Little Button, Big Difference

In a world of more than 8 billion people, it can be difficult to know the true weight of your contributions. It’s empowering and inspiring when you can actually see individual efforts stacking up. At Valley Hi Toyota, we want you to know that what you do matters. In this most recent study, we aim to show you that making an impact can be as simple as switching gears.

Small and Mighty

Any Toyota or Lexus with Eco mode can reduce tailpipe CO2 emissions simply by pressing the Eco or EV button. In a weeklong study, engineers and data scientists from Toyota Connected North America (TCNA) set out to see exactly how much one push could do. In its initial study, TNCA found that using the Eco mode could reduce tailpipe CO2 output in a hybrid by 4%. In a full internal-combustion engine vehicle, data scientists found using the Eco button could reduce tailpipe CO2 by up to 26%.

A Stunning Equivalent

To better understand, TCNA recorded data from April 19-25 in real-time from more than 2,000 participating corporate-owned Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota employees and family members drove more than 483,000 miles in Eco or EV mode throughout the week. The TCNA team compared the data and estimated the collective impact of the study participants’ emission reductions were:

• The equivalent of 748 trees sequestering carbon for 10 years
• 45,235,623 g of CO2 reduction of greenhouse gases compared to the baseline
• 5,091 gallons of gasoline saved
• $18,304 of fuel cost savings based on the national average

Massive Potential

Understanding the effect of this simple switch was stunning and brought a twinkle to the eye when we imagined the potential. Brian Kursar, chief technology officer, TCNA said that “While this study focused on Toyota-owned vehicles, we know there are millions of connected Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the U.S. If everyone drove in Eco mode, it could help greatly reduce our collective CO2 output.” Speaking of a carbon-neutral society, Kursar goes on to say that “We’re all going to have to pitch in. Pressing one button in your car to activate Eco mode is one small contribution that our data scientists have shown can benefit everyone.”

Collective Impact

Doing your best to minimize your impact on the environment can be overwhelming. With this data, we want to empower you by knowing that you can make a difference. This study proves that even making the smallest of changes can make a positive collective impact. At Valley Hi Toyota, we are grateful for your contributions, no matter the size.

Tags: eco mode, emissions, fuel economy, fuel efficiency, hybrid, informative, Toyota
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