Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe has announced that the Japanese automaker will comply with the new 35 mpg CAFE regulations “well in advance” of its 2020 deadline. In order to meet the new standard in fuel economy, Toyota is planning several new green initiatives.
Plug-in hybrids
Watanabe says that Toyota will be demonstrating lithium-ion plug-in hybrids in test fleets no later than 2010. “I have asked my engineers to come up with a plug-in hybrid not at the end of 2010 but earlier than that,” Watanabe told Automotive News. Toyota is currently testing two plug-in hybrid vehicles at the University of California, although both vehicles use a nickel-metal hydride battery pack — not lithium-ion.
Watanabe also said that the mass production of lithium-ion battery packs remains one of the technology’s largest hurdles. “As of today in the lab, the small volume of lithium ion we have already developed is closer to the (performance) level we are satisfied with, but that is only in small quality,” Watanabe said.
Although Toyota engineers remain optimistic, the performance of Toyota’s lithium-ion batteries won’t be able to be fully tested until mass production is possible. Unlike General Motors — who outsourced its lithium-ion battery development to A123 — Toyota is developing its technology in-house in a joint venture with Panasonic.
New hybrid vehicles
Toyota will continue to bolster its green image with the launch of two new hybrid-only Toyota and Lexus models. The new Toyota model will join the popular Prius hybrid-only model, and the Lexus model will be the luxury brand’s first hybrid-only vehicle. Toyota failed to give any details on either model.
The Prius’ battery pack assembly line will also grow in capacity, from its current level of 500,000 units annually to 600,000.
The Japanese automaker also stated its goal to sell 1 million hybrid vehicles worldwide by 2011 or 2012, up from 277,750 units sold last year.
Diesel and alternative fuel
Toyota will introduce clean diesels to the U.S. within the next two year. The initial roll-out will include a clean diesel V8 option for the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck and Sequoia SUV.
In addition to clean diesel technology, Toyota will also to continue to invest in cellulosic ethanol derived from wood waste. General Motors also announce a similar initiative at the Detroit show.
