Toyota Hybrid Camry: Automatic

What makes this car a Low Emission Vehicle?

Our exclusive Hybrid Synergy Drive® is a full hybrid system. That is, it uses two motors in harmony with each other - a battery-powered electric motor and a petrol-driven combustion engine. And unlike the motors in many other hybrid cars, both the petrol and the electric motors in the Hybrid Synergy Drive® system can power the car alone or in combination. Hybrid Synergy Drive® is smart technology, telling the car when to switch between petrol and electric power and when to combine both for maximum efficiency, which guarantees a high level of on-road performance while minimising fuel consumption and pollution from exhaust gases. When the petrol engine is running, it charges the battery and when the car brakes, energy that most cars waste as heat lost during braking, is converted to electricity for the car to use later. Because the battery receives plenty of charge from the petrol engine when coasting and from the regenerative braking system when slowing down, our hybrid cars never need plugging in to a mains s

What are the customer benefits of this technology?

A hybrid vehicle is powered by two energy sources-a petrol engine which is supplemented by an electric motor. They are combined in such a way that each power source takes the role it's most efficient at performing to maximise the strengths of both. Depending on driving conditions and need, they operate cooperatively or independently delivering a seamless, dynamic drive with maximum performance and far improved fuel efficiency with minimum emissions. In all other respects, a hybrid car is like most other vehicles you'll come across. They drive like regular automatic cars, they use unleaded fuel, have the same luggage capabilities, and drive under the same weather conditions. In fact, apart from the sound of silence when the car is running on electric power alone and the potential for significant fuel savings, most drivers are unlikely to notice any significant difference to the running of a hybrid car.

How many LEV models are available in your range now and when will more be introduced in Australia?

Currently Toyota have 2 models in the LEV range and 2 variants available in each model. Next year will see the introduction of the Prius V and the Prius C to the Hybrid range.Toyota is committed to hybrid systems as a core technology moving forward. Globally, our goal is to reach one million hybrid sales per year during the 2010s. At the same time, it is our intention to have a hybrid version of every model in our range by the 2020s.

What is your brand's LEV/ZeroEV strategy for Australia?

Pursuing the ultimate eco fuel for modern cars. There are several alternatives to petrol with the potential to become the eco fuel of the future, enabling cars and other vehicles to run more cleanly and motoring to become more environmentally sustainable. We are committed to developing technologies and innovations that enable people to enjoy the benefits of motoring, while reducing the impact of cars and other vehicles on the environment. We are also continually evaluating and exploring the potential of alternative fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel. As with our world leading Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology, our aim in exploring alternative fuel is to lower emissions to as near zero as possible and to reduce the impact of motoring on the planet to nil, if we can.