed model smart houses*1 in the Higashiyama and Takahashi districts of Toyota City for testing energy-management systems and has started trial operations under the Verification Project for the Establishment of a Household and Community-based Low-Carbon City in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.

1. Project Description

The Verification Project is being conducted as a Next-Generation Energy and Social System Demonstration project (a five-year project running from 2010 to 2014) of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Toyota City was selected as a demonstration area for the Verification Project in April 2010 to support development of testing equipment and information systems. The key feature of the project is the pursuit of optimal energy use in living spaces at the community level.

1) Optimization of Household Energy Use
Household energy consumption is increasing. The Verification Project seeks to coordinate supply and demand within communities in conjunction with the use of both grid and renewable natural energy to achieve local production of energy for local consumption. Verification of distributed power supply from storage batteries and reduced carbon emissions from homes will be carried out, with the overall aim to reduce household carbon dioxide emissions by 20% (70% or more for smart houses).

2) Achieving Compatibility between Environmental Preservation and Resident Satisfaction
The Verification Project will predict and control energy consumption and support activities using an original energy data management system (EDMS) and home energy management system (HEMS). The aim is to maximize the use of renewable energy while achieving energy savings and conservation that maintains community quality-of-life levels and comfort.

3) Creation of Low-Carbon Traffic Systems
In addition to reducing the carbon dioxide emissions from road traffic through the introduction of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), the Verification Project will use IT and ITS technologies to efficiently integrate motor vehicles and public transportation for commuting and other travel with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector by 40%.

2. Verification of the Household and Regional Energy Sectors

This year, the Verification Project’s second year, marks the start of the testing phase for energy management at the household and community levels. Sales of the smart houses, where trial operation of the system will be conducted, began on June 3. The first phase of verification testing will begin in September at 14 of the smart houses.

In each house, a HEMS will link energy-generating devices (solar cells, fuel cells, etc.) and energy storage devices (household storage batteries, EcoCute heat-pump water heaters, etc.) in the home with next-generation vehicles (PHVs and EVs) and intelligent household appliances to optimize and make possible visualization of electric-power supply and demand and control of individual household devices. Storage batteries connected to and controlled by the HEMS will support low-cost and low-carbon energy consumption in the home and can serve as an emergency power source.

On the community level, the EDMS will coordinate the balance of the electric power supply and demand within the region by linking homes, convenience stores, schools, and the like with the aim of achieving local production of energy for local consumption by the community. For example, if a shortage of power generated by solar panels in the community is predicted, residents will be advised to limit their energy consumption, and eco-points will be awarded for conduct in accordance with those recommendations. Also, information concerning electricity usage and accumulated eco-points can be sent to specialized terminals, PCs and smart phones to encourage ongoing environmentally-friendly behavior that can be reasonably carried out.

In addition to charging PHVs and EVs from household electricity, V2H*2 (vehicle to home) supply of electric power from motor vehicle batteries to the home will also be tested. During normal times, vehicle batteries can store excess power from the home and from the community, contributing to efficient energy usage. And during emergencies, the batteries support regional energy autonomy by acting as mobile power sources.

List of Member Organizations and Businesses of the Toyota City Low-Carbon Society Verification Promotion Council (26 organizations as of June 30, 2011):
Aichi Prefecture, Toyota City and (in alphabetical order): Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Circle K Sunkus Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation, Dream Incubator Inc., Eneres Co., Ltd., Fujitsu Limited, Hewlett-Packard Japan, Ltd., KDDI Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd., Nagoya University, Secom Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Systems Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd., Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Toshiba Corporation, Toyota Housing Corporation, Toyota Industries Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Smile Life Inc., Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., Yazaki Corporation

*1Houses that contain an IT network of electrical appliances and other household equipment, solar panels, household storage batteries, onboard automobile storage batteries, and other devices, enabling household power leveling and optimized energy usage
*2Charging of PHV and EV batteries from household electricity and supplying electric power from onboard automobile storage batteries to the home

Toyota to Show New GRMN Hybrid Concept at Nurburgring

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will show the "GRMN (GAZOO Racing1 tuned by MN2) SPORTS HYBRID Concept II", a convertible mid-ship gasoline-electric hybrid concept, at the 39th Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race to be held near Nürburg, Germany, from June 23 through 26.

