Oct. 12, 1999

EVS-16 to Feature Prius, e-com

THS also to appear at Electric Vehicle Symposium in China

 

Beijing―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it will exhibit its "Prius" hybrid car and "e-com" electric vehicle at the 16th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS-16), to be held in Beijing on Oct.12-16.

The International Electric Vehicle Symposium is the world's largest international conference, and is jointly operated by all the supporting electric vehicle associations in Japan, the United States, and Europe. The symposium was first conducted in Arizona in 1969, and since 1996, it has been held each year in North America, Europe, and Asia,which take turns providing the host country. This year's event will be held in China, where environmental concerns are increasing.

The Prius to be displayed by Toyota is the world's first mass-produced hybrid passenger car; it derives power from both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. It was launched in Japan in December 1997. So far, a total of about 30,000 units have been sold due to the vehicle's good fuel economy (28km/l)*, reasonable price, and large cabin that is spacious enough to seat five adults comfortably. Its sophisticated interior and exterior design have also been extremely well-received.

The e-com, meanwhile, is an electric vehicle suitable for driving in urban areas. It is a light, compact, two-passenger commuter that can run 100 kilometers* on a single charge. This spring, TMC began conducting experiments in areas surrounding the company's headquarters in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. A total of 300 members are engaged in the experiments, sharing 50 e-com units to take the best advantage of the features of this vehicle.

In addition to these two vehicles, the Toyota Hybrid System will be exhibited at EVS-16. The following will also be explained through panel displays:

  • Toyota's multi-facet approach for the ultimate eco-car
  • the "RAV4EV" electric vehicle,units of which have been provided for a electric vehicle project in China's Guangdong Province
  • "FCEV" or Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles; many manufacturers are fiercely competing in the development of fuel cells for such vehicles.

As a member of the Japan Electric Vehicle Association (JEVA), TMC is developing exhibits together with Japanese parts makers and other automakers. In particular, Toyota Group members intend to demonstrate their overall group strength. Examples of members' exhibits include the following:

  • The Hijet EV by Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
  • A small inductive charger by Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd., for use in the e-com
  • Inverters, converters, and other electronic parts by Denso Corp for use in electric vehicles and hybrid cars
  • A system that drives electric vehicles, and components such as motors having reduction gears, by Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. and Aisin AW Co., Ltd.

*All references to fuel performance are based on the Japanese 10/15 test mode.