2010 DETROIT AUTO SHOW: Toyota Has Something Electric Up Its Sleeve

Toyota's long anticipated hybrid vehicle finally came out from under the sheets today. 001 says he believes it will go up against the automotive journalist community's most loathed car for 2009, the Honda Insight.

Dubbed the FT-CH, this car is the lime green creation that has been stewing for the past month or so.

But that is not all that Toyota had to talk about. The company really got down to brass tacks on the firms new movement towards "sustainable mobility." Essentially, the firm is exploring several different avenues concerning alternative energy vehicles.

This is what Toyota is saying about their new alternative energy solutions:

Toyota Sustainable Mobility

"For the last decade, Toyota has focused on a comprehensive advanced technology strategy, including the development of conventional hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FCHVs).

This site provides detailed information on these advanced technologies and Toyota's ongoing efforts to achieve truly sustainable mobility.

The strategy of sustainable mobility goes beyond just the vehicles themselves. Instead it integrates:

• The vehicles and technologies, including their complete life cycle assessment….from development and production, to vehicle use, to how the vehicle is recycled at end of life.
• The partnerships that are necessary to bring these advanced technologies to market
• The energy required to power the technology, ie) how is the electricity generated...coal, natural gas, solar?
• The urban environment in which these products will operate, including how the personal car fits into a mixed mobility transit strategy, re-charge/ re-fuel infrastructure, car sharing, etc.

This comprehensive strategy acknowledges the fact that there are many considerations when bringing a vehicle to market. By elevating the discussion above individual technologies, Toyota is working to align the technology and the market to ensure successful introduction and adoption of advanced technology vehicles."

"The FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept vehicle is the latest addition to Toyota’s comprehensive advanced technology vehicle line up. With Hybrid Synergy Drive as its core technology, Toyota is exploring many solutions for the future of mobility – from battery electric vehicles, to plug-in hybrids, to fuel cell hybrids, to conventional hybrids like the FT-CH concept.

The concept was styled by Toyota's European Design and Development (ED²) center in Nice, France. Its world premier occurred at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. This compact, nimble hybrid represents the expansion of hybrid options for the customer. The FT-CH is lighter in weight and more fuel efficient than the Prius. The concept is designed to target a lower price point than the Prius, thus appealing to a younger, less-affluent buyer demographic.

At an overall length of 153 inches and width of 68.5 inches, the FT-CH is sized to be maneuverable and responsive. In spite of its compact size, the concept is designed for maximum passenger comfort and interior space."

"The Toyota Prius is the world's best selling hybrid vehicle. A full hybrid, it offers the best environmental performance of any mass-produced vehicle technology available today, and is now in its third generation.

Built specifically to support a global demonstration program beginning in December 2009, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) is based on the third-generation Prius. The vehicle represents a significant enhancement of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive® (HSD) system. It combines high-output lithium-ion batteries with HSD technology to offer an expanded fully electric driving mode. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid can be recharged in approximately three hours from a standard 110V electrical outlet or one and a half hours with a 220V connection.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid's lithium-ion battery pack ensures strong, seamless acceleration up to highway speeds of more than 60mph on electric-only power. With a fully charged battery, it can travel a maximum of approximately 13 miles in EV mode. Once the EV-mode charge is depleted, the vehicle defaults to normal, full-hybrid mode and operates like a regular Prius.

In the past, issues such as weight, size and cost of the large capacity batteries required to offer satisfactory EV range, and the lack of adequate public recharging infrastructure have been barriers to mass-market electric vehicle acceptance. In designing the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Toyota is addressing these issues. Given current battery development progress and costs, Toyota sees plug-in hybrid vehicles as the most realistic way to use grid electrical power for vehicle propulsion."

The FT-EV II is the next iteration of the FT-EV concept that debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. The FT-EV II shares its platform with the popular Toyota iQ, but is styled with a more compact body. The vehicle has a four seat (2+2) configuration and is equipped with drive-by-wire that allows for joystick operation of accelerating, braking and steering. Toyota's motor-control technology, part of the hybrid system at the core of Toyota's environmental technologies, enable an extremely quiet and comfortable ride with smooth acceleration.

The FT-EV II can travel more than 55 miles on a fully charged battery and travel at top speeds of up to 62 mph, making the vehicle ideal for an urban environment. It runs on Lithium-ion battery power and can be fully charged on a 110 V outlet in approximately 7.5 hours and in just 2.5 hours with a 220 V connection.

The vehicle is designed with a low front cowl and an auxiliary window below the windshield for outstanding forward visibility. Electric sliding doors on both sides allows for easy access into and out of the vehicle, particularly in narrow spaces. This front-wheel drive vehicle is designed to maneuver easily through tight spaces. The vehicle's length is just 107.4 inches, with a width of 66.1 inches, height of 58.6 inches and a wheelbase of 74.8 inches.

Ten years ago, Toyota introduced the RAV4 EV, battery-electric vehicle in California. 1,484 of these 100-mile range large battery electric vehicles were either sold or leased over the three year program. Nearly half are still on the road. Shortly thereafter, Toyota started a modest demonstration program with a small battery, all-electric urban commuter, called the e-com.

This concept addressed the idea of the “on-demand” city-station car similar to the Zip-car business model that is fast becoming popular in large urban areas. Although much shorter in range, the e-com program addressed a specific mobility niche at a much more affordable price than the RAV4 EV.

However, at the time, the market, the consumer and consumer's environmental mind set were not ready to buy in to the whole battery electric concept. Both programs came…and quickly went. But times have changed – and for the better. So much so that Toyota will bring a lithium-ion battery electric vehicle to market in model year 2012."

"The Toyota FT-EV concept was revealed during the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), confirming Toyota's plan to launch an urban commuter battery electric vehicle by 2012.

The FT-EV concept shares its platform with the iQ urban commuter vehicle. Already a huge hit in Japan, the iQ is lightweight and seats four passengers in comfort and security, while delivering exceptional mileage, sporty performance, unique refinements and a fun, youthful image.

Toyota's FT-EV concept imagines an urban dweller, driving up to 50 miles between home, work and other forms of public transportation, such as high-speed rail. The FT-EV II made its debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and is featured under the Vehicles section of this site."

"The Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle advanced (FCHV-adv) is based on the popular Toyota Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle. It utilizes the same core hybrid synergy drive (HSD) technology utilized in the Toyota Prius.

The FCHV-adv fuel cell system features four compressed hydrogen fuel tanks, an electric motor, a nickel-metal hydride battery, and a power control unit. Hydrogen gas is fed into the fuel cell stack where it is combined with oxygen. The electricity produced by this chemical reaction is used to power the electric motor and to charge the battery.

In 2009, the FCHV-adv achieved an estimated range of 431 miles on a single full tank of compressed hydrogen gas, and an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent) during a day-long trip down the southern California coast. In addition to superior fuel economy, the FCHV-adv is smog-free, with water vapor as its only byproduct. In other words, it produces zero emissions while driving.

Over the next three years, more than 100 FCHV-adv vehicles will be deployed as part of an expanded demonstration program. Customers include universities, private companies and government agencies as well as government agencies in both California and New York. The demonstration program aims to increase awareness of fuel cell technology and spur development of much-needed infrastructure prior to the planned market introduction in 2015."