Toyota Puts Hybrid Development Into High Gear

Toyota says that it will introduce as many as 10 new gas-electric hybrids by 2014. That figure includes the previously announced third-generation Prius and the Lexus HS 250h. The company's plans also include the release of an all-electric city car with a range of 50 miles.

Toyota has just begun the development of the city car, but is showing the FT-EV concept, on which the city car will be based, at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The FT-EV is built on the iQ platform, already available in Japan. The iQ is a super-small, four-seat gasoline-powered vehicle which debuted as a concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2007. According to a statement released in advance of the NAIAS event, Toyota says that the FT-EV vehicle signals its intent to "broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicle development."

The alternative fuel research, which also includes natural gas-powered vehicles, does not signal a diversion from the company's hybrid program. Toyota said in the same statement that gas-electric hybrids remain its "long-term core powertrain technology."

Toyota joins a number of other manufacturers who have developed or are developing so-called "city" cars, which are small, highly fuel-efficient conventional vehicles, all-electric vehicles or hybrids that maximize fuel economy in city driving conditions. Toyota hopes the iQ and the FT-EV will fill this market niche and compete favorably with the Smart ForTwo and other products being planned by BMW, Daimler and Nissan.

Despite sluggish vehicle sales in 2008, Toyota says it is still holds a sales goal of 1,000.000 hybrids annually and expects to reach that milestone in the next few years.

Photo: Toyota