Toyota gives drivers test drives of its fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles

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If Canadian drivers are looking for relief at the gas pumps it may be time to consider trading in that gas-guzzling SUV for a hybrid vehicle.

With that in mind, Toyota Canada Inc. and the Ontario Toyota Dealers Association recently held an open test drive of Toyota's three hybrid models at Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The car manufacturer's fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles - the Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Camry Hybrid - as well as fuel-sipping gasoline models the Yaris and Canadian-built Corolla were on hand for curious drivers to take a spin in around Yorkdale Mall for the span of a week in early August.

Considering the rainy weather and the unexpected closure of Hwy. 401 on Aug. 10 due to the Sunrise propane explosion, the number of drivers that visited Toyota's pavilion exceeded the company's expectations, said Stephen Beatty, managing director, Toyota Canada Inc.

"(Four hundred and thirty) customers drove Toyota hybrid vehicles and the fuel-efficient Yaris (at Yorkdale)," he said. "Of these vehicles, customers were most interested in driving the Toyota Prius - the world's first mass-production hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle.

The Prius, perhaps the most well-known of the car maker's hybrid models, is a smooth ride. The vehicle is built with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive and is considered a full hybrid because it can operate in three distinct modes - gas only, electric motor only, or a combination of the two. So long as the speed is kept below 40 km/h the car runs on electric. As soon as the speedometer tips north of 40, the gasoline engine gently kicks in - potentially ideal in urban centres where traffic volume forces lower speeds.

Moreover, the car doesn't have to be plugged in - ever. Regenerative breaking means when the car is decelerating, coasting or braking, the wheels drive the electric motor which acts as a generator and recharges the high-voltage battery. When the vehicle is stopped, the engine stops automatically.

Other features include a rearview camera that appears on the driver's monitor when reversing that provides a fish-eye view of all obstacles nearby, and a push-button ignition that's enabled once a key (resembling a USB memory stick) is inserted into the dashboard. The base model Prius retails in Canada for approximately $30,000.

Toyota Canada said its hybrids deliver up to 70 per cent fewer smog-forming emissions and fuel efficiency without sacrificing power and performance. And Toyota said hybrid technology is at the core of what it calls "the ultimate eco car". Cars of the future would combine technologies that include alternative energy sources, customized, high-performance internal combustion engines, electric power and Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles (FCHV).

When asked when drivers could expect an all-electric, zero-emissions vehicle that could travel 60 to 100 km/hr from major auto manufacturers like Toyota, Beatty cautioned that electric cars "are only as green as the grid they're plugged into. A concerted effort of greening of the grid is required."

Perhaps part of that effort could include auto manufacturers offering drivers of gasoline-powered vehicles a trade-in program whereby a discount or rebate is offered to purchase a new hybrid vehicle. Beatty said some provincial governments, such as in B.C., are offering programs that encourage consumers to turn in older, less-efficient vehicles. It's a view Toyota supports, he said.

"Provincial governments are also offering rebates to customers who purchase hybrid vehicles, this includes Ontario," he pointed out.

But ultimately it's up to the general public to take their gasoline-powered cars off of the road.

"Only consumers can determine the success of future technologies. Manufacturer, consumer and government support is also key to the success of new technologies that will reduce the environmental impact of transportation," Beatty said. "Hybrids are a solution that's available now, and this technology is proven. The success of any new technology is greatly dependant on whether consumers adopt it on a mass market level."