AP Television
Tokyo - 18 November, 2010
1. Close up of woman test driving Toyota's electric vehicle, iQ
2. Various of test drive
3. Wide of news conference
4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation :
"We think we should develop electric vehicles focusing on short commuter use so as to expand the market. With that position, we are now aiming to put electric vehicles on the market by 2012 in Japan, the US and Europe."
AP FILE
Tokyo - 21 July, 2007
5. Various of Toyota plug-in hybrid Prius being charged
AP Television -
Tokyo - 18 November, 2010
6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation :
"The PHV (plug-in hybrid) is a hybrid car which does not use much gasoline and also is an electric vehicle whose battery does not run out. PHV is the amalgamation and evolution of both technologies and we think it will be the mainstream of electric vehicles."
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News :
"Well it's a good question whether Toyota can maintain the lead in the environmental vehicle race. They had an early start with Prius which was well accepted and established Toyota's name as the leader, but yet you see companies something like Nissan coming out with the Leaf and trying to take the - to leapfrog ahead of Toyota. So we will see where it goes. A lot will depend on the development on these batteries which is the key power source for these cars."
8. Various of Toyota electric vehicle, iQ
9. Various of the charge inlet
10. Close up of the battery
11. Wide of iQ
LEAD IN :
The next generation of Toyota's electric cars are to go on sale in the US, Japan and Europe by 2012.
The new version will be a compact hybrid vehicle best suited for short haul trips.
STORY-LINE:
This little car is what Toyota's excited about.
The company says its next generation of eco-friendly vehicles will be gasoline-electric hybrid, which will remain the standard for green cars so drivers won't have to worry about running out of electricity on the road.
Given a test drive it sped around a short test-course without any problem, making whirring motor noises instead of the usual roar of an engine.
Toyota's executive vice president, Takeshi Uchiyamada says the new eco car, based on Toyota's iQ, has been designed is to focus on short haul use.
"We think we should develop electric vehicles focusing on short commuter use so as to expand the market. With that position, we are now aiming to put electric vehicles on the market by 2012 in Japan, the US and Europe."
The eco car is going on sale in the US, Japan and Europe from 2012 , with the company targeting sales of 50,000 vehicles a year at 3 million yen ($36,000) each without subsidies, as the automaker strengthens its green lineup to keep pace with growing competition.
Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, is banking on hybrids, which switch between gasoline and electric engines, after the success of its top-selling Prius hybrid. The company says they are planning to introduce 11 new hybrid models by the end of 2012, including revamps of existing models.
Uchiyamada says the plug-in hybrid gives drivers the best of both worlds.
"The PHV (plug-in hybrid) is a hybrid car which does not use much gasoline and also is an electric vehicle whose battery does not run out. PHV is the amalgamation and evolution of both technologies and we think it will be the mainstream of electric vehicles."
Besides developing an electric car in-house, Toyota is working on an electric sport-utility vehicle with U.S. luxury electric car maker Tesla. A concept model which is being shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show is planned for sale in the U.S. in 2012, with a range of 100 miles on a single charge.
Other car manufacturers are playing catch up however with Japanese rivals Nissan and Mitsubishi dashing ahead in the race to bring new hybrid to market, as Asia Editor of Automotive News, Hans Greimel explains.
"Well it's a good question whether Toyota can maintain the lead in the environmental vehicle race. They had an early start with Prius which was well accepted and established Toyota's name as the leader, but yet you see companies something like Nissan coming out with the Leaf and trying to take the - to leapfrog ahead of Toyota. So we will see where it goes. A lot will depend on the development on these batteries which is the key power source for these cars."
Mitsubishi's eco car, the iMiEV, is already on sale.
Analysts say electric vehicles and other futuristic vehicles will still only make up a tiny fraction of the auto market for years.
Recharging stations will be needed for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuelling stations will be needed if fuel cells are ever to become practical.
Toyota sorely needs a boost to its image after a series of massive recalls totalling more than 11 million vehicles globally over the last year, mostly in the U.S., for faulty gas pedals, floor mats that can trap accelerators, defective braking and stalling engines.
The maker of the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury model also faces lawsuits in the U.S. over accidents suspected of being related to those defects.
Its image, once equated with near impeccable quality, has been badly tarnished, especially after widespread criticism it was slow and reluctant to come forward with the recalls.
