HEV Switch On: How Toyota is making the transition to hybrid easy
Toyota: Making the hybrid switch easier
There are a lot of people that are a bit hesitant -scared, even- of driving something electrified.
That’s very understandable. Driving a vehicle with some form of electrified powertrain is still a fairly new concept here.
Toyota, however, wants to make the change as easy as can be. They are the masters of taking something complicated and making it easy, and thanks to their hybrid electric vehicle lineup, transitioning to electrified mobility becomes a straightforward experience.
Models you've grown up with
It all begins with familiarity. Just look at Toyota’s hybrid electric vehicle lineup and you’ll see many familiar names that bring back fond memories like Corolla, Camry and RAV4. These models have existed for a long time in the Philippine market, and will continue to do so in the electrified age of mobility.
From the DX, to the small body, love life, and finally the 11th generation model, the Corolla Altis HEV follows the lineage of sedans that have served generations Filipino families for many, many years. For the electrified age, the Corolla Altis HEV comes with the sporty GR-S variant that amps up the sedan's styling.
If you need the extra ground clearance, then there's the Corolla Cross GR-S HEV. Essentially, it's the high-riding version of the Corolla with the added versatility of a crossover. Because both share the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, you get the improved ride quality, and enhanced driving dynamics.
Speaking of crossovers, the RAV4 is one of the pioneers of that segment. It's a vehicle that proved you can get car-like comfort and refinement while enjoying a generous cargo space and ride height of an SUV.
Today, all those qualities are very much present in the electrified RAV4 HEV crossover, which also brings its self-charging capability and hybrid technology to the table.
In the world of executive saloons past or present, the Toyota Camry is up there in terms of giving the most relaxing drives, and rides of your life. Now that it has received its dose of electrification to go along with its imposing presence and attitude, the Camry HEV is here to take you in comfort and style, with the added benefit of being kinder to the environment.
Same way of driving, but better
Talking about electrified vehicles to someone who has never driven one will leave you explaining very complicated things. Think of the terms CCS, ChaDeMo, Series, Parallel, or Series-Parallel. There are a lot of technologies to explain, and a lot of jargon to learn. In reality though, operating an electrified vehicle remains the same: step on the right to go faster, step on the middle to slow down.
That is true with Toyota's hybrid electric vehicles. While the system that combines an internal combustion engine, an electric motor and a battery pack is complex, the driving part itself is very easy. You step on the same pedals and steer the vehicle. It’s that simple. What’s happening that’s different is the hybrid system working to give you the best efficiency in any driving condition.
There’s no need to think about it because the hybrid switches between electric and engine seamlessly. And sometimes it gives you the benefit of both at the same time. That’s how the Toyota hybrid system works, and it’s same for the HEV variants of the Corolla, Corolla Cross, Camry and RAV4.
When on a stop or moving at low speeds, that's when a normal combustion vehicle is not at its most efficient. It's the other way around with Toyota's hybrid system, as the vehicle is solely powered by the electric drive motor in these conditions. This means zero fuel consumption, and also zero CO2 emissions.
For maximum acceleration, you step hard on the throttle of a normal combustion vehicle to gain speed quickly. Toyota's hybrids will do the same, but with an extra punch. Floor the throttle, and the engine teams up with the electric drive motor to increase power, giving you better acceleration at any given situation.
When you apply the brakes on a typical ICE vehicle, you lose three things – speed, momentum, and energy. But with Toyota hybrids, you actually get to recover something in return. Thanks to its regenerative braking system, the heat generated by the brakes allow you to recharge the car's batteries, so you can drive in full electric mode for longer periods and save more fuel.
An added (safety) sense
With next-generation propulsion comes next-generation safety features – that's what you would expect in every Toyota hybrid electric vehicle. The Corolla Altis, Corolla Cross, Camry and RAV4 HEV comes with Toyota Safety Sense to bring you an added peace of mind while on the road.
The Pre-Collision System is designed to prevent impact with a vehicle or a pedestrian. Utilizing a camera and a radar, the driver gets audio and visual alerts at first. When the driver does not react, the system does it for you, and automatically puts on the brakes.
In nighttime driving, the Automatic High Beam (AHB) does the job of switching between high and low beams, as it detects the cars you're following along with incoming vehicles.
On the highway, the Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) helps you stay centered in your lane. And once you're starting to veer off, the Lane Departure Alert (LDA) will give you warning. Lastly, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) adjusts your car's cruising speed and distance relative to the car in front for a relaxing and safe highway travels.
Trusted brand
How many people do you know own a Toyota vehicle? Chances are you even own one yourself. Toyota is the number one carmaker in the Philippines, and also all over the world. That speaks volumes with the millions of people who trust the Toyota brand for their mobility needs.
Over the years, Toyota has gained a reputation for building vehicles with exceptional reliability and quality. That same build quality is what you would expect from their hybrid electric vehicle lineup. Every Toyota hybrid runs through the same rigorous quality testing to ensure that whatever Toyota hybrid you choose is guaranteed to serve you and your family for a long, long time.
Hybrids that fit the bill
Ultimately, the great thing about Toyota's hybrid vehicle lineup is that it gives you the flexibility to choose what electrified vehicle fits your needs, together with the value you seek.
The Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8 GR-S HEV sells for PHP 1,665,000, while the Corolla Cross GR-S HEV retails for PHP 1,844,000. The Camry 2.5V HEV starts at PHP 2,402,000, and lastly the RAV4 2.5 LTD HEV begins at PHP 2,607,000. More importantly, there’s the Toyota warranty to give you the peace of mind you deserve: with the car, the warranty gives you the 3-year/100,000 kilometer coverage, but for the battery that goes up to 8-years or 200,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.
Whichever Toyota hybrid you pick, you are guaranteed to get the smoothest transition towards electrified vehicle ownership. To find out more, visit the Toyota virtual showroom or your nearest Toyota dealer.