Corolla Hybrid sales have reached nearly 40,000 units. Why is Toyota's hybrid power like the iPhone in the automotive industry?

Friends who are familiar with cars all have a consensus that technology-focused Japanese manufacturers have always been the pioneers in trying to develop new energy technologies. Among these Japanese car manufacturers, Toyota, which has the most experience in the field of hybrid power, is undoubtedly a very representative one.

Since the chairman of Toyota Motor proposed "developing cars that are truly needed in the 21st century" in 1990, Toyota's hybrid technology has always been at the forefront of the industry after three generations of Prius technology changes. Toyota's hybrid vehicles have won the trust of more than 9 million car owners around the world, including international superstars such as Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hanks. Ikuo Yoshimura, deputy director of the planning department of FAW Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd., said that Toyota's hybrid technology is like the iPhone in the automotive industry, with foresight and strength.

Of course, Toyota is also constantly extending its leading hybrid technology to a wider range of its models. The Corolla Hybrid, which was launched in October 2015, allows Toyota to equip its mature dual-engine technology on the world's best-selling model. Data shows that as of the end of November 2016, Corolla Hybrid sales have reached nearly 40,000 units.

Toyota's accumulation of hybrid technology is essential to promoting hybrid power in the fiercely competitive A-class car market in China.

Dual-engine technology is a combination of performance and safety

Toyota calls the hybrid technology equipped in Corolla "Dual Engine", which literally means "two power engines", but Dual Engine is not a simple superposition of two power systems. Instead, it is an organic combination of the engine and the electric motor, working together to achieve a balance between power performance and fuel economy. Compared with pure electric vehicles such as Tesla, there is no need to consider the burden of charging.

From a technical perspective, hybrid technology effectively connects the internal combustion engine and the electric motor through a hybrid system, achieving a power effect of 1+1>2. The electric motor provides power during starting and low-speed driving, while the engine is the main power source and the electric motor is the auxiliary power source during high-speed and acceleration conditions. When the vehicle is decelerating, it can also convert excess energy generated by deceleration and recycle it into the battery.

As for the battery safety issue that has been of great concern to consumers since the recent Samsung Note7 mobile phone incident, FAW Toyota revealed at the FAW Toyota Corolla Hybrid "Interesting" Technology Experience Camp held on December 19-20 that the Corolla Hybrid's hybrid battery is a high-power nickel-metal hydride battery with the same service life as the entire vehicle. It has the characteristics of high power density and light weight, does not require external charging, regular replacement or special maintenance, and is equipped with a safety protection device that can automatically cut off power supply when hit by external force to ensure safety.

Building a "higher level" hybrid vehicle

There is no doubt that between traditional gasoline vehicles and pure electric vehicles, hybrid models are becoming the mainstream trend in a manner that is more in line with the needs of the public. With the help of dual-engine technology, Corolla Hybrid is regarded by Toyota as a "higher level" hybrid product.

First of all, as for the product itself, the Corolla Hybrid adopts a customized sports body, and all levels are equipped with LED lights and a number of practical and humanized configurations, including front seat heating, electric seat adjustment, lumbar support adjustment, cruise control, rain sensor wipers, AHB automatic high and low beam adjustment, nanoe nano water ion air-conditioning system, etc., with more luxurious and practical technological equipment to comprehensively enhance the driver and passenger experience.

In addition to safe battery technology, Toyota's unique GOA body, 6 SRS airbags and steering-assisted body stability control system + hill-start assist (S-VSC+HAC) as standard for the entire series also provide all-round protection for drivers and passengers.

In addition, more importantly, in terms of brand height, Toyota's hybrid vehicles have gained the trust of more than 9 million car owners worldwide. There is even a taxi driver from Canada who drove a Prius for an extremely long mileage of 1.5 million miles without ever changing the battery. Excellent product quality is the basis for the brand to continue to be recognized by more consumers.

When Corolla Hybrid was first launched on the market, its goal was to lower the price threshold of joint venture brand hybrid models to a new low, thereby challenging a new market that has not yet been explored by Japanese cars. With Toyota's advanced Hybrid technology, high-end appearance, outstanding performance advantages, and affordable and reasonable prices, the Toyota brand, which has a profound foundation in hybrid power technology, is also expected to open up a new situation in the history of hybrid models in China.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.