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TMC’s commitment
to hybrid technology
Hybrid power is a central element in TMC’s
development of more environmentally
efficient vehicles, and TMC has dominated
the hybrid market since the release of the
first generation Prius, TMC’s flagship hybrid
vehicle, in 1997, as well as subsequent hybrid
models, such as the Toyota Auris Hybrid and
Lexus GS 450h.
Hybrid vehicles use two or more power
sources to move, usually an internal combustion
and an electric motor, meaning that they can be
propelled by gasoline and/or electric power. The
power from these two motors can be shared to
drive the wheels. The electric motor can also
act as a generator, charging the batteries.
Typical gasoline or diesel-engined vehicles
consume fuel when the vehicle is stopped, as
is common in city driving. The Prius typically
shuts down the gasoline engine and runs solely
off the battery pack at low speeds and when
stopped. A non-hybrid car also gets worse fuel
consumption in city driving because its engine
is continually used to accelerate the car to
driving speed and then this energy is lost to
friction brakes during stop-and-go driving. The
Prius recaptures some of this energy by using
regenerative braking to charge its battery pack
while slowing down with its motor-generators in
generator mode.
The story of the Prius
The first generation Prius development started
in 1993. The core technology was a new
powertrain that combines a gasoline engine
with an electric motor, which had the potential
of achieving roughly double the fuel efficiency
of conventional gasoline engines.
The second-generation Prius was
launched in 2003 with improved fuel efficiency
and driver performance. Total worldwide sales
reached 1.27 million units by April 2009.
The third-generation Prius was introduced
in May 2009. The two key points in developing
this vehicle were an affordable price and further
fuel efficiency. This was achieved through
improved engine efficiency and reducing the
size and weight of parts, and reducing the drag
coefficient. This Prius was a finalist in the South
African Car of the Year 2010 competition.
26 Toyota South Africa Motors Sustainability Report 2010
The third generation Toyota Prius.
Today’s Prius emits just 94 g/km of CO2 –
the lowest figure achieved by any current
production car with an internal combustion
engine – and has an official combined cycle
fuel consumption figure of 4.1 litres/100km.
In 2010, worldwide sales of the Prius are
expected to pass two million since the original
hybrid was launched in 1997. Based on this
volume, TMC calculates the Prius has saved
around 11 million tonnes of CO2 emissions
compared to petrol models of similar size
and power, an achievement supported by
continued development of TMC’s full hybrid
technology to achieve even cleaner and more
fuel efficient performance.
Supported by Prius’s global achievements,
TMC aims to sell at least one million hybrid
vehicles annually as early as possible in the
2010s.
Hybrid vehicles in South Africa
Hybrid vehicles have been available in South
Africa since January 2005, when the secondgeneration
Prius was introduced. From late
2008, the Lexus GS450h and RX450h were
available, followed by the recently launched
LS600h. Plans for the introduction of other
hybrid models onto the South African market
are under investigation.
The market for hybrid vehicles in South
Africa has been small so far, with 856 Prius and
301 Lexus models sold (as at 31 March 2010).
In South Africa there are no legislated incentive
schemes for people to buy hybrid vehicles,
The Hybrid Synergy Drive combines an internal
combustion engine and an electric motor.
and their popularity has yet to match overseas
markets.
However, TSAM has a programme
to promote hybrid vehicles and increase
public awareness. TSAM has a website
(www.hybridsynergydrive.co.za) dedicated to
providing information to the public regarding
hybrid vehicles. TSAM also has media
partnerships with South African publications
that focus on sustainability and green living.
TSAM sponsored Prius vehicles to the
University of Pretoria’s Centre for Responsible
Leadership and the University of Stellenbosch’s
Centre for Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Studies, as well as to a local television
programme called Groen, which reports on
environmental and sustainability issues.
TSAM also partnered with Google in 2009
for their Street View mapping programme,
sponsoring 10 Prius vehicles for the project,
which Google purchased once the project was
completed. The project required extensive
driving distances, some 64 000km, making
the use of hybrid vehicles very important to
reduce CO2 emissions.