30/10/09

Toyota: 30 years involved in the research and development of the hybrid car

Fotogallery The third generation of the Toyota Prius, the car that unveiled the hybrid technology to many motorists worldwide, is exhibited at the 2009 edition of H2Roma which is being held at Palazzo Pamphilj and palazzo della Cancelleria on 4th and 5th November. The Japanese carmaker, who has long been involved in the protection of the environment, a stalwart of the company’s industrial strategy, has once again joined the H2Roma event. “For many years Toyota has set the goal of developing concrete solutions for the development of low impact projects, at a time when environmental issues cannot be ignored any longer. Toyota has been working with determination on the hybrid technology since 1997 when the Prius, the first hybrid car designed for eco-consciously customers, was introduced” said Massimo Gargano, Managing Director of Toyota Motor Italia.

“The new Prius is the concrete result of thirty years spent on research and development in the sector of hybrid vehicles, which will allow us to offer an increasingly wider range of models mainly in the next few years” went on Mr Gargano, reminding that Toyota has so far sold 1,900,000 hybrid cars worldwide. In addition to the Prius – the only volume car equipped with a parallel fully hybrid system - the H2Roma visitors will also be able to test-drive all the models of the Japanese carmaker’s present hybrid range, which includes the luxury Lexus RX450h, GS450h and LS600h, as well as to see the Toyota iQ, the smallest four seat car in the world. Actually Toyota’s “baby city car”, thanks to its tiny size and the adoption of the Toyota Optimal Drive system, properly embodies the idea of urban low impact mobility. It can accommodate 4 passengers in less than 3 metres and releases only 99g/km of carbon dioxide, which makes it the city car with the lowest gas emissions.

Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive

The Toyota Prius and the Lexus are equipped with a hybrid system which is assisted by one or more motors for the engine performance. The internal combustion engine and the electric motor(s) work together in complete harmony, both providing the energy necessary to drive the wheels. Toyota’s and Lexus’ hybrid cars are therefore efficient and silent; they outstand for their zero emissions which is made possible thanks to the full-hybrid solution, also allowing them to drive only in the electric mode. Thus the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive is mainly energy-saving but it also enhances the car performance in terms of acceleration, which is smooth and uniform, offering high comfort and fun to drive.
Mainly for the Toyota Prius, the Hybrid Synergy Drive includes a 1.8 l engine, an electric motor, both controlled by a computerized shunt system, a generator, a high performance battery, a power split device linked to an epicycloidal joint able to manage the power of the engine, the motor and the generator, according to the needs.
The Hybrid Synergy Drive technology outstands for placing the electric motor, the generator and the power split device inside a light compact transmission box, as big as a traditional one. The transmission shaft itself is smaller and lighter thus reducing the loss of energy by 10-20%. While slowing down and braking the electric motor acts as a high power generator converting kinetic energy into stored electrical energy.

Toyota Optimal Drive

While waiting for new low impact technologies to spread on the market, the Japanese carmaker continues working on traditional petrol and oil engines as well as on transmissions with the application of its Optimal Drive system, which, bound to be set up on all models, has the purpose to reduce fuel consumption as well as CO2 emissions without impairing the fun of driving.
Therefore Toyota has chosen to develop new technologies instead of updating the traditional ones. Following the Kaizen legendary tradition, Toyota has improved the efficiency of combustion, reduced the weight of the engine and transmission as well as friction, and in this way it has developed new powertrains able to release more power and to be more efficient and thrifty. Toyota’s Optimal Drive system is available on many models of the Toyota range which also includes the small iQ.