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The Toyota Camry hybrid - Toyota's second best selling hybrid vehicle - is basically outselling the hybrid cars of all other automakers combined. (http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=cd15daf8-84a9-4774-b6ce-b84634dad882)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2008_TCH.jpgVancouver Sun - March 29, 2008

2008 Canadian TCH.

We all know about the Prius sales in the US but the TCH is outselling everything including the Prius in Canada! -- Ed.

With a mix of creative engineering, clever promotion and fortunate timing, Toyota has set the de facto standard for the entire class of eco-friendly vehicles. It has licensed its software to Ford and is selling hybrid components to Nissan. Toyota has half a dozen hybrid models in showrooms or on the way - twice as many as any other automaker - ranging from the frugal Prius to the $100,000-plus Lexus LS 600hL.

While some critics speak of slowing hybrid sales, the reality is that hybrid sales are catapulting Toyota past every other automaker. And it appears that the best of hybrid technology is yet to come.

So what nameplates will the world's most dominant hybrid technology manufacturer bring to showcase to the super-eco conscious West Coast set attending EPIC 2008?

On display will be the Prius, which continues to post month-after-month of sales records and has essentially become a mainstream vehicle. But Toyota isn't resting on its laurels when it comes to its beloved Prius.

This month Toyota announced that its third generation Prius would be powered by the third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive… http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=cd15daf8-84a9-4774-b6ce-b84634dad882

It (Toyota) has licensed its software to Ford and is selling hybrid components to Nissan.

Toyota deserves a lot of credit, but Ford and Volvo do too. I have it on good
authority that the FEH/MMH drivetrain was developed off common ancestry
to Toyota's. It was Aisin's original design. Toyota carried the design inhouse
to develop the Prius. Volvo worked with Aisin for the Ford version. Ford
(corporate) took that design and put it into the FEH, but it took two extra years
to get it working right (read that as software). By then, it was 2004. There
were patent exchanges that took place between Toyota and Ford, but the FEH
design is Ford's.

cheers,
Bill

edit: Is Toyota unstoppable? Probably. If the industry
turns to all electric vehicles, the playing field will be more
level. New players may even have a chance, especially
with the right battery or portable energy technology and
cost advantage.

Hi BillLin,

The original concept for the Torquer/Speeder Electric CVT was invented by egineers at TRW in the USA in the 1960's. They shopped it around back in the 1990's to American car companies, and Ford was the most interested but dropped it. This is detailed in an article in the this professional magazine: http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/110602.html

Hi All,

Is Toyota unstopable? Well, no, but it will be a while, and take big mistakes by Toyota for it to happen.

The REEV concept is a good one for very many many daily drivers. Its basically an electric car to and from work, and a ICE car the on the long distance weekend travels. Sure, the series hybrid approach is less efficient than a parallel hybrid, but if 75 % of the driving is all electric, that makes up for a bunch of sins. Its also prime-mover flexible. I am no GM fan, but I think their engineers got this right. The REEV is a platform that can be a gasoline/piston, diesel/piston, anything/turbine, diesel/hcci or fuel cell car with little to no platform reegineering.

On a side note, I was being driven back to the Saturn Dealership to get my car after a repair. The porter, who was actually a salesperson came up in a car I had not seen before. During the trip, she asked how I liked this new "Ion". My draw dropped, and I asked if this was a Hybrid? Which took her totally by supprise. Of course it wasn't. I told her my next car would be a Hybrid. But look at the Ion. It has the upright seating like a Prius. One could imagine that behind the rear seat there are hard-points for a battery. And of course the name Ion shouts Battery.

Donee, thanks for that link to the TRW origins of the power split device. Good
reading. I had heard that the invention itself predated Aisin by a long period of time.
Hmmm, which domestic automaker do you suppose they were referring to when
they mentioned licensing from Toyota? Is that further perpetuation of the myth
about Ford and Toyota?

re: Ion - Yeah, I think Saturn missed an opportunity with that name.

cheers,
Bill

I wish the Camry Hybrid came as a hatchback.It would be a stretched Prius making it a very good USA long road trip vehicle. The Prius is just a bit small for 2 adults,a big dog, bicycle,ice chest and travel stuff.We sleep in the back of our vehicle at rest stops,and it is just a bit small for that.
A 190" long hatch(or stationwagon ) getting 40 mpg vehicle would be perfect for long-3400 miles-road trips.
Thanks,
Charlie