Toyota Racing is creating very good use of its prolonged-phrase investment in hybrid engineering with the advancement of two TS03 HYBRID vehicles for competition in this year’s FIA Globe Endurance Championship.

So far, Toyota has sold much more than 3.five million hybrid vehicles globally, and is the first automobile producer to confirm entry into the championship race series employing a hybrid powertrain.

The TS030 HYBRID is a successor to the TS010 and TS020 cars of the 1990’s, which gained podium spots at Le Mans. The latest Toyota Sport vehicles will also run at Le Mans, as well as in the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

The bespoke THS-R (Toyota Hybrid Method – Racing) engine is an all-new 3.four-litre V-eight usually aspirated petrol unit with a hybrid technique and capacitor storage by Nisshinbo.

Laws restrict braking recovery to a maximum of 500kj between braking locations, and deployment of that energy is restricted to two wheels only.

The TS030’s LMP1 chassis is by TMG and has already tested at the famous Paul Ricard circuit in Spain in which it covered several hundred kilometres, without having incident. Though these are early days as far as testing goes, the car proved to have the two powerful performance and reliability.

Team driver Alex Wurz explained of the vehicle: “It was cool to drive the TS030 HYBRID automobile for the first time. Just leaving the garage on the electric power is quite futuristic, then when you allow the clutch go and the internal combustion engine kicks in it is like an old pal has returned! When we place on the slick tyre I could sense the car generates a really excellent sum of grip so I believe we have a good base and I believe we can turn this into a really quickly vehicle. I am absolutely extremely content but my nature is to also be analytical and for that reason I know there is still a lot of perform to be carried out. It is genuinely great to function with all the mechanics and engineers the Toyota Racing team is quite international and this operates effectively. I am really comfortable in this team because they are all extremely expert, that is really clear.”

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Japan’s Kyodo News reports Toyota – the world’s biggest manufacturer of hybrid vehicles – could have the technologies ready for complete-scale production inside two a long time.

Toyota is understandably keeping it cards close to its chest, and has not revealed anything about its long term powertrain technology. A Toyota spokesperson told Reuters the business is continuing its investigation into rare earth metal substitutes but at this stage has no timeline on when new parts could hit the market.

Two of the metals – neodymium and dysprosium – are generally used in the magnets of electrical motors and are increasingly sought soon after as the demand for hybrids and EVs grows about the world.

China at present generates a lot more than 95 per cent of the world’s uncommon earth metals and has recently revealed its intention to restrict exports, fearing depletion of its all-natural sources. China’s hesitancy has forced hybrid manufacturers like Toyota into overdrive to discover alternatives to unusual supplies. Japan currently accounts for roughly one 3rd of the world’s uncommon earth metal consumption.

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The “c” stands for “city” in the event you have been wondering and this is wherever this modest automobile is developed to thrive.

The c is shorter, lighter and a lot more compact in every way compared to the standard Prius. This, in large part, explains why the 2012 Toyota Prius c will be motivated by an Atkinson-cycle one.five-litre, four-cylinder engine. On its own, it generates 73 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor is excellent for 60 hp or 45kW. Combined, they are rated at 99 hp.

The diminutive car is roomy enough for 4 occupants and some gear as the fuel tank and nickel-metal hydride battery are located under the rear seats. The exterior shell is plainly developed with a youthful purchaser in mind.

Fuel consumption numbers are extraordinary. According to Toyota, the 2012 Toyota Prius c’s mixed rating of 3.7 L/100 km is the best this side of non plug-in automobiles.

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Following the Chevrolet Volt’s lithium-ion battery become the subject of a major NHTSA safety probe, GM said that it is moving to a less volatile battery chemistry for its upcoming Chevrolet Spark Electric that will go on sale in 2013.

GM said that it will be using phosphate-based lithium ion batteries from A123 Systems that are less likely to burn than other lithium chemistry.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Spark.

Obviously this shows how quickly the technology in electric and hybrid vehicles are changing. The Detroit automaker and other EV companies have started engineering future models with lithium-phosphate technology because the batteries cane be safer and can also last longer, said James Hall, principal of consulting firm 2953 Analytics Inc.

Details on Chevrolet Spark’s specific markets, range, quantities and pricing will be announced later.

Source: Automotive News

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Although not officially announced as the next-generation Mitsubishi Outlander, the PX-MiEV is about the same size both inside and out as the current model. And if you needed more convincing of its future potential in Australia, Mitsubishi brought us out to Japan to review the PX-MiEV using test cars based on current Outlanders.

Unlike traditional hybrids, such as the current Toyota Prius, which run on the electric motor alone for only a limited time and mostly complement the petrol engine, the PX-MiEV is heavily focused on using electricity as its main source of power. Mitsubishi expects the PX-MiEV to use just 1.67 litres of fuel per 100km, a figure that if achieved will make the Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid the most fuel efficient SUV on the market.

