Toyota Motor Corporation TMC has announced that it will launch 21 new hybrid models from now until the end of 2015. The announcement of its vehicle deployment plans is part of the progress that Toyota has made in developing environmental technologies with the aim of conserving energy by improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, and diversifying fuel sources by encouraging the use of electricity, hydrogen and other alternative energies.
Considering that revolutionary advances in the performance of next-generation batteries are vital, TMC has developed—at a special-purpose in-house research division— new battery cells that offer substantially improved output density over all-solid-state batteries. TMC is also working on wireless battery charging, which will enhance the charging convenience of plug-in hybrid vehicles PHVs and EVs.
1 TMC’s initiatives for Energy Conservation
An enhanced engine for use in hybrid vehicles, based on the 2.5-liter AR gasoline engine, adopts the Atkinson cycle and D-4S2 system. The enhanced engine achieves the world's highest maximum thermal efficiency of 38.5 percent, realizing both high fuel efficiency and high output. Hybrid vehicle models equipped with the engine will be launched starting 2013.
Starting 2014, TMC plans to launch a vehicle with a new 2.0-liter, turbo-charged AR engine, also based on the 2.5-liter AR gasoline engine. The new engine’s smaller displacement will provide higher fuel efficiency while the turbocharger will improve output.
Improvements such as an increase in fuel injection system pressure and the adoption of a compact, high-efficiency turbocharger have allowed the 1.4-liter ND diesel engine for passenger cars to achieve both high fuel efficiency and high driving performance. The adoption of newly developed exhaust gas cleaning technology has enabled the engine to pass the Euro 6, one of the most stringent exhaust emission standards in the world. Vehicles equipped with the new diesel engine are planned for launch starting 2015.
The 3.0 liter KD diesel engine for commercial vehicles uses i-ART, the world's first injection system to maintain a high level of injection precision at high pressure, achieving high fuel efficiency and low emissions.
TMC’s newly developed continuously variable transmission, Super CVT-i, has achieved both superior fuel efficiency and smooth acceleration due to its unsurpassed transmission efficiency, improved integrated engine control and reductions in both size and weight. The transmission is planned for use on additional models, particularly in the compact segment.
A new front-wheel-drive eight-speed, automatic transmission—as compact and lightweight as a six-speed automatic transmission—provides smooth and highly receptive acceleration with highly responsive gear shifting, as well as superior fuel efficiency.
TMC expects global sales of its hybrid vehicles to surpass 1 million units in 2012. With its plan to launch 21 new hybrid models between now and the end of 2015, TMC expects to maintain this level of sales, forecasting global sales of its hybrid vehicles to be at least 1 million units a year from 2013 to 2015.
2 Initiatives for Fuel Diversification
TMC’s newly developed high-performance, compact electric vehicle—the “eQ” —features a new high-output lithium-ion battery that uses a minimum amount of space and boasts the world's best2, electric power consumption rate of 104 Wh/km. Despite its small capacity of 12 kWh, the battery enables a driving range of 100 km8 on a single charge and a top speed of 125 km/h. With an AC 200 V power source, the battery can be fully charged in approximately three hours. Starting December 2012, TMC plans to offer the eQ to local governments and selected users in Japan and the U.S. on a limited basis.
Fuel Cell Vehicles
After steady advances in development, TMC's proprietary FC stack—for use in the sedan-type FCV scheduled for launch around 2015—boasts the world's highest FC power output density of 3 kW/L, which is more than twice the density of the FC stack currently used in the "FCHV-adv" fuel-cell hybrid prototype, but is approximately half the size and weight.
TMC has also developed a high-efficiency boost converter. Increasing the voltage has made it possible to reduce the size of the motor and the number of FC cells, leading to a smaller FC system with enhanced performance at reduced cost. TMC and its subsidiary Hino Motors are accelerating joint development of a new FC bus, with the goal of a launch in 2016.
Future Electrification Technologies—Next-Generation Batteries
In the area of all-solid batteries, TMC has developed a new solid electrolyte with the world's highest2 performance level. Through this, TMC has succeeded in improving ion flow, boosting output density by a factor of five compared to TMC's existing batteries.
Wireless Battery Charging
TMC is developing wireless battery charging technology that transmits electric power using resonance resulting from changes in magnetic field intensity between two coils. TMC will conduct a verification test in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture in 2013 to evaluate performance in a real world environment. Hybrid technology, capable of both high levels of fuel efficiency and driving performance, can be easily combined with various types of fuel and also includes core technologies necessary for developing many types of “eco-cars”. TMC, believing that eco-cars can only contribute to society through their widespread use, will continue to refine conventional engine fuel efficiency while placing hybrid technology as key to further improving the performance of eco-cars, reducing their cost and improving the overall TMC product lineup.