Green Car Reports spoke with Lexus International executive vice-president Mark Templin about the potential of a Lexus plug-in hybrid:
“There are too many hurdles, and we’re not sold yet on plug-in hybrids,” said Templin. “There’s a case to be made for them as a sales tool, but not as a way to save the environment.”
“The reality is that in most places, people only buy plug-in hybrids for the tax benefit or carpool lane benefit—and then they never plug them in,” Templin continued. “So the government creates a regulation that’s supposed to create better emissions, less pollution, better MPG, and the reality is you add weight to the car and it gets poorer emissions.”
These quotes mirror a previous Templin interview with Cars Guide, though this time he shares more detail on a potential Lexus fuel cell vehicle:
Templin wouldn’t say whether there’s a Lexus fuel-cell vehicle in the near future, but he pointed to the Mirai’s drivability and the success and progress in establishing a hydrogen infrastructure in Japan, the east and west coasts of the U.S., and in a few European markets. And he insists that fuel-cell technology has better chances in the future than pure battery electric vehicles.
“The nice thing for us is, because we’re a part of Toyota, we have hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric cars, fuel cells, all that’s sitting there on the parts shelf, and if we see a need for those things, we can do it.”
Source: Green Car Reports
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