SHOTLIST:
AP Television
Tokyo - 18 November, 2010
1. Close up of woman test driving Toyota's electric vehicle, iQ
2. Various of test drive
3. Wide of news conference
4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation :
"We think we should develop electric vehicles focusing on short commuter use so as to expand the market. With that position, we are now aiming to put electric vehicles on the market by 2012 in Japan, the US and Europe."
AP FILE
Tokyo - 21 July, 2007
5. Various of Toyota plug-in hybrid Prius being charged
AP Television -
Tokyo - 18 November, 2010
6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation :
"The PHV (plug-in hybrid) is a hybrid car which does not use much gasoline and also is an electric vehicle whose battery does not run out. PHV is the amalgamation and evolution of both technologies and we think it will be the mainstream of electric vehicles."
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News :
"Well it's a good question whether Toyota can maintain the lead in the environmental vehicle race. They had an early start with Prius which was well accepted and established Toyota's name as the leader, but yet you see companies something like Nissan coming out with the Leaf and trying to take the - to leapfrog ahead of Toyota. So we will see where it goes. A lot will depend on the development on these batteries which is the key power source for these cars."
8. Various of Toyota electric vehicle, iQ
9. Various of the charge inlet
10. Close up of the battery
11. Wide of iQ
LEAD IN :
The next generation of Toyota's electric cars are to go on sale in the US, Japan and Europe by 2012.
The new version will be a compact hybrid vehicle best suited for short haul trips.
STORY-LINE:
This little car is what Toyota's excited about.
The company says its next generation of eco-friendly vehicles will be gasoline-electric hybrid, which will remain the standard for green cars so drivers won't have to worry about running out of electricity on the road.
Given a test drive it sped around a short test-course without any problem, making whirring motor noises instead of the usual roar of an engine.
Toyota's executive vice president, Takeshi Uchiyamada says the new eco car, based on Toyota's iQ, has been designed is to focus on short haul use.
"We think we should develop electric vehicles focusing on short commuter use so as to expand the market. With that position, we are now aiming to put electric vehicles on the market by 2012 in Japan, the US and Europe."
The eco car is going on sale in the US, Japan and Europe from 2012 , with the company targeting sales of 50,000 vehicles a year at 3 million yen ($36,000) each without subsidies, as the automaker strengthens its green lineup to keep pace with growing competition.
Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, is banking on hybrids, which switch between gasoline and electric engines, after the success of its top-selling Prius hybrid. The company says they are planning to introduce 11 new hybrid models by the end of 2012, including revamps of existing models.
Uchiyamada says the plug-in hybrid gives drivers the best of both worlds.
"The PHV (plug-in hybrid) is a hybrid car which does not use much gasoline and also is an electric vehicle whose battery does not run out. PHV is the amalgamation and evolution of both technologies and we think it will be the mainstream of electric vehicles."
Besides developing an electric car in-house, Toyota is working on an electric sport-utility vehicle with U.S. luxury electric car maker Tesla. A concept model which is being shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show is planned for sale in the U.S. in 2012, with a range of 100 miles on a single charge.
Other car manufacturers are playing catch up however with Japanese rivals Nissan and Mitsubishi dashing ahead in the race to bring new hybrid to market, as Asia Editor of Automotive News, Hans Greimel explains.
"Well it's a good question whether Toyota can maintain the lead in the environmental vehicle race. They had an early start with Prius which was well accepted and established Toyota's name as the leader, but yet you see companies something like Nissan coming out with the Leaf and trying to take the - to leapfrog ahead of Toyota. So we will see where it goes. A lot will depend on the development on these batteries which is the key power source for these cars."
Mitsubishi's eco car, the iMiEV, is already on sale.
Analysts say electric vehicles and other futuristic vehicles will still only make up a tiny fraction of the auto market for years.
Recharging stations will be needed for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuelling stations will be needed if fuel cells are ever to become practical.
Toyota sorely needs a boost to its image after a series of massive recalls totalling more than 11 million vehicles globally over the last year, mostly in the U.S., for faulty gas pedals, floor mats that can trap accelerators, defective braking and stalling engines.
The maker of the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury model also faces lawsuits in the U.S. over accidents suspected of being related to those defects.
Its image, once equated with near impeccable quality, has been badly tarnished, especially after widespread criticism it was slow and reluctant to come forward with the recalls.
