Managers choose the Toyota Prius
“Attention for people, planet and profit is an essential part of our daily thoughts and actions. The Toyota Prius is therefore a logical choice for a leased company car. It is 85 percent recyclable and, with an average fuel consumption of 4.3 L/100 km, it scores better than any other petrol-fuelled family car.”
CSR Concept Manager Nick op den Buijsch made a conscious choice to drive the Toyota Prius. Director of Operations Bas Gehlen drives one too. “The new Prius is currently the car with the lowest CO2 emissions, making it the best car you can drive by far,” he says, explaining his choice. “I do my best to drive as economically as possible. It's a challenge I enjoy. I can easily get the 4.3 L/100 km that Toyota claims. The displays on the dashboard show you how economically you're driving, which is a great encouragement. My record is 3.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The Toyota Prius is an excellent car, and not just in terms of the environment. It is also a leader in terms of engine, safety and extra features.”
Forerunner
In 1997, Toyota was one of the forerunners in hybrid cars: a fuel engine combined with an electric motor. “The first Prius didn't look very attractive," says Managing Director Jack Pansters of Autobedrijf Jan Wuts, the local Toyota dealership that supplied the hybrids. “But the latest version is a beautiful car. Added to that is the fact that you only pay half the motor vehicle tax thanks to its low emissions. It will become even more affordable to run next January when the motor vehicle tax is dropped altogether. When you add this to the low 14 percent addition for tax purposes, it's no surprise that it has become so popular among drivers of leased cars.”
Nick op den Buijsch and Bas Gehlen agree. Nevertheless, they are both already looking forward to the first plug-in model, so that driving the car can be completely CO2-neutral. “The petrol engine still uses fossil fuels, and that is something we really need to get away from," says Nick op den Buijsch. “When the automotive industry is able to guarantee an acceptable range of 350 kilometres and a battery charging time of five to ten minutes, I'll be happy. As long as the power stations can provide enough green electricity, of course. We have more than enough sun, wind and water to generate it. Now we just need to do it.”
On the photo f.r.t.l.: Nick op den Buijsch, Jack Pansters and Bas Gehlen