Toyota Adds Hybrid Driving Opportunities To Surrey’s Climate Week Programme

Toyota took its hybrid power message to its own local authority this week, providing two of its latest low-emissions vehicles for a ride and drive event organised as part of Surrey County Council’s Climate Week activities.

Staff at County Hall in Kingston were able to get behind the wheel of a Yaris Hybrid and Prius Plug-in and learn more about how Toyota – which has its UK headquarters in nearby Epsom – is continuing to develop cars that use less fuel and produce lower emissions.

Yaris Hybrid, Europe’s first full hybrid supermini, is unmatched in its part of the market with CO₂ emissions from 79g/km and official average fuel economy performance from 80.7mpg. That makes it cheaper to run in terms of tax bills and petrol costs, as well as being kinder to the environment.

Prius Plug-in takes Toyota’s world-leading hybrid technology to another level. Using a compact, lightweight lithium-ion battery, it can be driven much further and at higher speeds on its electric power alone, using no fuel and producing no harmful exhaust emissions. And unlike all-electric vehicles, once the battery charge is used up, the car switches seamlessly to its hybrid system, bringing its 1.8-litre petrol engine into play. That means motorists need have no worries about whether their car will be able to get them to their destination without the need for a recharge.

When Prius Plug-in’s battery needs charging up, the job can be done quickly and safely using a conventional supply at home, place of work or roadside charge point.

Climate Week is running nationwide until 10 March, with more than half a million people expected to attend thousands of events to learn more about how they can help counter climate change by adopting sustainable ways of living and working. In Surrey a further introduction to the benefits of Toyota’s hybrid vehicle technology was due to take place at the council’s Woking offices today (5 March).

ENDS