Toyota celebrates over 15 million hybrid models sold and claims to have saved 120 million tons of CO2. Nevertheless, there are deficits in fully electric models if you want to close these gaps quickly.
The Japanese mobility company Toyota has announced that it has reached a new milestone in terms of hybrid drive: According to this, more than 15 million models with the hybrid system have been sold worldwide. In Europe, 2.8 million customers have already opted for the combination of petrol engine and electric motors. This corresponds to every second buyer of the brand in Europe (52 percent), Western Europe with 63 percent hybrid share has an even greater impact. According to the manufacturer, the more than 15 million hybrid vehicles have already saved more than 120 million tons of CO2 compared to conventionally powered models with a petrol engine.
“Thanks to our hybrid sales, Toyota is well on track to meet the EU’s 95g / km target for 2020 and 2021 in Europe, where CO2 regulations are the strictest in the world,” said Matt Harrison, Executive Vice President by Toyota Motor Europe (TME).
The full hybrids are even completely emission-free in cities most of the time. Hybrid technology has been continuously developed in recent years, so it will continue to play a central role in the model range in the future, the manufacturer explains. They should also serve as a template for more electrified models such as plug-in hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles and use the experience in particular in the development of electric motors, batteries and power control units for this multi-drive strategy. By 2025, Toyota plans to launch a total of 40 new or revised electrified vehicles – including at least ten pure electric cars.
“Of course, we have to work hard to improve battery capacity and reduce the cost of electric vehicles, which we do. Until we overcome the hurdles associated with electric cars and fuel cell vehicles, we are making an important contribution with our work on hybrid models,” says Shigeki Terashi, Chief Officer of Toyota Motor Corporation.
What does that mean?
The hybrid models of the Japanese pioneer are for sure, and in any case ecologically more valuable than bulky plug-in SUVs. The Toyota brand is almost synonymous with “hybrid”, it has worked hard. The strategic course away from diesel was simply very far-sighted and consistent and saved the company a lot of trouble, affairs and processes, which especially the German manufacturers still have to bite on.
It cannot be denied that hybrid models make an important contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. It is also gratifying that more and more people, especially in Europe, are interested in alternative drives. But to ignite the next stage, the roadmap from Toyota is now crucial for the next few years. The Japanese have to manage to bring attractive products to the market, also in terms of pure electricity, in terms of price and quality. There is little doubt that they can do it. Because they have all the components they need to roll here again on an equal footing with Korean “neighbors” on the other side of the Japanese Sea, who have cheekily and courageously passed in recent years and now have everything: from gasoline to mild and Plug-in hybrid, mixed hybrid and electric, even up to the fuel cell.
