Lentz: Toyota to push hybrids, hydrogen over EVs
200,000 Priuses greener than 5,000 electrics
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U.S. sales of the expanded Toyota Prius hybrid line have surged 92 percent this year through October to 200,114. |
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LOS ANGELES – Toyota will introduce 21 new or redesigned hybrid vehicles worldwide by the end of 2015 while limiting investment in electric cars, the company's U.S. chief said.
Speaking at the Los Angeles Auto Show today, Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., said hybrids currently account for 3.4 percent of industry sales and 14 percent of Toyota sales.
Lentz said Toyota will continue to improve internal-combustion engine technology while taking "a portfolio approach" to hybrids.
"Their (sales) numbers will grow quite a bit," Lentz said of hybrids, especially as gasoline prices remain volatile.
U.S. sales of the expanded Toyota Prius hybrid line have surged 92 percent this year through October to 200,114.
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Lentz: "We can add more value and reduce our carbon footprint better by selling 200,000 Priuses than by selling 5,000 or 2,000 or 1,000 electrics." |
Speaking at the J.D. Power Western Automotive Conference on Tuesday, Lentz said Toyota is also pushing harder into hydrogen fuel-cell technology as an alternative to battery-electric vehicles.
"Hybrid Synergy Drive remains our core technology," which will be expanded with the use of hydrogen fuel cells, Lentz said. Toyota's first retail-ready hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle will arrive in 2015, Lentz said.
"Electric vehicles play a role in our future products, but their role will be limited until cost, range and infrastructure issues can be improved. They have a long way to go," Lentz said. "We can add more value and reduce our carbon footprint better by selling 200,000 Priuses than by selling 5,000 or 2,000 or 1,000 electrics."
