Toyota Aiming for Minimum 10% Fuel Economy Improvement for Next Prius

ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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is talking about its future hybrid model plans including its technical goals for the next generation PriusToyota Prius Gen.3Japan, 2010 > present52 versions
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and concrete plans for its fuel cell vehicle. Toyota will introduce 15 new or refreshed hybrid models between now and the end of 2015, and the next generation of hybrids will give better fuel economy with smaller components than the current cars.

While Toyota displayed its entire global lineup of hybrid vehicles together for the first time in Ypsilanti, Toyota Managing Officer Satoshi Ogiso outlined the future for Toyota hybrids. 

"When the next generation Prius arrives, it will begin a new era for a broad range of Toyota and Lexus vehicles” and will be “the first to introduce a substantially improved family of hybrid powertrains," he said.

According to Ogiso, the next generation Prius will have a fuel economy improvement of at least 10%, which would give it 56mpg US highway/53mpg US city fuel economy. The improvements will include a new generation of batteries with higher energy densities. It will also use smaller, lighter electric motors with an even higher power density than the current motors. Even the gasoline engines will see improvements with better efficiency. 

The car will use a new Toyota platform with a lower center of gravity, higher rigidity, better aerodynamics and more interior room. 

Unlike with the second generation, the Prius Plug-in will launch closer to the standard car going on sale. It will offer more range, and Toyota is working on an inductive charging system for wireless charging. Testing for the inductive charger will begin in 2014. 

Ogiso also spoke about Toyota's commercial fuel cell vehicle. It will be revealed first as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in November and will be shown again in North America at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in January. Sales will begin in 2015.

Toyota has no desire to step away from developing electrified powertrains now. It has 60% hybrid sales market share in the US, and hybrids account for 16% of its total sales. Its hybrid development will only expand in the future.