In 2009, Toyota Motor Philippines pioneered an electrical revolution in the Philippines by introducing the game-changing Toyota Prius Hybrid Electric Vehicle. Since then, Toyota has been actively advocating the adoption of this environmentally-friendly and fuel-saving automotive technology, its latest major push being the launching of the Corolla Altis Hybrid.
While hybrid vehicles have been around for quite a while, misconceptions still abound. So to further raise awareness on HEVs, Toyota has decided to go straight to those with an insatiable appetite for knowledge – the students! The HEV Campus Tour gave engineering students in colleges and universities around the Philippines the chance to learn about hybrids – by experiencing the vehicles first hand. This program also aimed to inspire future engineers, who will have a big hand in shaping the world’s sustainable mobility.
The tour included interactive exhibits and test drives of Toyota’s HEV vehicles – Prius, Prius C, and Corolla Altis Hybrid - around the campus.
It also featured learning sessions with experts from Toyota Motors Philippines. Ritz Kalambacal and Bryan Pilon of TMP’s Technical Training have led these sessions in Mapua University, Don Bosco Technical Institute, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines Diliman, and Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan. They found the tour a great opportunity to introduce students to hybrid technology.
Ritz, Bryan, and their teammates have received a variety of interesting inquiries from the students, such as how hybrids might require complex driving, how switching of engine modes work, or if these vehicles could raise electric bills due to the need for charging. Fortunately, the students’ misconceptions were corrected, and their curiosity further piqued by a number of surprising facts.
Collected below are some of the most burning hybrid-related questions on the minds of the future engineers who participated in the campus tour, as answered by Ritz and Bryan:
Q1. How frequently do we need to plug in an HEV to recharge it? How long does it take?
Toyota HEVs do not need external charging. The vehicles generate their own electricity while driving. While in use, the battery will not be drained and does not need any special maintenance.
Q2. How long do HEV batteries last?
The hybrid battery is designed to last the lifespan of the vehicle. However, the lifespan of the battery can vary according to driving styles and driving conditions.
Q3. Since HEVs operate at high voltages, can I get an electric shock when driving one?
The battery is securely enclosed, and if any abnormality is detected, the computer cuts off the current. There is also a service plug which can be used for manual disconnection. During maintenance or in case of an accident, there is no risk of an electric shock.
Q4. Do HEVs require any special maintenance?
No specialized knowledge of HEV systems is required to perform general maintenance. Periodic maintenance is the same as any conventional Toyota vehicle.
Q5. Is it expensive to maintain an HEV?
The maintenance cost is the same with conventional Toyota models.
Q6. Do I have to drive differently in an HEV?
No special driving technique or technical expertise is required to drive an HEV. Driving an HEV is as simple as driving a conventional vehicle.
Q7. Are HEVs more fuel efficient than conventional vehicles when driving in traffic?
Toyota HEVs offer better fuel efficiency at all times, but are especially efficient in urban areas and traffic jams. When stuck in traffic, the Toyota Hybrid System turns off the petrol engine, and the electric motor/generator drives the vehicle instead. That way, less fuel is wasted in idling and crawling.
These questions, and the general enthusiasm of students during the HEV Campus Tour, show an increasing interest in HEVs. This is why TMP believes that hybrids are excellent entry points to the shift to electrified vehicles. They are easy to use, easy to understand, and require no new infrastructure – making them suitable for Philippine road conditions.
Toyota Motors Philippines offers the widest range of HEVs among mass market manufacturers in the country today. The following HEV models are now available for order at all Toyota dealerships:
Toyota Corolla Altis (Starts at P1,580,000)
Toyota Prius C (P1,970,000)
Toyota Prius (Starts at P2,339,000)
Beyond this TMP continues its mission to educate, inform and inspire everyone to adopt the hybrid lifestyle for a greener, more sustainable mobility. To find out more about HEVs, and to learn more surprising hybrid facts visit Toyota.com.ph/hybrid.
