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Posted On: 02/03/2006

Toyota lift truck named most fuel efficient

PlantServices.com

Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU) today announced its 5,000 pound capacity 7-Series internal combustion, cushion tire lift truck was named most fuel efficient and most productive by USAC Properties, Inc., a subsidiary of the United States Auto Club, Inc.

The Toyota lift truck dramatically outperformed its competition, which consisted of equivalently equipped 5,000 pound capacity internal combustion models from Caterpillar, Komatsu, Nissan and Yale, by as much as 25 percent in fuel efficiency and almost 10 percent in productivity.  It exceeded the average of its competitors by 15 percent in fuel efficiency and nearly 8 percent in productivity.  Toyota estimates these combined results can potentially save a customer thousands of dollars annually under similar operating conditions. 

"We knew our lift trucks offered substantial productivity benefits, and having this objective data to demonstrate real value is important to both Toyota and our customers," said Brett Wood, national product development, strategic planning and marketing services manager for TMHU.  "We consider this to be the most comprehensive and unbiased fuel efficiency report available to the market today.  The tests concluded not only will a Toyota user spend less money on fuel, they also will complete more work per shift thanks to Toyota's superior productivity and performance results."

Testing Conditions and Methodology

All testing was conducted at a warehouse facility on a carefully designed course approximately 135 feet long.  The course, designed to simulate a common warehousing application, included typical lift truck operations such as loaded and unloaded travel, turning, braking and the lifting and lowering of a 3,610 pound load.  Specific care was taken to neutralize the effects of operator skill level on the outcome.  Three different independent certified lift truck operators repeated the test, which consisted of 15 laps, on each of the five trucks, with consistent and repeatable results.

Specific data collected throughout the duration of testing was compiled and analyzed to determine the final fuel efficiency and performance rankings for each of the five lift trucks tested. Although the Hyster and Mitsubishi models were not tested, their results may be similar or the same as the Yale and Caterpillar models respectively, since they are essentially identical models, but sold under different brands.

Test Results

Fuel consumption was measured by removing the LPG (propane) fuel tank prior to the test, weighing it to an accuracy of one-five thousandth (0.005) of a pound, then having it re-installed.  At the conclusion of the 15 laps, the amount of fuel consumed was determined by removing the LPG tank and weighing it again.  Once all three drivers completed the test for each truck, an average fuel consumption figure was calculated based on 45 cycles.  The Toyota lift truck completed the 45 cycles while consuming 12.10 pounds of fuel – 184 pounds less than the competitions' average of 13.94 pounds.

Performance was measured by initiating a timer when the engine was started, then stopping it when all cycles had been completed and the ignition was turned off.  The Toyota lift truck completed the 45 cycles in one hour and 44 seconds (1:00:44); four minutes and 46 seconds faster than the competitions' average of one hour, five minutes and 30 seconds (1:05:30).

"At USAC, we take pride in our research expertise and the credibility of our methodology," said David Petrali, vice president of testing operations for USAC Properties, Inc.  "We are satisfied the testing was conducted with the utmost fairness to all participants, and we attest to the validity and reliability of these results."

About USAC Properties, Inc.

USAC Properties, Inc. is the performance testing and endorsement arm for the United States Auto Club.  USAC Properties is an independent testing organization specializing in the design and implementation of tests for products relating to the automotive industry. USAC Properties provides full-service automotive testing projects, seal of approval, product certificates and licensing.

These services are made available to reputable manufacturers throughout the automotive industry.  USAC Properties testing has developed a highly regarded reputation in this field for delivering accurate and reliable product evaluations.

About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.

Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU) is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand.  Built on a reputation for excellence, Toyota is known for its quality, reliability and dependability.  Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured in Columbus, Ind.

Toyota's commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide.  Seventy authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers with a total of 183 dealership locations throughout the United States offer comprehensive customer service support, including one-stop shopping for both new and Certified Used lift trucks, parts, service and financing.  For more information on TMHU, please visit www.toyotaforklift.com or call
1-800-226-0009.

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