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Prius Synergy Drive

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by CaliforniaBear, Sep 11, 2017.

  1. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    Am I correct in that the only Toyota hybrid that uses the synergy drive is the Prius? If true (or approximately true), why?
     
    #1 CaliforniaBear, Sep 11, 2017
  2. Travis Decker

    Travis Decker Active Member

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    Once they put a boost circuit in the inverter to increase voltage to the electric motors over battery voltage they called it Synergy Drive. It's the same system in Highlander or a Camry or any Toyota hybrid newer than a generation 1 Prius
     
    #2 Travis Decker, Sep 11, 2017
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  3. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    Ok. Thanks!
     
    #3 CaliforniaBear, Sep 11, 2017
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    however, only the gen 4 prius has the latest hybrid synergy tech. hycam coming out now.
     
    #4 bisco, Sep 11, 2017
  5. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    It's just marketing spin, all Toyota and Lexus hybrids are "series-parallel" or "power-split" hybrids with some variations. The 3rd gen Prius, Auris Hybrid (hatchback variant of the Corolla sold in some markets) and the Lexus CT200h all use the exact same powertrain, for example.

    Hybrid vehicle drivetrain - Wikipedia
     
    #5 QuantumFireball, Sep 12, 2017
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    The Prius Prime has the latest one too, along with an additional one-way clutch for MG1.
     
    #6 Prodigyplace, Sep 12, 2017
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    also gen 4.
     
    #7 bisco, Sep 12, 2017
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  8. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Technically, it is the Gen 2 Plugin ? Bob calls Prime Gen 4.5
     
    #8 Prodigyplace, Sep 12, 2017
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i guess toyota would determine the technical name. not sure what terminology they use. it is their second plug in, with mostly gen 4 tech.
     
    #9 bisco, Sep 12, 2017
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  10. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    Toyota's terminology:
    ZVW50 = current Prius (2015-)
    ZVW52 = current Prius PHV/Prime (2016-)
     
    #10 QuantumFireball, Sep 13, 2017
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  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    ZVW50 started at 2016 model year.
     
    #11 Prodigyplace, Sep 13, 2017
  12. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    I'm not American, so I don't do "model years" ;)
     
    #12 QuantumFireball, Sep 13, 2017
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  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Ok, they were not actually available until 2016.
     
    #13 Prodigyplace, Sep 13, 2017
  14. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    December 2015 in Japan
     
    #14 QuantumFireball, Sep 13, 2017
  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I missed that Japan got it in December 2015. Thanks for the correction.
     
    #15 Prodigyplace, Sep 13, 2017
  16. IMkenNY

    IMkenNY Im just being nosy

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    I believe ford uses Toyota synergy technology in the C-max and fusion hybrids
     
    #16 IMkenNY, Sep 13, 2017
  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    They only licensed some of the technology IIRC. I believe they licensed Gen 3 I do not know if they licensed any Gen 4 technology.
    I believe Ford uses a different transmission design than Toyota.
     
    #17 Prodigyplace, Sep 13, 2017
  18. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

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    The first generation Ford Fusion Hybrid (and a few other Fords, also the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid) uses power-split transmissions produced by Aisin Seiki - who also make the hybrid transmissions for Toyota. Toyota own 30% of Aisin Seiki, but I doubt Ford actually dealt with Toyota as it's Aisin's technology. Ford supplied the ICE, batteries and everything else outside the transmission.

    More recent Ford hybrids use a transmission designed and built in-house - but a very similar setup with planetary gearset, two motor generators, etc.

    EDIT: It looks like Toyota held some of the patents, so they did apparently do some patent exchange deal when developing the Escape Hybrid.
     
    #18 QuantumFireball, Sep 13, 2017
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i knew toyota would have a way of avoiding the issue.:cool:
     
    #19 bisco, Sep 13, 2017
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