Slide 6 The Toyota Hybrid System - Summary  

• Although not the first to propose or produce a hybrid car, Toyota is the first to sell one in volume - the Prius.

• It builds on what has gone before (and which Toyota are very good at) - designing and making IC engines.

• It introduces more computer control, bigger electrical machines, power electronics, and an NiMH battery.

• Although the Prius may not yet have recouped the R & D costs, it has sold about 45,000 to date.

• The THS uses regenerative braking, idle-stop, and on-off cycling of the engine up to about 60 mph.

• Thus the engine runs efficiently at about 9 kW for part of the time, and is off for the remainder.

• The THS also provides a Continuously Variable Transmission.

• Thus above about 60 mph, the engine can operate continuously at high load and high efficiency.

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