Smaller cars a big help

Toyota's Yaris hatchback makes the most of its compact size.

Petrol-electric hybrids are the key to fuel efficiency and planet-saving low emissions for the next 25 years, says Toyota NZ manager director Bob Field.

"Given that the global stock of fossil-fuelled vehicles is going to more than double in the next few decades - and that each will have an economic life of about 20 years - you can start to appreciate why we cannot simply wait for the hydrogen solution," he says.

"Fortunately, there is no dispute about the long-term solution for sustainable mobility being based on hydrogen fuel-cell technology.

"The only dispute is the timing. All car companies have prototypes but in terms of widespread commercial availability on a global scale we are talking 2020 at the earliest."

Field was speaking at the launch of the Yaris hatchback, Toyota's new small car.

The previous model was known in New Zealand as the Echo.

He said the new name helps to register a renewed importance of small cars as responsible personal transport in a world where fuel efficiency and low emissions have moved from urgent to critical.

More vehicles will be built in the next 20 years than in the past 110 years of production.

"New car factories are springing up throughout the Third World and, apart from Toyota's plan to build Prius hybrid cars in China, these new factories will build vehicles that will be powered by fossil fuels." Field said a study for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development revealed that greenhouse gas emissions from transport would triple in the first half of this century.

"Furthermore, the relative inefficiency of a standard fossil fuel-engined car means that only 14 per cent of the oil's original energy is applied at the wheels. Twelve per cent of its energy value is lost in getting from the oil well through the refining and distribution system to your car's tank. Then another 72 per cent is lost through heat loss and mechanical friction in converting the petrol in the tank to power at the wheels. For a hybrid vehicle, the well-to-wheel efficiency is more than doubled to 32 per cent, which is better than current hydrogen fuel-cell prototypes. But ultimately the fuel-cell is the best long-term option."

Field said drivers could make the biggest short-term contribution to a healthier planet by rationalising the daily use of their vehicle and by more carefully considering fuel efficiency when they buy their next vehicle.

"Until earlier this year the price of oil has been very low compared with the peaks reached in the oil crises of the 1970s and early 1980s.

"That is especially true in New Zealand where pump prices are relatively low in world terms.

"As a result, the past two decades have seen growth in SUVs and larger cars in the New Zealand market.

Twenty years ago 40 per cent of sales were vehicles less than 1600cc. Corolla was the best-selling car. "Today, only 12 per cent of vehicles are under 1600cc and the Commodore (3800cc) has held the No 1 spot for the past few years."

The Yaris is on sale now, priced from $19,550 for the base-model 1.3-litre three-door through to $27,820 for the 1.5-litre five-door automatic.