Toyota Foresees Combinations of Advanced Technologies in Future Cars
5 April 2000
Toyota Foresees Combinations of Advanced Technologies in Future Cars
ARLINGTON, Va., April 4 With more than 1 billion cars
expected to be on the road by 2020, a top Toyota engineer says advanced
technologies are needed for the automobile to remain an effective means of
transportation.
Hiroyuki Watanabe, managing director and a member of the board for Toyota
Motor Corporation (TMC), told the Society of Automotive Engineers' 2000 Future
Car Congress that the concern is not only in developing new technologies, but
also improving technologies that already exist.
"I believe that the opinion that the end of the internal combustion engine
era will come, and that it will be replaced by the fuel cell era, and that
hybrids will be used as an interim measure, is not correct," said Watanabe,
who is responsible for hybrid and fuel cell development for TMC. "Rather, I
believe that there will be a time when various engines and power sources will
exist simultaneously."
Watanabe believes that in order for an environmentally-friendly vehicle to
have a genuine impact on the automotive world and society, it needs to be
accepted by consumers. In order for this to happen, the vehicle must be
user-friendly, use a fuel that is readily available and be sold at an
affordable price. He stated that consumers should not have to put up with
reduced performance in return for environmentally-friendly automobiles. "It
is our firm belief that the hybrid vehicle offers many benefits to consumers
and will become the turning point in environmentally conscious technology for
the future," continued Watanabe.
According to Watanabe, one vehicle that meets these criteria is the Toyota
Prius hybrid, a roomy, five-passenger family sedan that will go on sale in the
U.S. this summer. The Prius is the world's first mass-produced
gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle powered by both a conventional four-cylinder
engine and a clean, quiet electric motor.
The Japan-market Prius has sold more than 34,000 units since December
1997. In contrast, the number of pure-electric vehicles sold worldwide since
their introduction has reached just under 30,000 units, but has taken 30 years
to achieve.
Watanabe sees potential in another type of hybrid, the Fuel Cell Hybrid
Vehicle. He expects that in the future, there will be new energy storage
technology and new drive system technology that will foster a variety of new
hybrids.
An important challenge to future hybrid advancements is worldwide
commonality and compatibility of fuel choice. "It will require the teamwork
of manufacturers, government and industry to determine a standard for both
fuel and infrastructure," Watanabe said.
Watanabe stated that excessive emissions of CO2 is a global problem that
must be addressed by all industries. Watanabe believes that Toyota
understands the importance of developing new technologies, but at the same
time recognizes the need to work within an existing infrastructure that does
not readily support the use of alternative fuels.
"At Toyota, we firmly believe that there is more than one answer to the
issue of personal transport systems for the 21st century," said Watanabe.
"Toyota is committed to making a true impact on a global scale to
eco-projects, and to contributing to the sustainability of the automotive
world."