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Toyota Unveils Advanced Prius Tech

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Jeff N, Oct 13, 2015.

  1. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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    "Toyota’s U.S. press release, for instance, made no mention of the four-wheel drivetrain highlighted in the global materials.

    Among its litany of new offerings:

    • An overhauled engine achieving 40 percent thermal efficiency.

    • New, denser lithium ion and nickel-metal hydride batteries.

    • Active grille shutters to improve heating performance.

    • A redesigned, lighter electric motor and transaxle.

    • Extensive use of high-tensile steel for a more rigid body.

    • Double wishbone rear suspension.

    • A sleeker drag coefficient for better aerodynamics.

    • Active hydraulic booster for brakes to improve feel.

    • New seats to relieve hip strain during long journeys.

    • Full color, 4.2-inch high-resolution display screen.

    • New color head-up display.

    • Toyota’s Safety Sense P pre-crash auto braking system.

    Toyota did not disclose the energy output of the batteries, but the lithium ion battery and nickel-metal hydride alternative deliver roughly the same output, battery engineer Takanori Kumagai said. The main difference is weight: The lithium battery weighs 24.5 kilograms (54 pounds), compared with to the nickel-metal’s 40.3 kilograms (89 pounds)."

    Toyota, aiming for new showcase, packs Prius with tech
     
    #21 Sergiospl, Oct 13, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2015
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  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Could you explain how that differs? Thanks!

    So, does it work like Volvo's CitySafety but for objects instead of pedestrians?
     
  3. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    Prius's Safety Sense P works as the best autobrake systems in the market, if not the best. This introduces small speed auto-brake, usually these things work over 6 MPH, not under, not under parking speeds.... this does. So not only it will auto-park for you, they will use same sensors to auto-brake if you are going to hit something during parking and to correct pedal misapplication.

    Old CitySafety is basic system that works between 9mph and 19mph, these systems are now outdated, since even basic cheapo Aygo gets 6mph-55mph for $300 these days... They are still present in some Mazda's and in a lot of European cars, but they are really old and nothing special when it comes to their ability to auto-brake. I think in XC90, it works now between 2 mph and 30 mph and you have to pay extra for all speed.

    Safety Sense P in Prius gets full speed auto-brake with pedestrian warning and faster/better autobrake than Safety Sense C... it will auto-brake at all speeds (100mph+) since it has better sensors. This adds usage with parking sensors for parking lots as well.


    So when it comes to auto-brakes, Prius gets real deal.
     
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  4. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Induction motors imply no rare earth metals thus probably cheaper. Rare earth metals have also had volatile prices in recent years although that seems to have settled down for the moment.

    Most hybrids and EVs use permanent magnet motors because they are smaller for the same power and torque capability and that's important when they are packaged inside a transmission case with a bunch of gears. Permanent magnet usually implies rare earth metals but the 2016 Volt uses just ferrite (Iron) permanent magnets in the smaller motor generator. On the other hand, I believe the ~2008 GM two-mode hybrid transmission used induction motors so it is possible.

    Using an induction motor for the rear AWD motor makes sense since it can probably afford to be a little physically larger than the motors in the transaxle.

    Also, Tesla uses only induction motors on their cars. I believe they argue that the a erage efficiency of induction motors scales better for larger motors.
     
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  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Thanks! So it truly is 0 to vehicle top speed. It should work even better as a commuter car for those that do highway driving and encounter heavy traffic.

    Ahh I see. So it's mostly the make up of the electric motor that's the difference. I suppose size too.
     
  6. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Toyota quickly remarked 55 MPG 60 MPG in the stuff Danny posted. Not sure what exactly that means, but they are nice numbers. ;)
     
  7. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    EU and USA didnt have anything about e-AWD system... but US did confirm that bi-LED headlights are standard on all Prii models.

    Eu colors are:

    S-flow was previously only on Lexus vehicles and was introduced only this year to Lexus IS (was on GS and LS).
     
  8. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    not just all speed, but regular sensors dont see from same position as parking ones, and they dont see back of the vehicle as well. Parking sensors are designed to see small obstacles very close to the vehicle that regular radar and photo sensors simply wont see due to position.

    However, IPA will be extra charge for sure... right now in Europe, we get it included in top end version of Auris.
     
  9. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    There are other important differences between permanent magnet and induction motors. Induction motors are harder to control with high efficiency but in today's world of microcomputer chips I suspect that is less of a problem than it used to be. There are other, basic, low level differences in how the magnetic forces are generated and controlled but you should go read a Wikipedia article if you really want to deep dive on the details.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hmm, so basically because the E-Four system is not meant to be a hardcore AWD system but a simple system for low grip asphalt situations, it can use a cheaper, slightly bulkier motor to do the job with a minimal cost increase.
     
  11. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    IIRC re difference between induction and permanent magnet motors

    All electric motors need magnets on their rotors as well as their stators.

    The magnets on the rotors of induction motors are electrical windings in which current flow is induced with no direct electrical connection to the rotor. Induction motor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    The magnets on the rotors of permanent magnet motors are permanent magnets that don't require internal current flow to produce a magnetic field.
     
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  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Oh, it's also known as an AC synchronous motor. Isn't that what the Gen 1 used?
     
  13. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    The stators (the part with the coils and which doesn't rotate) are actually just about exactly the same. The difference is, a permanent magnet machine has permanent magnets on the rotor while an induction machine forms its rotor magnetic field with a coil, shorted to itself at its ends, that rotates slowly in the stator's field (so called "slip") thus "inducing" (hence the name) current into the coil and thus the coil produces its own magnetic field on the rotor.

    Induction machines are the mainstay of the industrial infrastructure. They produce a lot of power in a small package at a relatively low cost with high efficiency. However, they are most efficient at or near full power, they have poor efficiency at low power, and they don't produce a lot of torque at low speed. Thus, they usually run at high speeds. In industry, 1200RPM and 1800RPM (on a 60Hz grid) are common. In cars, it's probably 10,000RPM or more, hence the substantial reduction gear ratio.
     
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  14. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    yes, just like with RX and Highlander Hybrids of today....
     
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    So what's the difference? Why leave out E-Four for the U.S. market? Is it because of the XV CrossTrek Hybrid? Does Toyota have some handshake agreement with Subaru?
     
  16. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Maybe it's because Toyota marketing is in California (now Texas, I hear) where they don't get a lot of snow and ice, so they think it's like that everywhere.
     
  17. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    I am not sure if it is left out or just for japan or going to be introduced later on... it certainly has nothing to do with Subaru.

    Maybe they will introduce it only in snow areas of Europe and USA? It really does not make sense for anything else.

    There is also Rav4 coming out with similar system, before Prius.
     
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The issue is that Canada follows whatever the U.S. gets so if the U.S. is not importing the E-Four version, there's a very good chance that Canada won't see the E-Four model too. It's too costly to certify a car just for Canada (It does happen but not very often).
     
  19. BigFan

    BigFan Member

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    Living in the northeast, I'd love to see a E-Four version released in North America.
     
  20. mozdzen

    mozdzen Active Member

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    Or the battery is bigger and provides more power, so they have to be able to charge faster to prevent empty battery...