The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is an updated version of a gasoline-electric sports concept shown at Tokyo Auto Salon 2010 and has been developed to embody the enjoyment of automobiles. The vehicle features advanced styling and an improved sports-hybrid AWD system with the main power unit (gasoline engine, rear-wheel drive motors and transmission) located in the middle of the body and a front-wheel drive motor in front—all positioned to improve maneuverability, enhance driving enjoyment and provide enhanced stability. Meanwhile, top-down driving in electric-vehicle mode gives a fresh and exhilarating driving experience.

TMC launched the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric vehicle in 1997, and has long conducted active research on applying hybrid technologies to racing and sports cars. The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is positioned as the next step in the evolution of these efforts.

GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II Details

Engine	Type	2GR-FXE
	Displacement	3,456 cc
	Maximum output	183 kW (249 PS)
System	Maximum output	220 kW (299 PS)
Body	Length	4,350 mm
	Width	1,890 mm
	Height	1,200 mm
	Wheelbase	2,575 mm
	Weight	1,500 kg or less
Vehicle layout		Mid-ship with front electric motor
Tires	Front	225/40R19
	Rear	255/35R19

 

24 Hours Nürburgring Race Outline

Name	39th ADAC Zurich24h-Race 2011
Dates	June 23 through 26, 2011 (main competition runs from June 25 through 26)
Venue	Nürburgring (Nürburg, Ahrweiler, State of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)

Toyota could return to the Le Mans 24 Hours as early as 2012

Toyota has been testing an all-new LMP1 car since last year, and could return to the Le Mans 24 Hours as early as 2012, according to this week's AUTOSPORT magazine.

The Japanese manufacturer commissioned the machine, which is known to incorporate hybrid technology and comply with the 2011 prototype technical regulations, from racing car constructor Dome.

When asked about the possibility of Toyota returning to top-line prototype racing, Vincent Beaumesnil, sporting manager of Le Mans organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, said: "We are in contact with many manufacturers who are interested in LMP1, not just Toyota."

Toyota last competed at Le Mans as a full manufacturer in 1999, but supplied engines to the Rebellion LMP1 squad on a customer basis this year.

Prius Wagon Nets 52,000 Orders in May [video]

Toyota announced on June 14th that 52,000 orders for this new model were logged in the Month of May alone. That is over 17 times Toyota’s sales target of 3,000 per month.

Even with production slated to be increased to 5,000 per month by the end of the summer, this is still going to create a huge backlog, such that anyone ordering now is probably going to be wondering just how far into next summer it will be before they see their new car.

Despite Toyota’s assurances, this will surely impact the US and European launches for this model.

All New 2012 Toyota Prius V Hybrid [video]

Toyota has recently launched the Prius V (Alpha) in Japan. The Japanese model is a minivan with the Prius family styling, but as a 5-seater with two rows of seats, or three rows of seats making it a 7-seater.

Orders have been coming in faster than expected since Prius Alpha made its debut May 13. Toyota will boost output to 5,000 vehicles per month from 3,000 to shorten customer waiting time.

The same model will be launched at the Prius V in in the US and Prius Plus in Europe with two rows of seats. The Toyota Prius is still, unfortunately, not available as a plug-in hybrid.

Toyota to raise Prius hybrid wagon output [video]

Toyota plans to increase monthly production of its Prius hybrid wagon to 70 percent above its initial target by around August or September, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Orders have been coming in faster than expected since Prius Alpha, the first of an extended family of Prius models planned by Toyota, made its debut May 13, the paper said.

Toyota will boost output to 5,000 vehicles per month from 3,000, the Nikkei reported, to shorten customer waiting time. The wagon comes in a two-row, five-seat version and a three-row, seven-seat version.

A company spokesman declined to comment on the report.

