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June 14, 2006
Toyota Launches New Hybrid Estima Minivan in Japan
I've talked about the Hybrid Minivan that Toyota sells in Japan already. And I've ranted that it would do really good here in America if they would give it a chance. So when I saw they had upgraded it again, I was excited with what they had added. And I have to say the Japanese are going to revolutionize Hybrid technology in ways we haven't even begun to the imagine yet!
First the average gas mileage, 47 mpg. Read that again, 47 mpg, that's almost the same as my Civic Hybrid!! And it's a mini-van!!! How did they do this, a really cool heat recovery system that uses the heat from the exhaust to get the catalytic converter to optimum temperature faster, making it more effective at cutting pollution, while decreasing the amount of idle time used on keep that system in top form. Not to mention like most of the non-US versions of their Hybrids, Toyota has a electric only switch. Which gives you 10 miles or so without using any batteries at all. Doesn't seem like much today, but remember that the new version of the Prius is now rumored to be the test bed for Toyota's roll out of PHEV and Lithium Ion batteries. So the next generation Estima will probably have both, which would probably allow them to go 30 to 60 miles on electricity alone and allow you to recharge the battery at night if you wanted.
The real significance of this, will come when you realize that these two improvements are likely going to double the fuel economy of every single hybrid on the market. So the next generation Estima will likely get close to 90 miles per gallon in about 5 years. Talk about revolutionizing the way we drive, this is exactly how it's done! I'm hoping that Toyota gets it's supply chain problems for the Hybrids worked out so they can start offer all the models in the US as well as Japan.
Read more over at TreeHugger.
Posted by Jamison at June 14, 2006 11:51 AM
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Comments
Do they sell anything in this country that gets that good a gas mileage?
Posted by: mums at June 14, 2006 1:24 PM
Not as large a mini-van no. The Hybrid Highlander gets the best mileage for that sized vehicle. If you want to go a little smaller I belive the Ford Escape Hybrid gets a bit better gas mileage, but not by much and of course it's a Frod and they suck, so you'd have to deal with that aspect as well.
Posted by: Dianne at June 14, 2006 1:54 PM
Hmmm, I wonder if we'll be able to get these by 2010? If the Saturn will last that long. And if circumstances don't require a larger car before then.
Posted by: cjmr at June 14, 2006 2:43 PM
It's hard to know CJMR, Toyota is saying that they are going to double the number of hybrid offerings in the United States by then, but they haven't said which ones of their hybrids that they sell in Japan that they will make available in this country. The real problem for them right now is that they are having to build the entire hybrid manufacturing infrastructure from the ground up. I don't think they really believed that Hybrids would take off like gangbusters in the United States. Once they get past the infrastructure problem, I think they'll roll out their entire hybrid line, which pretty much includes versions every class of vehicle sold in the United States.
Posted by: Jamison at June 14, 2006 3:22 PM