Toyota is the winner when it comes to reducing the CO2 output from the top 10 car brands, according to data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI ).
Toyota’s CO2 output is the lowest, achieving 17 per cent lower emissions than the top nine other car brands in Ireland.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ), the C02 output from transport in Ireland has increased in five of the last six years, with 2018 the last reported year increasing by 1.7 per cent. With consumers looking for alternatives to their traditional petrol or diesel car, hybrids have become the fastest growing powertrain, up 104 per cent in 2020.
SIMI’s figures show the average CO2 output from all new Toyota hybrids sold in 2019 was 86.84g versus an average of 112g of the remaining top 10 competitors. This 17 per cent difference highlights the role self-charging hybrids play in reducing CO2, and already exceeds the EU target of 95g set for all car manufactures by 2021. Toyota is the only top 10 seller in Ireland to do so and is two years ahead of target.
Today, self-charging hybrids make up 15 per cent of total Irish market sales in 2020 and will save 64,000 tonnes of C02 over their lifetime.
CEO of Toyota Ireland Steve Tormey says Toyota is committed to leading Ireland towards zero emissions motoring "as we have been doing for the past 22 years with self-charging hybrid electric vehicles".
"Given the myriad of challenges facing full electrification, from the global shortage of lithium for batteries through to the inherent challenges associated with creating a charging infrastructure, it is our view there is no silver bullet to reducing CO2 output. In fact we believe self-charging hybrids offer the best volume solution today to reducing Ireland’s CO2 output.
"In addition to electric vehicle growth, policy makers should be encouraging the growth of hybrids, as we firmly believe a hybrid mix of 25 per cent can be achieved in 2021, which would reduce Ireland’s CO2 by 166,000 tonnes in their lifetime."
According to international emissions auditing company, Emissions Analytics, the best way to meet climate goals is to encourage the take-up of self charging hybrids.
