Posts tagged: Toyota

Major Milestone for US EV Sales

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toyota plug in2011 was the first full year that the current crop of plug-in vehicles were on the market. During that time, fewer than 20,000 models were sold. The following year, nearly 50,000 were sold – and this week, Plug-In America (a coalition of EV drivers advocating energy independence and clean air) estimates that the 100,000th electric vehicle will be sold. Likewise, they expect that more than 100,000 plug-ins will be sold in 2013 alone. That’s huge!

Plug-In America has some fun facts related to this EV milestone:

  • Over a quarter-million people are exposed daily to the benefits of electric transportation
  • Nissan dealerships in some markets have reported that the Leaf has outsold all other Nissan models for particular sales periods this year
  • Tesla’s Model S is outselling the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 7 series and the Audi A8
  • Chevy Volt drivers alone have logged over 187-million electric miles
  • The plug-in vehicle market is approaching 48 percent annual growth with both Battery Electric (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles finding growing interest
  • Plug-in vehicle adoption exceeds the adoption of hybrid vehicles over the same timeframe in their market developments Continue reading →

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Toyota Prius is the Best Selling Car in California

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Toyota Prius V on display at the 22nd Annual EMA Awards

The Toyota Prius is the best-selling car in California, the state that buys more cars than any in the country.

Emily VanCamp arrives at the 22nd Annual EMA Awards in a Prius

According to data from Experian Automotive, by the end of September, Toyota had sold over 46,000 Priuses in California. Of those, about 6,000 were the Prius C, a less expensive compact version with a smaller engine, and about 7,600 were the Prius V, a wagon version with more cargo space. The remainders were the standard Prius and the Prius Plug-in, which has a battery that can be charged from an electrical outlet.

According to CNN.com, not only is California the nation’s biggest car market, it’s also the biggest market for alternative fuel cars, including hybrids, plug-in cars, diesels and natural gas cars.

Continue reading →

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Toyota and Lexus Honor the Entertainment Industry’s Environmental Excellence at the 22nd Annual Environmental Media Awards

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Toyota and Lexus are once again celebrating the entertainment industry’s environmental efforts as the presenting sponsors of the Environmental Media Awards on Saturday, Sept. 29.  In its 22nd year, the annual event honors film and television productions that communicate environmental messages in creative and influential ways. This year marks Lexus and Toyota’s 11thyear as the presenting sponsors.

This year’s honorees include environmentalist and activist Kelly Meyer, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, actress Jessica Alba and actor Ian Somerhalder.  The nominees include films such as Big Miracle, Disneynature Chimpanzee and 21 Jump Street, and TV programs such as Harry’s Law, Happy Endings, Rizzoli & Isles, Real Time with Bill Maher and Dallas.

“More than a decade ago, Hollywood made driving a hybrid stylish and cool.  By embracing hybrid technology, the Hollywood community helped Toyota and Lexus reach significant volumes and create a positive impact.” said Bob Carter, senior vice president, automotive operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.  “We congratulate the nominees and special honorees, and we thank you for continuing to convey environmental messages and actions in creative and influential ways.”

The Toyota and Lexus line-up of hybrid vehicles will be featured at the ceremony at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif.  Attendees will get a preview of the Toyota Avalon Hybrid before it goes on sale. The 2013 Lexus ES 300h and 2012 all-electric RAV4 EV will also be on display.   Sales of the RAV4 EV started this week in California and customers can visit http://www.toyota.com/rav4ev for more information on the only all-electric SUV on the market.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. is a member of the Environmental Media Association’s Corporate Board.

For more information on Toyota and Lexus environmental initiatives, please visit www.toyota.com/about/environment.

The Environmental Media Awards will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/EMAOnline and www.ema-online.org.

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Toyota Giving 100 Cars to 100 Nonprofits in 100 Days – Voting Starts NOW!

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UPDATE: Starting May 14 through August 21, it’s the voters’ turn to do their own good deed by voting for their favorite organizations and causes. All voters have to do is log in to their Facebook profile and use the 100 Cars for Good app (or click here) to vote on one of that day’s five nonprofit organizations.

Each afternoon, the previous day’s winner is announced and a fresh batch of five finalist organizations will be ready to compete for votes. Vote once a day because each vote counts and each day brings another new car to another deserving organization.

Vote now for your favorite nonprofit of the day to win a car and then tell your friends to do the same! Continue reading →

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Toyota Unveils Brand New RAV4 EV

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EMA’s long-time sponsor, Toyota revealed the highly anticipated all-new Toyota RAV4 EV at the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles on Monday. The all-electric SUV has an expected driving range rating of approximately 100 miles and charging time of approximately six hours on a 240V/40A charger.

“The all-new RAV4 EV marries the efficiency of an EV with the versatility of a small SUV – in fact, it is the only all-electric SUV on the market” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division.The RAV4 EV is the product of a unique collaboration with Tesla Motors spurred by Akio Toyoda, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation.

The RAV4 EV will go on sale in late summer 2012 through select dealers, initially in four major California metropolitan markets including Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles/Orange County and San Diego. Sales volume is planned for approximately 2,600 units over the next three years. The battery warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles. Continue reading →

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Consumer Reports Picks Toyota Prius as Best Green Car for 2012

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Every year, Consumer Reports releases its Top Picks which are comprised of the best all-around models in their categories, chosen from more than 260 vehicles tested. The three main areas of focus are: Road test, reliability, and safety. Fuel efficiency is also an important consideration when grading vehicles.

Winning its category for Best Green Car is the Toyota Prius. Per Consumer Reports:

The Prius still sets the standard for its blend of fuel efficiency, practicality, and affordability. The 44 overall mpg we measured in the hatchback is still the highest of any five-passenger, non-plug-in vehicle we’ve tested, and the 41 mpg of the new Prius V wagon easily tops its class. Moreover, its roomy interior, comfortable ride, and hatchback versatility make it easy to live with. Crash-test results are excellent. New electric cars have gotten the energy equivalent of higher mpg figures, but they’re less practical and affordable. Continue reading →

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