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July 28, 2006

Toyota to Pursue 'Plug-In' Hybrid & Flex-Fuel Vehicles

Washington, DC [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

In a recent speech before the National Press Club, Jim Press said that Toyota would be proactive in helping government solve the major environmental and auto safety issues confronting America. The president of Toyota Motor North America said that Toyota is considering a flex-fuel vehicle program in the U.S., and is pursuing a plug-in hybrid vehicle that would travel greater distances without using its gas engine, with the ultimate goal of conserving more oil, reducing smog and bringing greenhouse gases to near zero emissions levels.

"It's time for us to stop being the 'against' industry and to come out strong 'for' something important, like a better earth and a better quality of life."

-- Jim Press, Toyota Motor North America, president

"I believe the time is right to enlist the immense talent and might of our industry to help solve some of the key issues resulting from a car-loving world, including oil dependency, air pollution, traffic accidents and global warming," Press added.

International auto companies are helping to change the face and direction of the auto industry, Press pointed out. "In fact, international automakers have contributed almost all of the growth in the U.S. motor vehicle industry for the past 10 years, according to a study by the Michigan-based Center for Automotive Research."

"All major companies are looking for creative ways to meet the challenge of increasing competitive pressure and the escalating costs of developing new technologies," Press said. Automakers must strike a balance in their line-ups, he said, from big trucks and SUVs to gas/electric hybrids, clean diesels, flex-fuel vehicles, plug-in hybrids and eventually hydrogen fuel cells.

Currently, the company sells five Toyota or Lexus hybrids, including a Camry hybrid and a sixth, the world's first V-8 hybrid in a Lexus LS Sedan, is due next year. He estimated that Toyota hybrids sold in America have saved more than 155 million gallons of gasoline, enough to fill five tanker ships and eliminate more than three billion pounds of greenhouse gases.

"It's time for us to stop being the 'against' industry and to come out strong 'for' something important, like a better earth and a better quality of life," Press added.
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July 29, 2006
People associated with the California Green Cars organization retrofitted a Prius with a plug in system and got up to 180 mpg. Since then, there have been breakthroughs in battery technology. This would mean fewer, more powerful batteries that last longer between recharging.

Toyota's first batch of flex fuel vehicles is going to Brazil. E85 and E95 fuels are a way to change without huge infrastructure problems. Just give gas stations tax incentives to have an extra pump for these fuels. However, ethanol needs to be derived from cellulose for long term viability. Corn ethanol would be cost prohibitive without huge corporate welfare from the government.
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August 2, 2006
The only thing I worry about with the plug-in system is the energy requirements to make these batteries. I don't know specifics, but I was just wondering how energy efficient batteries really are if it takes a lot of energy to make them. Also will the disposal of old batteries be an enviornmental hazard?
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August 3, 2006
I like 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds! If its a Tesla electric or 'Vette will matter only to the purists
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August 3, 2006
removeing luxury items would hurt the sales because the customers decied what they will buy based on them. the edisle proved that many years ago. what we realy should do is accept that daily driveing dosen't require a fast quarter mile speed. untill americans are willing to accept a short term performance loss(soon enough any performance loss will be solved by the car companys) flex fuel cars will strugle. i love my 2.2 liter car it gets me around just fine, and i get fewer speeding tickets. bush 2004 not my fault
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April 4, 2008
The Honda GX is the only natural gas vehicle (cleanest burning of all) being sold in the US today that I know of. Driving range is 200+ miles and there
continuing on natural gas:

The Honda GX is the only natural gas vehicle (cleanest burning of all) being sold in the US today that I know of. Driving range is 200+ miles and o filling stations all over the state. You just have to know where they are. In my research I discovered there are 4.9 million natural gas vehicles world wide. As usual the US is behind the curve. If you don't like the Honda, conversions are available at around $2,000 plus labor (4 cylinder). I am looking into converting my Prius as I write this. A plug-in Prius running on Natural gas would make it the ultimate clean vehicle,just short of the Hydrogen car but a lot less expensive.

The home natural gas fueling station at $5.000 is overpriced but I suspect competition will bring the price down.
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April 4, 2008
After further research and attending more conferences I now believe that a plug in hybrid that runs on natural gas is the way to go. Either way (electic or natural gas) you can fuel up at home.

Farms, rather than producing ethanol should have methane producing anaerobic digesters that are plugged into the gas grid just like the individual photovoltaic system plugs into the electric grid. This system would eliminate the waste in transporting the ethanol to "gas" stations. Everything goes through pipes. The compost that remains, after the biogas is collected, would be returned to the crops as fertilizer. This would reduce the farmers dependence on petroleum based fertilizer and yield a more healthy soil. Germany is already looking at this approach.
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