Toyota And EDF Energy Awarded UK Government Funding For Innovative PHV Road Trial: 20 New PHVs On UK Roads In 2010

Toyota and EDF Energy have been awarded UK government funding through the Technology Strategy Board’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Competition to support a trial of up to 20 innovative Plug in Hybrid Vehicles (PHVs). Based on Toyota’s full hybrid technology, the PHV will come equipped with a powerful lithium-ion battery extending the vehicle’s range in electric vehicle mode allowing for zero-emissions driving. The trial will start in London in 2010 for a period up to 3 years with the intention to lease the vehicles to a mix of public bodies and private companies including the Greater London Authority group and the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

“Together with our partner EDF Energy we are delighted that our competitive tender for a PHV demonstration in the UK has secured Government endorsement and funding. We often say that the PHV reflects ‘the best of both worlds’: it enhances the benefits of Toyota’s full hybrid technology, while stepping over the constraints historically linked with electric vehicles. We’ve been testing a PHV in London since September 2008 and now we have the opportunity to demonstrate a fleet under demanding real-life conditions,” said Miguel Fonseca, Managing Director of Toyota (GB) PLC.

“Our new PHV complements the newly-launched third generation Prius as plug-in technology extends electric driving mode almost tenfold, offering an even lower carbon transport solution for those customers with that specific need,” he added.

Peter Hofman, Director of Company Shared Services & Integration at EDF Energy, said: “EDF Energy is at the heart of solutions to help combat climate change and has the expertise to help people use their energy more efficiently. That is why together with Toyota, we are delighted that our consortia has received funding and government backing for this trial. I am delighted that we will both be playing such a major role in continuing to develop this innovative technology as part of our ongoing work to make clean electric transport more accessible to everyone.”

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Toyota and EDF Energy have won funding to deliver innovative plug in electric hybrid vehicles onto the capital’s streets. The Greater London Authority group will be trialling a number of these vehicles as part of our active participation in this winning bid. I want to make London the electric vehicle capital of Europe and these trials will provide us with valuable information on what is needed to ensure they can become an everyday choice.”

The trial will assess the vehicle’s performance in urban driving conditions while also gathering information about the experience of drivers and passengers. This would include an understanding of their habits and preferences when recharging the vehicle – either at home, using a standard electrical point, or at charging points at vehicle fleet depots and elsewhere. Data collected by the trial will help inform future technology and policy developments and will be shared with Cenex – the UK Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon & Fuel Cell Technologies – and the Department for Transport, who are supporting this project through their contribution to the Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Competition.

Toyota’s PHV adds an extended electric driving mode to the proven benefits of Toyota’s full hybrid technology: low CO2, exceptional fuel efficiency, seamless acceleration and quiet driving. The PHV can be driven as an electric vehicle for shorter distances or city commutes, while for long-distance journeys it operates as a full hybrid with its petrol engine serving as both a power source and battery generator when required. The battery is charged during driving, deceleration or braking, or by connecting its plug to a standard electrical point at home or at work.

Toyota will deploy over 500 new PHVs globally in Europe, Japan and the US – by 2010.

For more information, please contact:

TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE – LONDON OFFICE
Mr Chris O’Keefe
T: 020 7290 8516
M: 07810 127 380
E: chris.o.keefe@toyota-europe.com

Ms Sophie Hudson
T: 020 7290 8509
M: 07825 702 343
E: sophie.hudson @toyota-europe.com

TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE
Mr Etienne Plas
T: +32 2 745 2022
M: +32 479 99 96 13
E: etienne.plas@toyota-europe.com

Mrs Maria Mack
T +32 2 745 2053
M +32 478 90 40 72
E: maria.mack@toyota-europe.com

Mrs Anne Gaublomme
T: +32 2 745 2041
M: +32 473 63 35 41
E: anne.gaublomme@toyota-europe.com

Toyota’s European Media Website: www.toyota-media.com

EDF ENERGY:
Mr Richard Robinson
T: 020 7752 2266
M: 07875 112 123
E: richard.robinson@edfenergy.com

Notes to editors:

PHV pictures are available on Toyota media website (www.toyota-media.com)

History of TME and EDF PHV Partnership

• May 2009: Toyota to lease over 150 experimental PHVs in a pan-European project
• March 2009: EDF and Toyota announce large-scale demonstration of PHVs in Strasbourg
• Sept. 2008: EDF Energy and Toyota launch UK trials of PHV in London
• Sept. 2007: EDF and Toyota announce European technology partnership for PHV

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established and funded by the government. Its role is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. It is sponsored by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and accessories, and Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly and indirectly employs around 80,000 people in Europe and has invested over €7 billion since 1990. Toyota’s operations in Europe are supported by a network of 31 National Marketing and Sales Companies across 56 countries, a total of around 3,000 sales outlets, and nine manufacturing plants. In 2008, Toyota sold over 1.1 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Europe. For more information, visit www.toyota.eu.

EDF Energy: The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy forms one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The combined business is the UK’s largest producer of electricity. With a current installed capacity of around 16.5GW, we produce almost one-quarter of the nation’s electricity from our nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms.

We provide power to a quarter of the UK’s population via our electricity distribution networks in London, the South East and the East of England and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers. Through Our Climate and Social Commitments we have launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company. The company is also a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country’s first major new railway in 100 years.

EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. The combined companies are part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Mayor of London has been an active participant in the Toyota and EDF Energy bid for funding by committing to use several of the vehicles in the Greater London Authority group fleet. The bids were required to show the support of a local government partner to be successful. The Mayor has developed ambitious plans to make London the electric vehicle capital of Europe by pledging to deliver 25,000 charging points to form an integrated network across London by 2015; add 1,000 electric vehicles to the GLA fleet and guarantee to retain the congestion charge exemption. City Hall will offer help, advice and information for companies and other parties that want to convert to electric, visit: www.london.gov.uk/electricvehicles/ or email: ev@london.gov.uk

ENDS