Toyota sells 100,000th hybrid in UK
20 May 2014
Fourteen years after the launch in the UK of the first-generation Prius, Toyota has sold its 100,000th hybrid there. Sister brand Lexus is closing in on 50,000 UK sales, achieved since the debut there of the RX 400h in 2005.
The 6-digit honor went to an Auris Hybrid Touring Sports in top-of-the-range Excel trim, produced by Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) at its Burnaston plant, near Derby. The hybrid system includes a 1.8-liter VVT-i gasoline engine manufactured by TMUK at Deeside in North Wales.
Hybrid is at the core of Toyota’s investment in UK manufacturing, with Auris and Auris Touring Sports models built there for export worldwide.
Today there are six different Toyota hybrids on sale in the UK, covering the market from compact superminis and family hatchbacks to seven-seat MPVs. Expansion of the range has gone hand-in-hand with accelerating sales; global sales of Toyota group hybrids are nearing seven million, with Prius now among the world’s most popular cars.
Sales of the hybrid-powered Auris are set to overtake those of gasoline and diesel versions combined and Yaris Hybrid is taking an increasingly large share of overall sales of the supermini.
Notably, a fleet customer will be taking delivery of the 100,000th UK hybrid, reflecting the advantages of low company car tax rates and running costs and high reliability.
HEVs are one of the trouble free interim solutions to reduce fuel consumption and associated GHG by 30% to 50%. Next generation HEVs with improved lithium batteries or new generation ultraCaps and future
SiC controllers could get an added 10+%.
Next generation Prius (IV?) will probably get 60+ mpg instead of 50 mpg and could be around for another 10 years or so?
Posted by: HarveyD | 20 May 2014 at 08:26 AM
Harvey
I would think the Prius and other hybrids should be popular in markets like Montreal with your high gasoline prices. Based on published fuel efficiency stats I calculate that the Prius would use at least 8000 fewer liters of fuel than a Honda Fit and over a 300,000 km life and at $1.40 per liter that is more than $11,000 in fuel savings. Add to that lower maintenance and better resale value and you would think the prius would be very popular since I don't think the upfront premium is more than about $8,000, but I don't get that sense.
Surprisingly the F150 with the ecoboost engine is proving to be very popular with lower upfront costs. I think the net benefit over time may be similar since its fuel savings are not as great
I believe that for hybrids have broad success they need to cut the upfront cost by a few thousand dollars. Another selling feature would be if they could add some performance in terms of acceleration.
Posted by: Calgarygary | 20 May 2014 at 09:42 AM
Our enlarged family drives Toyota HEVs (8 out of 10), mostly Prius and Camry HEVs. With enough shopping, we managed to get our Camry XLE HEVs with 9 wheels and 9 tires at almost the same price as the regular XLEs with equivalent equipment.
Our Prius average about 4.7L/100KM (50 mpg) depending who is driving and the Camrys average close to 5.6L/100Km (42 mpg) with most drivers in 2013-2014. We all had a one year learning curve to get the low consumption given above. You have to watch the energy screen and forget about rocket type take offs. You can drive economically at 100/110 kph if you get there progressively and maintain a steady speed and forget about passing every vehicle ahead of you.
Posted by: HarveyD | 20 May 2014 at 12:55 PM
It is interesting that governments have banned incandescent light bulbs in the name of climate change because they were viewed as an unreasonable usage of energy when there was a reasonable alternative at a cost that was not disruptive to the economy. It appears that hybrid cars have reached that point and I wonder if current fuel efficiency standards should not reflect what can be achieved with hybrid technology.
It sounds like your family is almost a cult.
Posted by: Calgarygary | 21 May 2014 at 06:13 AM
We switched to long lasting 100 Lumens/Watt LEDs and did away with all 1000 hours 15 Lumens/Watt incandescent in the last 5 years or so.
Yes, in the last 25 years or so, our family progressively switched to Toyotas (mostly HEVs now) and stopped buying locally produced lemons from Big 3.
The next switch will probably be for PHEVs and/or FCEVs as soon as quick charge e-stations and H2 stations are installed in sufficient quantities (by 2020 or so) followed by the final switch to extended range affordable BEVs by 2025-2030. My wife, our daughters and sons will probably stick with Toyota. I may try the Honda or BMW FCEV.
It may be more economic common sense than a cult.
Posted by: HarveyD | 21 May 2014 at 09:15 AM