Toyota launches hybrid electric vehicle drive expo series

To raise public awareness of a new technology, nothing succeeds like showcasing products of that new technology in a trendy shopping mall.

This is why Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) over the weekend exhibited its hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) at the Greenbelt 5 Fashion Walk in Makati in the first of a series of Hybrid Electric Vehicle Drive Expos.

On scintillating display, complete with spotlights and lissome fashion models, were a 2020 Toyota Corolla HEV, the latest generation Prius, and its subcompact hatchback counterpart, the Prius C (for “City”).

TMP maximized the occasion by also exhibiting Toyota’s premium brand, Lexus HEVs NX 300 subcompact SUV, RX 450 compact SUV, and LS 500 executive sedan at the Fashion Walk.

And although there are absolutely no plans to sell the hydrogen fuel cell car Mirai in the Philippines, TMP future-proofed the expo by displaying an awesome black Mirai sedan, too.

The first HEV Drive Expo drew the supportive attendance of TMP Chairman Alfred Ty, Vice Chairman David Go, President Satoru Suzuki, EVP Kei Mizuguchi, SVP Jose Ma. Atienza, and Adviser to the President Vince Socco.

MORE AFFORDABLE. In his welcome remarks, TMP president Satoru Suzuki said that this year, Toyota started making HEVs more affordable and more accessible for the Filipino by launching the all-new Corolla Altis hybrid variant.

TMP also intensified its efforts to educate the youth on the benefits of hybrid technology via multiple university campus tours for science and engineering students, Suzuki revealed.

To provide more opportunities for the motoring public to try out and experience hybrid electric vehicles, Suzuki continued, TMP is making its lineup of electric models available not only for display, but also for test drive at a series of HEV Drive Expos.

Suzuki announced that the HEV Drive Expo will tour around Metro Manila this November and December, open to the public at different areas each weekend.

KEY BENEFITS. Greenbelt shoppers and passersby who paused to look at the HEVs were given a complimentary copy of the Hybrid Intelligence Robot’s Hybrid 101 brochure which summarizes the four key benefits of Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive: 1) Reduced Emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants; 2) Improved Acceleration since electric motors with their high torque increase speed rapidly and smoothly; 3) Quietness due to electric motors making very little noise while running; and 4) Fuel Efficiency because many times, power from the electric motors battery is used, resulting in less gasoline consumption.

In other words, two energy sources produce better efficiency and lots of power. The Hybrid Synergy Drive combines a gasoline engine with two electric motors, all of which work together to maximize driving performance while minimizing fossil fuel consumption and emissions, in the process supporting environment-friendly driving.

KINETIC ENERGY. A Toyota HEV does not have to be plugged in because of its Regenerative Brake System. When the brakes are applied to stop the car, an electronically controlled brake system uses kinetic energy to recharge the electric motors’ battery.

The Corolla HEV is built on Toyota’s two decades of success with hybrid powertrains starting with the Prius. The first- ever Corolla hybrid uses the same Hybrid Synergy Drive as the current generation Prius, with two electric motors and a 1.8-liter inline 4-cylinder engine. The subcompact Prius C has a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and a 60 hp electric motor.

Even before TMP launched the HEV Drive Expo, a waiting list of buyers lined up for the Corolla HEV. However, TMP First VP Cristina Arevalo told motoring media over lunch that despite the long waiting list, TMP can release only 20 Corolla HEV units per month starting in the first quarter of 2020.

LIMITED ALLOCATION. Arevalo explained that the Corolla HEV is manufactured in Thailand where the market for hybrid electric vehicles is much bigger than ours, so the allocation for the Philippines is limited.

The ASEAN Free Trade Agreement has lowered the import duties on the made-in-Thailand Corolla HEV to only 5 percent compared to the 30 percent tax on the Prius models, which are made in Japan. The introductory price for the Corolla HEV is P1.58 million while the SRP of the Prius is P2.289 million and the Prius C’s starts at P1.91 million.

At present, there are only 19 electric vehicle charging stations in the country. So it appears that the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive offers the best way to transition to electric mobility, since its self-charging capability does not require the building of additional infrastructure.