On the 15^th of May 2008, Toyota will have sold more than 1,000,000 units of the world’s first mass-produced petrol/electric hybrid vehicle. The Prius has sold 23,893 units in the UK alone and sales are up 7.1% year on year. Toyota believes that the Prius vehicles have helped to reduce CO2 emissions by 4.5 million tons when compared to petrol-powered vehicles in the same class, size and driving performance.

The Toyota Prius was launched in Japan in 1997, becoming available in the UK in 2000. In 2003, the Toyota Hybrid System II was introduced, improving environmental performance and power. Toyota’s plans are to sell 1,000,000 or more hybrid vehicles a year as early as 2010.

To all the employers in the UK who claim to have an environmental conscience, we have just one question - are you willing to put your money where your mouth is? That is exactly what one employer has done in San Diego, California.

The ever-rising gas prices in America - now teetering close to $4 per gallon - prompted CJ Langer, owner of Calibration Consultants in Sorrento Valley, to exchange both his and his wife’s gas guzzling trucks for leaner, greener alternatives in the form of the world’s most famous hybrid car, the Toyota Prius.

Langer is so thrilled with the savings he has made, not to mention the boost for the environment, that he is willing to pay his employees a $2,000 bonus for doing the same.

“I’m that guy that always drives a truck; but that point in time has passed, it’s time to change, it’s time to do something positive as much as I possibly can,” Langer said.

“We have single mothers, we have military dependents that have people overseas right now, it’s about food on the table for them.”

Langer is the first to admit that he’s late to convert to the hybrid car revolution but believes he is out in front in terms of offering a private incentive - he expects around 40 of his employees to take up the offer by the end of the year. Now he is challenging other employers to follow his lead.

“I would challenge some of the big guys - locally and nationally - to come up with similar programs and do the same,” he said.

 Black cabs may be iconic in the United Kingdom, but in the city of Worcester they’re old news - because green cabs are all the rage.

Cab firm Go-Go Eco has become the city’s first operator to use twin-engine hybrid vehicles, casting conventional cabs aside in favour of these environmentally friendly alternatives.

The Toyota Prius vehicles adopted by the cab firm emit no fumes when travelling at low speeds and so are perfect for inner-city driving. Instead they run on a rechargeable electric motor when waiting in traffic only to switch to a normal petrol engine for higher speeds.

In terms of driving experience, the cabbies and the passengers should notice no difference but with far lower fuel consumption and less emissions both the environment and the company’s finances should benefit.

Despite the obvious advantages, company owner Jon Higgins faced a battle when bringing these green cars into the city. Regulation in Worcester states that all private hire vehicles must have a minimum engine capacity of 1600cc - yet the Toyota Prius fell short with a 1500cc engine.

However, the Council was quick to change its regulation in order to encourage the use of hybrid cars in the area.

“I welcome this,” commented Deputy Mayor Lucy Hodgson. “I think it’s really good for the city and it’s something we should be shouting about from the rooftops.”

There were fears that with the cabs being so quiet there could be an increase in accidents. However, Mr Higgins insisted this would not be a problem as they can still be heard. Instead it will just be a boost for residential areas to enjoy quieter streets at night.

What do you think of this scheme in Worcester? Would you like to see cab firms go green in your area? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

Gordon Brown’s cabinet clashed recently over whether to replace British-built ministerial cars with hybrid vehicles, amid claims that that the cabinet are failing to reduce their contribution to CO2 emissions.
John Hutton, the business secretary, led the criticism of the plan along with other senior ministers, including Jack Straw, the justice secretary, and Ed Balls, the schools secretary, who argued that the move sent out the wrong message to domestic manufacturers.
Later this year, all cars used by ministers and senior civil servants will have to have carbon emissions below 130g/km, ruling out British-built cars such as Jaguars and Range Rovers.
The issue sparked a heated row after Ruth Kelly, the transport secretary, opened a debate on whether to change the government car fleet with low-emission cars such as the Toyota Prius.
Ruth Kelly suggested the government could use a more ambitious target of 120g/km, an idea backed by David Miliband, the foreign secretary, and Hilary Benn, the environment secretary.
Although the government policy does not specify the use of any particular make, the Japanese-made Toyota Prius cars are now widely in use across Whitehall.
Mr Hutton set out his views to a Commons committee last year when he explained his decision to choose a ministerial Jaguar. “I support the fact that ministers can choose a hybrid car if that is what they want, but I chose British.
“I would like to see more UK hybrids and there is a real opportunity there for British manufacturers but I do not think that the answer is to force everyone to drive around in bubble cars.”
Mr Brown’s spokesman admitted the government “needs to do more” to meet its own targets to cut carbon emissions, following a critical report by the Sustainable Development Commission. It found that two-thirds of government departments were not on track to meet their 12.5 per cent carbon reduction target by 2010/11, and that emissions from vehicles were “an area of serious concern”.
Rebecca Willis, the vice-chair of the commission, said: “Government as a whole needs to take radical action to put its own house in order if it is to be in a position to lead by example.”

The pressure is now on for British manufacturers to produce lower emission vehicles.