Driving down the costs of hybrids
There is a rather interesting article in AutoWeek regarding how Toyota Camry hybrid production was integrated into standard Camry production. While this integration did take immense brain power, it really didn't take much money, which shocked many in the auto-world according to the magazine.
Toyota now claims that hybrid cars are profitable; however, many auto analysts find this impossible to believe. Perhaps they are profitable, but have yet to cover the original development costs, so it depends on how you measure 'costs'.
Nonetheless, Toyota, a champion of efficient auto-manufacturing, is also making the production of hybrids more efficient, which will further reduce costs. Already Toyota believes it can make its next generation hybrid technology, due out in just a couple of years, more fuel efficient, more powerful, and half as expensive.
Such a move would make the Prius an incredible buy, while making the rest of Toyota's hybrids extremely cost-effective, if not cost-superior, to their conventional counterparts.
Labels: hybrid cars, toyota camry hybrid, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns @ 7:45 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
My wife and I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth TX area, and took delivery on a new Prius just after Thanksgiving. We were fortunate that our dealer, Freeman Toyota of Hurst does not charge an extra "Delivery Fee." This is the finest automobile that we have ever driven. Our trade in, a Mercury Grand Marquis was giving us 15 mpg over all, and had a fatal flaw called a compositie (plastic)intake manifold that cracked, causing coolant to leak, and the engine to run hot--while we scurried to add coolant. The current class action lawsuit against this problem does not cover our 1997 model. For this reason, we chose not to consider this manufacturer's version of a hybrid.
The Prius is awesome. The quality that Toyota puts into the car would compare most favorably with the Lexus. We joke that it's more Lexus than Toyota. Our miles per gallon is an obvious benefit, and this fuel efficient vehicle is our personal statement against foreign oil dependency. We support the technology that Toyota has made available in the Prius, and look forward to more consumers considering both the ecological and financial benefits. Yesterday, a big butt SUV cut me off, and all but took our front end off as he powered by us. I laughed. We had just filled our gas tank, and took a whopping 8 gallons of fuel in the 11.9 galloon gas tank--that was for two weeks driving. The macho SUV probably spends $40 twice each week. Hmmm. Maybe he owns a lot of Exon-Mobil stock--how about those billion dollar quarterly profits. Thanks Toyota, and come on Ethanol!
Not just ethanol, but plug-in capabilities as well. The more choices Americans have for fuel the more competitive fuel pricing will be.
I really like Toyota, but I'll give Ford a few kudos for the flex-fuel Ford Escape hybrid - a great idea.
On a side note, Jim Cramer of Mad Money, picked Toyota as one of his Top 10 'U.S.' Manufacturers because of how many jobs they've created in the U.S. and how many more they plan to create.
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