Toyota Building Bio-Diesel Plant - Strategic Move Towards Diesel Around The World

Despite Toyota's recent announcement that they won't be developing a diesel version of the Prius, Toyota's international business is heavily dependent on diesel sales. This dependence is likely to continue because diesel engines are more fuel efficient than gasoline.

We think it's interesting that Toyota chooses to invest in a bio diesel plant at this point in time - with Toyota so focused on cutting costs in every possible area of business, this move can only be viewed as an indicator of strategic thought.

Toyota is most assuredly moving towards a diesel future - at least everywhere in the world except North America (we can thank the EPA and CARB for that).
Read Article

tundrahq - 6/19/2009 12:04:27 PM

+4 Boost

I think that's a great example of North America's wacky diesel emissions regs. The diesel Prius has the potential to be a 100mpg vehicle, but our emissions laws make diesel emissions systems absurdly expensive. So, while people in the USA and Canada keep buying expensive gas electric hybrids, people in the rest of the world can buy a 1.4D Toyota Yaris for less money that will get as much as 70mpg.

Good work, EPA!

tundrahq - 6/19/2009 12:06:40 PM

+4 Boost

Diesel isn't bad Mitchell - what's better for the environment? A diesel that pollutes 30% more than gas that also drives 50% farther on one gallon of fuel? Call me crazy, but I'd rather have a diesel that pumps out a little soot and gets 60mpg than a 30mpg gas engine that has to burn 2 gallons to go the same distance.

enthusiastx11 - 6/19/2009 12:13:30 PM

+3 Boost

makes a lot of sense....good decision toyota.

thstone - 6/19/2009 2:09:54 PM

0 Boost

I support the effort, but just like we can't drill our way out of reliance on foreign oil, nor can we "grow" our way out of it either. The number of acres required to yield a gallon of fuel of any type is absurdly high and ultimately uneconomical when all of the costs of irrigation, pest control, and conversion of farmable land (i.e. from food crops) is taken into account.

I also disagree when the author states that this investment must be strategic in nature. At this level (investing in only a trial), this is more of a PR stunt than an actual long term strategic investment.

SteedPub - 6/19/2009 3:30:26 PM

+5 Boost

The EPA bent against diesels is absurd. Never mind that new emissions and fuel management systems make them as clean as a comparably sized gas engine.

But most of our EPA laws are based on knee-jerk political reaction, not science. While diesels "look" dirtier, the reality is that they have far less harmful chemical makeup in their exhaust. What you "see" is particulate matter that falls to the ground, not ozone harming gasses that everyone is so "scared" about.

ChevyFan100 - 6/19/2009 3:31:08 PM

+5 Boost

If the Prius isn't becoming a Diesel then I wonder what cars will be. Toyota should make a diesel Tundra, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser

XYZZ - 6/20/2009 4:54:54 PM

+1 Boost

with the 2010 prius capable of 50 mpg without trying, and 70 mpg with only modest effort, who NEEDS a diesel?

i wonder what hypermilers could squeeze out of it?

DieselRules - 6/25/2009 1:29:31 AM

+1 Boost

My first diesel was a Toyota.
I rode from Bang Saen to Bangkok Airport with 9 other North Americans of mature (large) stature, plus a Thai translator and driver. The Toyota Commuter van (much nicer and more comfortable than any van they sell here ... seats 4 across) is powered by a 4-cylinder turbo-diesel (like ALL vans and 99% of Toyota trucks in Thailand).
So, 12 people with luggage, one large van, and we cruised at 160+ kmph (100+ MPH) and these vehicles get amazing mileage.
But those vans are way TOO PRACTICAL to sell in North America.
We get crappy mini-vans with big gas-guzzling engines because "that's what North Americans want"