Toyota To Build Hybrid Yaris Car In France

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Toyota Motor Corp plans to begin producing a hybrid version of the Yaris subcompact at its factory in France in the business year starting next April, the Mid-Japan Economist newspaper said.

The gasoline-electric Yaris, called Vitz in Japan, will be sold in Europe, the paper, owned partly by Toyota, reported without saying where it obtained the information.

A Toyota spokeswoman said the automaker could not comment on future product plans. A year ago, France’s La Tribune newspaper ran a similar report citing Toyota’s plans to build a small hybrid car at its Valenciennes factory, which builds the Yaris subcompact. A spokesman at the time had denied that such a plan was under consideration.

Hybrid cars have been a tough sell in Europe, which prefers diesel engines to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Toyota has said it plans to add the hybrid option across its entire lineup by around 2020, but has not announced plans for a gasoline-electric Yaris/Vitz.

Rival Honda Motor Co is about to launch a hybrid version of Jazz/Fit in the coming months, with plans to unveil the Jazz hybrid at the Paris motor show this month.

Nissan Is Open To China Green Car Alliance

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Nissan Motor is open to a green car alliance with Chinese automakers, a senior executive said, as it moves to tap the fledgling industry in the world’s largest auto market.

Nissan, 44% held by Renault, is joining General Motors and others in the race for green vehicles which according to analysts, could be the next industry gold mine.

“It’s impossible to develop electric vehicles alone. Joint effort is a more feasible solution,” Yasuaki Hashimoto, president of Nissan China Investment Co, said in an interview.

“Mr Li had also said the alliance won’t stop at the existing 16 member companies only. It can be expanded,” Hashimoto said, referring to Li Rongrong, head of China’s state asset watchdog who has recently retired.

Hyundai FCV Fuel Cell Car To Be Launched 3 Years Earlier Than Toyota’s

Fuel cell cars have just begun to show up shyly, and the competition starts to intensify in this market segment. Toyota, who has already announced a $50,000 price tag on their first hydrogen fuel cell car, is being “beaten” by Hyundai, who announced that their first fuel cell vehicle will be available three years earlier than Toyota and of course the other automakers. Pretty optimistic someone could say.

Hyundai announced that it plans to have ready for sale 10,000 units by 2015, when all the others will only have made their first deliveries of fuel cell cars. 1,000 units are planned to be shipped in 2013 and will mainly go to fleets and organizational buyers. 500 fuel cell vehicles will be available for sale during 2012.

Underlying technology for its hydrogen tanks has not yet been unveiled by Hyundai.  

Toyota’s British-built Auris hybrid challenges Prius for eco efficiency

Toyota‘s Auris HSD is the first mass-produced hybrid car to be built in Europe, being assembled at the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. It is both smaller and cheaper than Toyota‘s better-known hybrid, the Prius, which is built in Japan.  

The Auris hybrid matches Prius’s impressive economy when equipped with 15-inch wheels and economy-biased tyres, setting an official score of 74.3mpg and 89g/km. Optional 17-inch wheels provide more grip but worse fuel economy, at 70.6mpg and 93g/km.Both Prius and Auris hybrids use the same powerplant: a 1.8 litre, 98bhp petrol engine coupled to an 80bhp electric motor, each capable of independently driving the front wheels through a variable-ratio gearbox, or combining to give a maximum of 138bhp. The electric motor doubles up as a generator, either drawing power from a bank of NiMH batteries to speed the car up or feeding power back to the batteries as the car slows down.

Mitsubishi Electronic Research Laboratories develops roaming charging stations for EVs

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One of the most critical factors concerning the penetration of EVs in the market has to do with the availability of charging stations nearby your route. Thinking of that, the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts have come up with a great idea of portable charging stations.

Nissan picks Hawaii for launch of all-electric Leaf

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Hawaii will be one of the first markets that will see Nissan’s pure electric vehicle when it makes its commercial launch in January 2011 in the island state.

Nissan and Hawaii have agreed to build an electric vehicle charging infrastructure network across the state to boost E.V. deployment.

Nissan will guarantee a steady stream of the Leaf to the state and will work with dealers to ensure smooth selling and lease.

Additionally, Hawaii has put in place a $4,500 state tax credit on the purchase of electric vehicles and a $500 state tax credit on the purchase and installation of home charging stations. That incentive coupled with a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles coming from the federal purse could significantly reduce the cost of the Nissan Leaf from the suggested retail price of $32,780 to $20,780.

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