Toyota Defends Its Defense Of Parallel Hybrids

Earlier this month, Toyota Executive Veep Kazuo Okamoto made news when he defended his company's pursuit of further developing its parallel hybrid system called the Hybrid Synergy Drive. He was specifically calling out GM's development of the first mass market series hybrid, the Chevy Volt. On Toyota's own Open Road Blog, Irv Miller, Group Vice President of Corporate Communications, came to the defense of his boss soon after. It was an editorial we missed at the time, but reading it this morning was an eye opener.

Miller makes a case for Toyota's support of parallel hybrids by saying that at this point the Volt is vaporware, while you can buy a Prius today. He notes that Volt engineers are only able to get about 10 miles of pure electric range from current lithium-ion batteries, far short of the 40 miles promised by GM. He also goes after the set up of a series hybrid, saying, "So – and we love this part - a series hybrid hauls around a gas engine that isn't available to directly propel the car."


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david989 - 9/21/2007 1:10:34 PM

-3 Boost

What is there to defend? Toyota is the LEADER in the auto business. Whatever they do will be copied and followed. In a few months or years the Germans will be offering parallel hybrids. Remember that Toyota was the first to do it though!

EnnNorak - 9/21/2007 9:16:04 PM

0 Boost

As for Toyota, they are an example of the pot calling the kettle "black". All hybrids are vapor ware as far as I am concerned. They do not have a favorable life-cycle cost considering the expense of eventual battery pack replacement and their performance drops off sharply once the batteries are discharged.

The only hybrids that might make any sense are plug-in ones and only if they are for strictly urban use. This would require a commitment from the power companies to provide special low rates during off-peak hours to customers who recharge their plug-ins overnight.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 9/24/2007 11:45:59 AM

+2 Boost

Spot on, Midengine.

jon21 - 9/21/2007 1:27:13 PM

-3 Boost

agent009 trying to start another flame war again. agent009, You are getting desperate.

Agent009 - 9/21/2007 1:52:28 PM

+3 Boost

I didn't write the article.

The information actually comes form Toyota. It appears they have been catching a bit of flak lately for the over stated mileage of the hybrid and the high cost.

It looks like consumers are waking up and going WTF did I actually buy here?

izfuney - 9/21/2007 2:21:16 PM

+4 Boost

Agent009 , the consumer arent going WTF as you state, because sales of Hybrids rose in August 07.

Its strange thatm Toyota has innovated and brought a product to market taht is affordable to the common consumer and saves them money.
Instead of lauding innovation, your take is more disbelief ...
Now that Porsche, VW et all have jumped on the Hybrid bandwagon, i am sure you will find hybrids so much more appealing ..

Need4Speed - 9/21/2007 4:19:17 PM

-1 Boost

If Toyota's parallel hybrid was so much better...why even bother to try and defend it? Let the product speak for itself. So what if the Prius was first. Mercedes, BMW, and Audi were building luxury cars way before Lexus and look what happened. I never thought I would see a day when Toyota started taking cheap shots, especially at a company like GM.

izfuney - 9/22/2007 4:58:02 PM

+2 Boost

Because perception is reality!! Hybrid drive trains are fairly sophisticated drivetrains that most consumers have a hard time understanding.
BMW, GM etc have started a FUD campaign mainly at trying to boost vaporware against an actual product.
Toyota, beacuse its a japanese (read non Euro )company selling in America has to face extra heat and market backlash trying to defend a fantastic product that actually helps the consumer :(

GM fort all its big talk, has yet to even walk away from its sad 1950's SOHC engine tech.
as for BMW, the less said the better... (Hydrogen 7 - when u can afford to buy it, congratulate yourself)