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Growth in Hybrid Sales
2019 was a record year of hybrid vehicle sales for Toyota New Zealand. Sales increased from 1,337 in 2017 to 5,159 in 2019, leading to a falling emissions profile for the overall Toyota and Lexus model range. Hybrid sales are on track to increase further in 2020, with 3,627 sold by the end of July and another 0.6% drop in emissions.
Combined, the average Toyota and Lexus carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions profile for CY2019 was 166.76 CO2 g/km, compared to a New Zealand industry average across all manufacturers of 174.22 CO2 g/km year.
Toyota is working to reduce greenhouse gases across its value chain. It is focused on offering a hybrid version for the entire range and new battery electric vehicles, as well as investing in hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hybrids help achieve emission reductions as we transition to alternatives when the supply, infrastructure and demand are ready.
TNZ Chief Executive Officer Neeraj Lala says, “It’s satisfying to report that the high number of hybrids sold is helping Toyota achieve two objectives – reducing our overall emissions as a brand and helping to support the New Zealand Government’s target to reduce gross carbon emissions by 30%** by 2030.”
In New Zealand, hybrids have been selling well across the range, with demand for the new RAV4 Hybrid outstripping supply. Since its release in March 2019, Toyota has sold 8,313 RAV4s, of which 49% were hybrid, and the percentage of RAV4 Hybrid sales has been steadily climbing in 2020.
Many businesses are adopting hybrid vehicles to reduce their carbon footprints:
- Frucor Suntory is replacing its entire sales vehicle fleet in Australia and New Zealand with energy-efficient Toyota RAV4 Hybrids. The new fleet will reduce fuel expenditure and approximately 300t CO2 each year for the business
- In July 2019 The Griffin’s Food Company made the decision to adopt a Toyota hybrid fleet for its vehicle-eligible employees. The fleet’s total CO2 emissions have reduced by about 18%
- Silver Fern Farms has a fleet of 39 Toyota RAV4 Hybrids. It is moving vehicles to hybrids as part of its verified emissions reduction plan, certified under the Toitu carbon reduce programme
Toyota’s hybrid systems use advanced technology to capture energy from braking and from the petrol engine and store it as electricity in a battery. The car decides for itself when it needs electric power or conventional power. When being driven at low speed in heavy traffic or around a car park, it will automatically shift to electric only. The petrol engine automatically shuts off when the vehicle stops rolling or is using the battery.
Further hybrids are on their way. In August the new-generation 2020 Toyota Yaris with a hybrid powertrain will further reduce Toyota’s fleet emissions profile. It has class-leading fuel efficiency of 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres and a carbon emission rate of just 76g/km.