The PX-MiEV makes use of two electric motors – one to power each axle – but has no mechanical connection between the front and rear wheels. Use of lithium-ion batteries has resulted in a significant 50km-plus pure electric drive system (compared to the current Prius’s 2km), which will allow owners to drive around using no fossil fuel for the majority of everyday journeys. Australia’s reliance on coal to produce electricity means the environmentally friendly issue is an area of contention.

Mitsubishi has used all of its expertise learned from its i-MiEV electric car, so in essence the PX-MiEV is much more a reverse-engineered electric car than a hybrid based on a traditional platform.

It’ll take four hours to charge the battery from empty to full (30 minutes for a fast charge up to 80 per cent using a quick charge station), or you can simply drive it around and the petrol motor will act like a generator. It will take the petrol engine roughly three litres of fuel to recharge an empty battery to about 80 per cent. There’s even a button you can press that will prioritise battery recharge when driving.

The hybrid system offers three modes of driving: full electric (for at least 50km), series hybrid mode and parallel hybrid mode.

In full electric mode the vehicle uses all the charge in its battery for maximum effect, with the petrol engine unlikely to start unless there’s a big sudden demand for power. Acceleration in this mode is pretty quick given each electric motor supplies 60kw and 200Nm of torque, all delivered immediately and not letting up till about 120km/h. We performed a number of 0-100km/h tests at Mitsubishi’s Okazaki test track and found the accelerator response instant and power delivery roughly equivalent to a 3.0L V6 petrol. There is no official 0-100km/h time yet but it certainly feels well below 10 seconds.

The PX-MiEV’s lithium-ion battery pack is 90 percent similar to the ones found in the I Miev – so it’s expected to perform at peak capacity for at least 10 years, with a replacement battery easily attainable if or when needed.

In series hybrid mode the PX-MiEV’s petrol engine kicks in to assist the electric drive, not by supplying power to the front wheels but by charging the battery. When there’s a sudden demand for power, the petrol engine helps replenish lost energy quickly to eliminate power supply issues. It’s an interesting system, similar to the Chevrolet volt, which uses its petrol-powered engine as a generator for the batteries. Essentially it converts fossil fuel into electricity.

The benefit of this system may be to hard to see at first, it may even seem a bit of a waste given you’re using a relatively inefficient power system (with the majority of the fuel energy lost to heat) to burn fossil fuels to then generate electricity, nonetheless its positive attributes only become obvious once experienced.

Being an SUV it’s likely that owners will take their vehicles on long drives, so the hybrid system eliminates any sense of range anxiety (be it real or not) associated with battery electric vehicles, but provides similar benefits.

By incorporating a 100V AC power outlet, PX-MiEV also has the added benefit of acting like an actual power generator, suppling power for all sorts of appliances when needed.

This is more than ideal for those that enjoy the outdoors but can also be extremely crucial during power blackouts or natural disasters. The PX-MiEV also supports vehicle-to-home technology, so you can plug it into your home electricity grid and it will work out the best times to recharge itself (off-peak) and the ideal time to supply power to the house to help save you money.

In parallel hybrid mode the petrol engine kicks in to both charge the battery and supply motive force to the front wheels. It does this at the same time as the electric motors are supplying power to all four wheels.

Parallel mode only activates when the vehicle reaches speeds of 120km/h and above, so it’s fair to say that many Australians will never get to experience it when driven within our draconian speed limits.

The point of parallel hybrid mode is to compensate the electric motors’ weakness at the higher end of the speedometer. While it’s more than capable of powering the vehicle at low to medium speeds, the petrol motor is more efficient at high-speed power delivery. It’s a case of best of both worlds.

This MiEV system does come at a price, of course. For a start it weighs a good 200kg more than the standard petrol model since it’s carrying not only a petrol engine but also two electric motors and a battery pack. Then there’s the actual cost. Although it’s unlikely we will know pricing for at least another year (the next-generation Outlander is due late 2012 or early 2013) it’s likely to be the most expensive variant in the range. We believe the difference in price between petrol to diesel (about $ 2,000 to $ 3,000) will be similar to that between diesel to MiEV.

Mitsubishi is working on numerous other alternative fuel systems at the same time, but it’s more than likely going to apply this type of technology to the next-generation Pajero and Outlander.

Behind the wheel the un-tuned development mules provided a good example of what a next-generation Outlander hybrid will drive like. Apart from sounding like a jet fighter pulling in for take-off, the test vehicles supplied ample acceleration force and a very traditional car-like driving feel. Interestingly, one of the factors that negatively affected the driving experience was the sound of the petrol engine powering the battery or driving the front wheels. Once you begin to appreciate the high-pitch UFO sound of an electric car, it’s hard to go back.

During our high-speed laps around the Okazaki test track, There was never any sense of waiting for power to kick in (something that effects the Prius and most traditional hybrids) but it did begin to feel more sluggish past the 120km/h mark (which is probably why Mitsubishi had given us a 120km/h speed restriction).

