Since producing the first Prius in 1997, we have sold more than ten million hybrid vehicles around the world, saving more than 77 million tonnes of CO2. Hybrid technology is the basis of all our alternative powertrains. Using our basic hybrid architecture and the know-how we have gained, we can develop battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles that run on hydrogen fuel.

The success of hybrid

In the 21st century we have to find ways to make vehicles that are kinder to the environment and reduce our dependence on oil-based fuels. We see hybrid as a core technology for achieving these goals, combining different energy sources in a single powertrain to obtain outstanding fuel efficiency with significantly lower emissions, at a price customers can afford.

Since we introduced Prius, our first mass-produced hybrid car, in 1997, we have continually improved our hybrid know-how. Today our hybrids are not only more efficient than ever, with around a 10% improvement in fuel consumption with each generation, they also deliver stronger performance and are renowned for their hard-wearing quality, reliability and low running costs.

To make the most of hybrid’s potential to reduce emissions, our aim is to develop affordable technology that can be enjoyed by as many customers as possible.

This is why we have increased our hybrid range from a single model – Prius – to more than 30 today. As the range of different hybrid models increases, so the technology reaches more potential customers.

This will help us meet our goals of having sold 15 million hybrids worldwide and reached an annual sales rate of 1.5 million vehicles by 2020.

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Our achievements

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Over the years our hybrids have been on sale they have together saved around 77 million tonnes of CO2, compared to the emissions that would be generated by equivalent petrol-powered cars.
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Our hybrids produce only very low levels of NOx, an exhaust emission that can damage air quality.
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We offer more hybrid models in more market segments than any other car maker, helping more people enjoy the rewards of our full hybrid technology right around the world.
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More and more people are choosing hybrid, giving it an increasing share of our total sales. In 2016, one in every three Toyotas we sold in Europe was hybrid-powered, and that share is continuing to rise.

"While the world has been debating all-electric cars, Toyota has put more than 10 million hybrids on the road"

Didier Leroy, EVP of Toyota Motor Corporation

How Hybrid works ?

Our hybrid system uses a gasoline engine and an electric motor. It is a “full” hybrid, which means that the vehicle can be driven using its electric power alone, as well with the engine and electric motor working together. This makes it different from other “mild” hybrid systems, in which the electric motor only works to boost the performance of the petrol engine.

Electricity is generated as you drive the car, captured from the energy created when you brake or slow down. This power is then stored ready for use in the hybrid battery. A power control unit automatically determines the most efficient power source to use at any moment, whether you are in slow moving traffic or on the open road. In stop-start traffic, our full hybrid system switches to all-electric EV mode to maximise the benefit of driving with zero tailpipe emissions and zero fuel consumption. If battery power runs low, or you increase your speed, the hybrid engine automatically restarts.

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Our full hybrid technology uses two power sources to power a vehicle – a petrol engine and an electric motor, supported by a powerful battery. It’s an intelligent system, so it is always working out the most efficient source of power to use. It even stores up extra energy every time you brake or slow down.

Toyota hybrids just for Europe

Europe is a key market in our hybrid programme. Already one in every five cars we sell here is a hybrid. The strong market growth is supported by our European production.

The hybrid Yaris, Auris and Auris Touring Sports have been created specifically for Europe and are built at our factories in France and the UK. The increasing popularity of our hybrid models reflects how customers now accept hybrid as a mainstream choice and appreciate the multiple advantages it offers as an alternative to conventional gasoline and diesel models. Half of all Auris models and one third of Yaris sold in Europe are hybrids. Together these European-built cars represent two in every three hybrids we sell in the region.

The importance of local manufacturing

We have always recognised the value of making vehicles within or close to the markets where they will be sold. This is true, too, of our hybrid models, with production plants operating in a number of countries outside Japan. Our hybrid production facilities at Valenciennes in France and Burnaston and Deeside in the UK are two of our designated sustainable plants, which set global standards for environmentally efficient manufacturing.

This includes reducing demand on natural resources, recycling and eliminating waste, drawing energy from sustainable and renewable sources and working in harmony with the local environment and communities. By making hybrids locally, we further reduce their environmental impact by removing the need for long-distance shipping around the world. This helps us shrink our vehicles’ carbon footprint and supports our commitment to reducing emissions at every stage of a vehicle’s lifecycle.

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Our Valenciennes factory in northern France has been building the Yaris Hybrid since 2012, alongside the petrol and diesel versions.
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Burnaston in the UK was our first factory in Europe to build hybrid vehicles. It is the home of the Auris Hybrid, our best-selling European-market hybrid.

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