Toyota, the world leader in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles is planning to sell ethanol-powered cars in the U.S. market by 2008. The Japanese automaker will follow at the heels of domestic automakers General Motors and Ford Motor Co. who both have in its current lineup, cars that run on E85.
E85 is a fuel blend that consists of 85% ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and 15% gasoline. It has been reported that Toyota is hesitant to use the technology because of the concern that the highly corrosive ethanol might have a negative impact on the rubber seals in the engine. To address this problem, Toyota’s new vehicle will be equipped with anti-corrosive parts. Toyota also suggested that mixing only ten to fifteen percent of ethanol into gasoline might generate bigger savings.
Meanwhile, Toyota is still keen on being the leader in hybrid vehicles. US President Bush encourages the use of ethanol to reduce foreign oil imports. In fact, he has set a 6-year goal to make ethanol a practical and competitive alternative fuel.
April 24th, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Wow! This is really great news. For sure, Toyota aficionados will love this and continue to patronize vehicles from Toyota.
April 24th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
Wise move Toyota! You won’t only hold your name competitive with GM and Ford, for devising efficient ways on how to save with fuel cost is such a big help, customers will surely be grateful of that. And at least ethanol would prove its benefit more, than merely intoxifying human’s central nervous system as a beverage component and contributing in traffic accidents.
January 19th, 2007 at 10:20 am
PLEASE keep your plan to introduce Ethanol cars in your 2008 models. I do hope that they will be offered in the RAV4. I have been waiting for this and will buy one immediately when they come out and I know this would appeal to other environment conscious folks who like your RAV4 model.
Thank you, thank you for planning this !