Toyota first unveiled the extended Prius family at the Detroit auto show in January, announcing plans to begin selling the five-seat version, to be called the Prius v in North America, this summer. The three-row model will go on sale in Europe in mid-2012, under the name Prius+.

Toyota, the pioneer in hybrid technology, has a goal of selling at least 1 million hybrid vehicles globally a year by mid-decade. It plans to offer the hybrid option across its entire line-up by 2020.

Toyota and Lexus New Hybrids and EV by 2012

With the recent unveiling of a production-ready Fit / Jazz hybrid by Honda, fellow Japanese automaker Toyota is readying for a big hybrid fight. Undaunted by the recent drop in hybrid sales, Toyota plans to launch six new hybrid models by end of 2012, one of which will be a Vitz / Yaris hybrid.In a presentation in Detroit on Monday, Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada explained that two of the six new hybrids will be for Lexus and four for Toyota adding that all of them will be new and not next-generation versions of existing hybrid models.

Some will be hybrid only models (i.e. there will be no gasoline-only variant), though Uchiyamada would not elaborate further as to what body type or segment these new vehicles would be.

The carmaker is also readying an electric vehicle co-developed with Tesla (makers of the all electric Roadster) and possible rival to Nissan's Leaf EV. Uchiyamada has confirmed that this will be shown at the 2010 Los Angeles Motor Show. The new Toyota EV could possibly be the same all-electric small car the automaker had previous stated they were working on.

This comes after a string of recalls (11 million vehicles globally) hurt the brand's image of reliability, something Uchiyamada plants to fix by extending is vehicle development time setting up a team of 100 engineers to audit its production lines.

 

photos 

Toyota Extends Production Halt until March 22

The ongoing disaster in Japan caused by Friday’s massive earthquake and tsunami is forcing many automakers to extend production halts on domestic plants well into next week. Today, Toyota announced that it has decided to continue the vehicle-production halt started on March 14 at all of its plants in Japan, including all subsidiary vehicle manufacturers, through March 22. According to reports, the suspension of production has already cost Toyota some 40,000 vehicles up until now.

“A decision on when vehicle production will resume in Japan has yet to be made,” the company said in a written statement.

However, the world’s largest automaker noted that it will resume production of replacement parts for vehicles already on market beginning on Thursday, March 17, adding that it also plans to restart manufacturing parts for overseas production on Monday, March 21. 

Toyota Verso-S 2011

Toyota car maker manufacture at japan has announced that it will premiere the Toyota Verso-S, a new MPV for the B-segment, at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Verso-S be launched on the market at the beginning of 2011, and the car which measures less then 4.0 meters represents an ‘object lesson in space management’. The Toyota Verso-S features a smart design with a spacious interior and unfortunately this is pretty much all we can say about it, as technical details will remain secret until the car’s public unveil.

Besides the Toyota Verso-S the Japanese car maker will also bring the pug-in hybrid version Prius to Paris, and it will also present the refreshed interior of the new Toyota iQ and Aygo. The Toyota Verso-S price will also remain unknown until the small MPV will get closer the the on-sale date.

Toyota Verso-S has the shortest overall length – less than four metres – of any MPV in the European B-segment. Yet careful attention to detail in every aspect of its practical, flexible interior design has maximised spaciousness, comfort and perceived quality throughout.

GALLERY

Toyota’s Prius V Gets Over 8 Times As Many Orders As Expected

Building on the success of its hybrid Prius brand, Toyota has recently launched the Prius Alpha in Japan. The Japanese model is a minivan with the Prius family styling, but as a 5-seater with two rows of seats, or three rows of seats making it a 7-seater. The same model will be launched at the Prius V in in the US and Prius Plus in Europe with two rows of seats.

Toyota was expecting to have orders for about 3000 units per month, but after opening its order books for the first month (April), Toyota now reports that it has received orders for 25,000 units -- over 8 times as many as expected. Toyota is expecting to sell 2000 units per month in the US and 2000 in Europe -- but given the huge demand in Japan, it would not be surprising to see these numbers eclipsed many times over.

