Sunday September 20, 2009

Toyota hybrid vehicle sales worldwide surpass 2 million units as of Aug 2009

engadget.com -> green.autoblog.com :

As of Aug 2009, Toyota's global cumulative sales of its hybrid vehicles have topped the 2-million mark. The first Toyota Prius was launched in Dec 1997, the 2nd-gen Prius in 2003 and Toyota's HSD [Hybrid Synergy Drive] system was expanded to MPV's and SUV's. On May 31, 2007, the global cumulative sales of Toyota's hybrid vehicles topped 1 million. This year, Toyota continues to expand its hybrid lineup, launching the Lexus RX450h in April, the 2010 Toyota Prius in May and the Lexus HS250h hybrid - the first dedicated Lexus hybrid model - in July.

As end-August 2009, Toyota calculates that its hybrid vehicle fleet, since 1997, have led to approximately 11 million fewer tons of CO2 emissions than an equivalent fleet of gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and performance. Toyota currently sells 13 hybrid vehicle models in approximately 50 countries and regions worldwide. Toyota intends to introduce hybrid models in its entire lineup by the 2020's.

- 2 million hybrid vehicles is in itself a laudable milestone for Toyota. But if we were to say, conservatively estimate Toyota's global vehicle sales to be an average of 6 million units per year, in the past 12 years from 1997 to 2009 they might have sold about 72 million vehicles, of which hybrids at 2 million units would have made up about 2-3% of the total. Which sounds right about there - at least on an order-of-magnitude basis if nothing else. There is definitely room for improvement there, as Toyota and its compatriots including Honda, Mazda and Nissan race to revamp the world's vehicle fleet from conventional to hybrid and then to electric. Whether we have the time, money or physical resources to do so, is of course a separate issue for the peakoiler community to debate over.

See also :

1. Toyota to go all-hybrid
2. Toyota Hybrid Sales Top 500000 Worldwide
3. Toyota to double hybrid output
4. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
5. 2009/2010 Lexus HS250h unveiled by Toyota as first hybrid-only Lexus model

(2009-09-20 11:10:25 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

Most popular blog postings on lowem.log :

1. 2010 Nissan Leaf electric car specifications : 107hp, 24KWh lithium-ion batteries, 100-mile range
2. 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid, 2010 Honda Fit/Jazz hybrid models confirmed
3. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
4. Singapore SIBOR rate falls to 0.69% in Jan 2009, lowest since Apr 2004
5. How to insert currency exchange rates into Google Spreadsheets
6. Singapore : Nuclear power not ruled out
7. Live spot gold price quotes chart on COMEX
8. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option

Featured articles on lowem.log :

1. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
2. 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid, 2010 Honda Fit/Jazz hybrid models confirmed
3. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
4. Honda, GS Yuasa JV to make lithium-ion batteries for 2010/2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
5. New efficient nanotech materials may boost enhanced geothermal power systems
6. NYMEX crude oil recovers from $32.40 low after 2.2 mbpd OPEC production cut announced
7. Singapore property market recovery seen as private home sales surge 52% in Jul 2009
8. Singapore SIBOR rate falls to 0.69% in Jan 2009, lowest since Apr 2004