Toyota's head of research and development, Kazuo Okamoto, believes that in ten years' time the world will be filled with hybrid cars.

Hybrids are proving popular at the Frankfurt Motor Show with Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and Ford all rolling out new hybrid models.

Hybrid technology uses the energy expended during breaking to power acceleration and allows vehicles to run on battery power at low speeds.

Fuel economy, one feature of hybrid vehicles, has become increasingly important because of concerns about the levels of damaging NOx exhaust emissions and spiraling petrol prices.

Diesel cars have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity due to their edge over petrol engines on the fuel-economy front, but, now that hybrid technology is becoming more affordable, hybrids could take the limelight.

"Costs are coming down and the technology is advancing, so hybrids won't be limited to just big cars and SUVs," commented Mr Okamoto.

Without mentioning a specific deadline, he declared: "In the future, the cars you see from Toyota will be 100 per cent hybrid."

With environmental standards tightening up, hybrid vehicles could prove a more viable long-term option than diesel models.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd