Alliances Along the Hybrid Highway

HSD is more than just evolutionary, it's revolutionary. It offers more horsepower and appreciably higher performance than its predecessor, with 0-60 mph acceleration trimmed a full two seconds, while also achieving 30 percent greater fuel economy and barely-measurable SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) and PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) emissions levels.


Increasingly, such advances will find their way not only to Toyota products, but those of other automakers as hybrid development continues to evolve.


"Toyota would like to see other car companies introduce hybrid vehicles and, because of this, we will make our advanced hybrid technologies available to these companies should they desire them," says Jim Press, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Partnerships
One such partnership involves the direct application of Toyota's technology in Nissan hybrid vehicles. The two automakers have formed an agreement in which Toyota will supply hybrid system components for Nissan's coming hybrid electric vehicle models, an arrangement that should span a decade or longer.


"This is Toyota's first step toward the environmentally friendly hybrid technology becoming popular beyond Toyota models," says Press, referring to the project that will find Nissan installing Toyota's hybrid system in vehicles to be sold in the United States beginning in 2006. Press adds, "This cooperative agreement should result in a significant number of vehicles, around 100,000 units over five years."