To put these numbers in perspective, the number 1 best-selling car in Japan in April was the Honda Fit, which (in regular ICE and hybrid form) sold just 8,574 units in that period. March had much better sales numbers, but even then the best-selling car (the Fit, once again) only sold 22,284 units.

This is a testament to the power of the Prius brand, as there are other hybrid minivan options in Japan (such as the Estima hybrid) already in the marketplace. It will be interesting to see how much this new model draws sales away from the standard Prius, as well as models such as the Estima hybrid previously mentioned, and how much it brings drivers into the hybrid fold.

The only fly in the ointment with this one is that with the effects of the earthquake continuing to be felt into the fall, Toyota is going to be hard-pressed to keep up with this level of demand. In fact, the TBS news report below states that some new owners will need to wait until next April to receive their cars!

Toyota to make plug-ins standard for Prius from 2014

Toyota is set to make plug-in technology standard in its popular Prius hybrid car from 2014, the Nikkei business daily said on Monday.

The plug-in Prius, which will be launched in 2012, can be recharged from an ordinary household electricity outlet.

The 2012 Prius model will be priced at about the same level as the current model, and will feature high-performance lithium ion batteries, enabling it to travel more than 60 km per litre of gasoline, compared with 38 km for the current version, the paper said.

Toyota said in October last year cumulative sales of the Prius had reached two million units worldwide. The company is aiming for overall hybrid vehicle sales of a million units a year by 2015, compared with 700,000 units in 2010, the Nikkei said.

Although Toyota is also developing electric vehicles, these will require networks of recharging stations, which are not yet in place. Toyota is therefore looking to plug-in hybrids as the most promising next-generation technology, the Nikkei said.

Toyota consumer’s first choice for hybrid and electric vehicles

When it comes to thinking about who to turn to when buying a hybrid or electric vehicle, Toyota is the top choice.

That’s one of the key findings of an independent European consumer study into how ready and willing motorists are to change to hybrid.

The joint survey by Automotive Business Intelligence company EurotaxGlass’s and UK-based marketing and research institute Harris Interactive found that Toyota is the company most widely recognised by consumers as a manufacturer of hybrid and electric vehicles.

Thirty per cent of those questioned professed an interest in electric or hybrid vehicles, with Toyota standing out in all the European markets represented as the company with the highest brand awareness. When asked to name an electric or hybrid brand, some 15 per cent of respondents cited Toyota, with only six per cent naming the closest rival hybrid manufacturer.

Moreover, Toyota’s environmental flagship proves to be the single best-known electric or hybrid model, with 16 per cent of those questioned being aware of the award-winning Prius, and only six per cent naming the closest rival vehicle.

The study confirms Toyota’s belief in the strong potential of the hybrid market. It concludes: “The openness of the consumer towards alternative powertrains is much higher than the current market shares of these powertrain types. And this is true across all the major European markets.”

With more than three million hybrid vehicles already sold worldwide, Toyota continues to roll out full hybrid technology across its main European model range.

Following the successful introduction of the British-built Auris Hybrid in 2010, Toyota revealed its Yaris HSD concept at this year’s Geneva motor show, signalling its intention to bring Hybrid Synergy Drive to the B-segment, the largest sector of the European new car market. Prius+, Europe’s first full hybrid seven-seater, made its debut at the same occasion and will be launched in Europe in 2012.

Last year, Toyota set a new milestone for sustainable mobility with the introduction of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid through a global limited lease programme, including 20 cars delivered to London-based fleets. During 2012, Toyota will also introduce this model to the market.

With electric vehicle sales still handicapped by vehicle price, driving range and the lack of charging infrastructures, Toyota sees plug-in hybrid technology as the most feasible short to mid-term technological solution to the electrification of powertrains.

A full hybrid vehicle, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid represents a significant expansion of the Hybrid Synergy Drive system’s capabilities, offering drivers the best of both worlds: an extended, fully electric EV mode is used for shorter journeys, while the hybrid powertrain’s petrol engine gives the vehicle a true long range capability.