Many of the components had to be invented from scratch. Those that had already been invented, such as regenerative brakes and electronic power steering, needed to be improved and adapted for mass production. Global standards for electronic components had to be set, and new software written.
A total of nine on-board processors were needed to manage the power delivery between engine, battery, brakes and motor/generator. Many motors and batteries were developed, tested, and discarded before they could be proven. Engines had to be converted to run on the more efficient Atkinson Cycle to power a new, unique transaxle.
A completely new type of instrumentation had to be developed. With the Prius, there was a need to monitor the interplay between the engine and the battery, leading to a display that kept the driver informed of his status on both counts. The new instrumentation empowered the drivers to improve mileage by altering their technique, turning driving into an interactive game. Today, mileage feedback displays are in use on almost every new vehicle on the market.
Unprecedented quality-control standards had to be instituted as motors and batteries that had been reliable enough for stationary use proved vulnerable to heat, cold and vibration. Multi-million-dollar joint ventures were established in order to assure the G21 Project, as it was called, could one day lead to a mass-produced vehicle.
These investments were made in an automotive environment that was dominated by sales of trucks and SUVs. Through it all, Toyota management remained convinced that their goal of combining fuel efficiency with environmental performance would one day be appreciated.
The Prius of the Future
There may be many futures for the Prius and Hybrid Synergy Drive but one significant advancement, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHV), is already here. The car is designed with small Lithium-Ion battery packs that will help the PHV produce even less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional hybrid vehicles. A fleet of Prius PHV’s are now in test trials in Canada, as part of a larger global Toyota demonstration program.
As the first Canadian test trial of advanced technology vehicles that is truly national in scope, five Prius PHV’s will hit the roads with 15 trial partners in 4 provinces. Representing academia, power authorities, governments and municipality stakeholders, these partners will work together with Toyota Canada to better understand how consumers adopt this new technology. Each test vehicle will be fitted with a telematics device to capture performance data. This feedback will deliver critical technical and consumer acceptance feedback of the Prius PHV, unique to the needs and wants of Canadian drivers. A commercial PHV is expected to go on sale in 2012.
Longer term, Hybrid Synergy Drive components and software provide a direct bridge to clean, efficient drivetrains of the future. And while breakthrough technologies are on the horizon, continuing gains in battery technology and internal combustion engines keep the Prius competitive. Even in a world of alternative fuels, electric cars and hydrogen fuel cells, it’s a good bet that Prius cars based on Hybrid Synergy Drive will be around for a long time to come.
A total of nine on-board processors were needed to manage the power delivery between engine, battery, brakes and motor/generator. Many motors and batteries were developed, tested, and discarded before they could be proven. Engines had to be converted to run on the more efficient Atkinson Cycle to power a new, unique transaxle.
A completely new type of instrumentation had to be developed. With the Prius, there was a need to monitor the interplay between the engine and the battery, leading to a display that kept the driver informed of his status on both counts. The new instrumentation empowered the drivers to improve mileage by altering their technique, turning driving into an interactive game. Today, mileage feedback displays are in use on almost every new vehicle on the market.
Unprecedented quality-control standards had to be instituted as motors and batteries that had been reliable enough for stationary use proved vulnerable to heat, cold and vibration. Multi-million-dollar joint ventures were established in order to assure the G21 Project, as it was called, could one day lead to a mass-produced vehicle.
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| 2010 Toyota Prius (Photo: Toyota) |
These investments were made in an automotive environment that was dominated by sales of trucks and SUVs. Through it all, Toyota management remained convinced that their goal of combining fuel efficiency with environmental performance would one day be appreciated.
The Prius of the Future
There may be many futures for the Prius and Hybrid Synergy Drive but one significant advancement, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHV), is already here. The car is designed with small Lithium-Ion battery packs that will help the PHV produce even less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional hybrid vehicles. A fleet of Prius PHV’s are now in test trials in Canada, as part of a larger global Toyota demonstration program.
As the first Canadian test trial of advanced technology vehicles that is truly national in scope, five Prius PHV’s will hit the roads with 15 trial partners in 4 provinces. Representing academia, power authorities, governments and municipality stakeholders, these partners will work together with Toyota Canada to better understand how consumers adopt this new technology. Each test vehicle will be fitted with a telematics device to capture performance data. This feedback will deliver critical technical and consumer acceptance feedback of the Prius PHV, unique to the needs and wants of Canadian drivers. A commercial PHV is expected to go on sale in 2012.
Longer term, Hybrid Synergy Drive components and software provide a direct bridge to clean, efficient drivetrains of the future. And while breakthrough technologies are on the horizon, continuing gains in battery technology and internal combustion engines keep the Prius competitive. Even in a world of alternative fuels, electric cars and hydrogen fuel cells, it’s a good bet that Prius cars based on Hybrid Synergy Drive will be around for a long time to come.