With a 52:48 front and rear weight distribution (thanks to the placement of electric motors and battery) and a 30mm-lower ride than the standard Outlander (for better aerodynamics), the production model is more than likely going to present a more dynamic driving experience than its petrol and diesel equivalents.

Will Australians fall in love with a car that can power their camping equipment and help save energy?

Despite all the effort and resources put into hybrid and electric vehicle technology, Mitsubishi believes only 10 percent of buyers will opt for the hybrid variant over the diesel (30 percent) and petrol (60 percent) models worldwide. This is likely to be a reflection not just of the higher price tag but also buyer apathy towards hybrid vehicles that exists.

Hybrids and electric vehicles, however, are likely to become increasingly common on the road in the years ahead, and the impressive development muleof Mitsubishi’s PX-MiEV suggests the Japanese brand is ready to capitalise and prevent a Toyota hybrid monopoly.

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[JDM Honda Accord pictured above]

There’s plenty of news coming out from the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show and a lot of them concern Honda’s future plans.

Along with the Acura-badged NSX hybrid concept that’s heading to Detroit, we also learned that Honda is preparing a raft of hybrid powertrains for its mainstream models.

Speaking to Bloomberg News, Honda Motor President Takanobu Ito said that company’s plans including the introduction of a hybrid version of its Accord sedan next year. Ito didn’t elaborate on which markets would get the Accord hybrid nor did he reveal any information on the engine set up.

Aside from Ito’s remarks, the company released initial details on its powertrain plans that include the presentation of a 2.0-liter hybrid powerplant and a brand new two-motor hybrid system.

“Mid-sized vehicles equipped with this system [the twin motor hybrid] are scheduled to begin production, starting with the plug-in hybrid model in 2012 and the hybrid model in 2013,” Honda stated in a press release. The company added that the plug-in models would employ the use of a “special lithium-ion battery and charger”.

Honda said that after the recent introduction of the new Freed series, its hybrid lineup in Japan now consists of six models, adding that percentage of hybrid vehicles among new vehicle registrations in Japan in the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 is expected to be approximately 50 percent.

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By Tim Beissmann  |  November 25th, 2011

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By Brett Davis  |  November 18th, 2011

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Woodcliff Lake, NJ – November 16, 2011… As scenes from the latest installment of the Mission Impossible film series played on an 18-foot-tall, 39-foot-wide silk screen, the screen itself was whisked away to unveil the first concept vehicles of the new visionary and sustainable brand, BMW i – the fully electric BMW i3 Concept and the hybrid-electric BMW i8 Concept – from which Paula Patton, star of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and BMW President Ludwig Willisch emerged, officially unveiling the vehicles for the first time in North America at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The BMW i3 and i8 Concept vehicles represent the first purpose-built electric and electric-hybrid vehicles to be made primarily of carbon fiber when they become available in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

The BMW i8 Concept, which is the successor to the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics car featured in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol starring Tom Cruise to be released in December, is a sleek, low-slung, silver and glass sports car with flip-up doors. The BMW i3 Concept, previously known as the “megacity vehicle,” is more compact for congested city driving and features the same color scheme with large glass doors that open “coach” style, i.e. the rear doors opening in the opposite direction from the front.

In addition to BMW vehicles being featured throughout Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol – including the futuristic BMW Vision EfficientDynamics and the BMW 6 Series Convertible, which are driven by Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt – BMW vehicles are prominently featured in several scenes. BMW is also a major part of the promotional trailers and signage that is being released leading up to the film’s premiere and has launched a Mission: Impossible-themed marketing campaign dubbed “Mission to Drive.”

The all-new BMW M5 also made its debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. The BMW M5 combines an exceptionally dynamic high-performance sports car with a luxurious business sedan, offering significantly improved efficiency, supreme long-distance comfort and innovative driver assistance systems and infotainment functions.

[Source: BMW ]

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A recent study has shown that drivers behind the wheel of hybrid vehicles are 25% less likely to get injured in a crash then those driving conventional vehicles. The study was conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Data Institute’s VP Matt More says weight is the biggest contributing factor, as “Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than their standard counterparts. This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes that their conventional twins don’t have.”

Included in the data are over 25 hybrid-conventional vehicle pairs released in 2003-2011 model years. Not included in the study are some of the most popular hybrid (or EV) models, such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Chevy Volt, Ford Focus Electric, and Nissan Leaf. The data institute recognized the variables in the study such as whom, how and when the vehicles are being driven. Not including the most popular hybrid models may have its justification in focusing only on vehicles that are not only sold as hybrids, but it would be interesting to see what the data would reveal if it were based on the most common hybrids on the road.

On the other side, the data institute also conducted a separate study finding hybrids may be 20 percent more likely to injure a pedestrian in a crash, versus the conventional models. This is attributed to pedestrians not being able to hear approaching vehicles operating on electric only. Japan currently requires the car have an alert, which will be a requirement in the states in the next three years. Nissan’s Leaf already comes equipped with the technology, and was not included in this study.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Automotive News

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