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Back to March 2012 Motorsports News Archive
| 13-03-2012 at 08:00: Efficient and Affordable Hybrid Future | |
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Toyota’s FT-Bh Concept, which is having its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, is about the same size as a Yaris but has shed well over 200kg to tip the scales at a miniscule 786kg. The FT-Bh, which stands for Future Toyota B-segment hybrid, targets fuel economy of just 2.1 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of just 49 grams/km – almost twice as good as today’s hybrid flagship, Prius. The ultra-light concept features exceptional aerodynamic quality, very low driving resistance and a highly efficient petrol-electric system – as well as exploring compressed natural gas (CNG) hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains that would produce even better efficiency. Toyota Motor Europe president and CEO Didier Leroy said the FT-Bh shows what can be achieved when every aspect of the car is designed to reduce emissions. “One year ago we challenged our engineers and designers to come up with a small super-efficient car at an affordable price, reinforcing our environmental leadership in the coming years. “FT-Bh is the result: a full hybrid four-seater less than four metres long,” Mr Leroy said at the concept’s unveiling. “It combines full hybrid efficiency, advanced aerodynamics and ultra-lightness – all achieved at a cost-level appropriate for a high-volume B-segment car. “Having achieved such impressive results in a small car, we will be able to transfer the benefits to larger Toyotas.” The design team, on a mission to achieve the best possible fuel economy and emissions, focused on five key areas: reducing weight, driving resistance (including aerodynamic and tyre performance), powertrain efficiency, thermal energy management, and electricity savings. Toyota recognises that a real-world reduction of total global vehicle CO2 emissions is possible only if an affordable, ultra-low emissions vehicle can be manufactured and sold in sufficiently high volumes.
FT-Bh’s full hybrid system – a masterpiece of downsizing with substantial weight savings in every driveline component – is almost 90kg lighter than the Hybrid Synergy Drive system in today’s Prius. The lightweight two-cylinder, 1.0-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine combines high efficiency with low thermal capacity. It benefits from detailed measures to increase combustion efficiency and reduce friction. The car’s light weight makes it agile and responsive to throttle and brakes while the electric motor delivers maximum torque from standstill. FT-Bh demonstrates the adaptability of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology by using two alternative powertrains: a CNG hybrid with 38 grams/km CO2 emissions and a plug-in hybrid emitting just 19 grams/km. |
An affordable compact hybrid car that will cut fuel use and emissions in half without resorting to expensive technologies or manufacturing methods is on Toyota’s mind.
That made it important that the concept did not require exotic, expensive materials or complex manufacturing procedures, but used instead only those that are already commonly available in the motor industry.^ Back to top ^
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