Toyota Prius: Leader of the Global Hybrid Revolution

By Evander Klum

Toyota’s gas-electric Prius started a revolution in the global automotive industry ten years ago in December. Little did consumers know that the best selling vehicle was a dream come true to one engineer and it lead him later to Toyota’s vice- presidency. Takeshi Uchiyamada’s mind caused this revolution and with his success, he is determined to further transfigure the auto industry with the first mass production of the super car, the Toyota Prius.

Quite blessed with determination, Uchiyamada with Toyota’s other engineers doubled their working hours to 16 hours per day to vigilantly test hundreds of engines. Every engineering problem is met with critical suggestions to arrive with the best solution to make the engine nothing but perfect.

The Prius was a milestone for environmental vehicles making Toyota’s foot ahead of its rivals as they struggle for the most efficient battery, plug-in hybrids and possible zero-emission fuel-cell cell hydrogen powered cars. Uchiyamada said in an interview that he and his team have grown tired of defending themselves as imitators of technologies developed by their rivals.

In December of 1997, the Prius was introduced in Japan and in the United States the next year. The Prius is already on its second generation and as the hybrid system allows electric motor and gas engine take turns to provide the car power, it gets 46 miles per gallon. Out of Toyota’s 1.2 million global hybrid sales, the Prius accounts for the 829,000 units sales thus making itself as the most successful hybrid vehicle in the global auto market.

In the beginning, Uchiyamada never thought of designing a hybrid and thought that the Prius is one project Toyoto would not approve. A hybrid would require mounds of hardwork significantly the creation of battery that must long miles and recharge itself as the car is driven. He predicted that the Prius would cause Toyota to lose millions if not billions of dollars but he was wrong.

Right now, Toyota’s rivals are all busy making hybrid versions of almost every model vehicle. Last August at the Frankfurt auto show, there was a hybrid galore. Porsche showcased a hybrid of their Cayenne turbo with Volkswagen’s help. BMW opened the box for their X6 (made with original BMW oxygen sensor), an SUV coupe crossover hybrid. General Motors have already launched several hybrids but is more preoccupied with their Chevrolet volt plug in, the vehicle the American automaker predicts to dethrone the Prius. Ford’s Escape already had its hybrid version in 2004 but is presently working on a more advanced version. Chrysler LLC is working on their first hybrid versions of the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango set to debut next year. However, as almost all automaker are investing on hybrids, Toyota considers Honda Motor Co. as their greatest rival in the hybrid league as the Honda introduced the hybrid version of the Honda Civic.

The next generation of the Prius is expected to be better than it is. According to analysts, this blockbuster must not disappoint its fans and it is a tough challenge that Toyota is facing. "The popularity of Toyota's hybrids has been limited so far to the Prius. That means Toyota still has a lot of work to do," he said. "If a car doesn't meet consumer expectations, it won't sell. That's the fate Prius must now shoulder: It can't disappoint fans." said Yasuaki Iwamoto, an auto analyst with Okasan Securities Co. in Tokyo, Japan.

Raising the MPG

By Evander Klum

When oil prices are still at the peak, raising the mpg seems like a hard thing to do. But one feature in selected vehicles can make this easier, the Cylinder deactivation system. This system had already been available in Sport Utility Vehicles, van and truck segments but with the great advantage it gives consumers, it is already common in passenger cars. General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC and Honda Motors Co., are among the pioneers of these fuel efficiency technology which they offer in vehicles with V6 and V8 engines.

“It’s adding that extra gas economy that everyone’s looking for right now,” said R.W. McKay, a general sales manager with Gordon Chevrolet in Tampa, Fla., who has the system on his 2007 Chevrolet Impala.

The Cylinder deactivation system boosts miles per gallon and at the same time, maintains horsepower. This phenomenon is done as the technology aids the engine impeccably operate with lesser cylinders in smooth conditions like when a car is driven on a highway. As it shut the cylinders, the engine consumes lesser fuel but can still provide more power if needed.

For Mike Omotoso, senior manager of global powertrain at J.D. Power and Associates, the cylinder deactivation is a vital element of a tool kit the automotive industry uses to give consumer better fuel economy. The collection includes gas-electric hybrids, the variable valve timing and the “start-stop” technology that shuts off the vehicle engine when the car is stuck in a traffic jam or at a stop light.

“The consumer wants to have a powerful engine but hates to pay for the fuel that comes with the V8,” said Gottfried Schiller, director of engineering for engine management systems at auto supplier Robert Bosch LLC. He said the automakers “are looking for an effective way to give them both.”

Honda calls their system the Variable Cylinder Management and the Japanese automaker first made this available in the new Honda Accord with its automatic V6 engine. The system had a predecessor, which is an earlier version installed in the Honda Odyssey for its 2005 model year and the 2006 Pilot SUV.

For General Motors Corp., the system is available in the Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Chevrolet Silverado, Buick LaCrosse, Saab 9-7x (with Saab power steering pump), Pontiac Grand Prix GXP, Pontiac G8, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, GMC Envoy Denali, GMC Sierra Chrysler LLC installed the Cylinder deactivation system in vehicles with 5.7 liter HEMI engines fixed in their, Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger R/T, Dodge Durango, Dodge Magnum R/T, Dodge Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander.

Volkswagen's Diesels To Visit AltWheels Festival

By Anthony Fontanelle

Automakers like Toyota and Honda are focusing on the development of gas-electric hybrid vehicle as their response to the increasing call for cleaner cars. American automakers like Ford and General Motors also manufacture hybrid vehicles. But in Europe, automakers are focusing on the development of new generation diesel engines which are made to be as clean as gasoline engines. One of the automakers paving the way for the development of diesel vehicles is Volkswagen.

The biggest European automaker Volkswagen is making huge strides in the development and manufacturing of clean diesel engines. The diesel-powered Volkswagen Polo Blue Motion was found out to be the greenest vehicle in the United Kingdom. Volkswagen's Audi is also making huge steps forward especially in the promotion of diesel engines with its two straight victories at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel powered race car. In the United States, Volkswagen has embarked on a Dieselution Tour in an aim to educate the general public on the benefits of clean diesel engines to the environment.

The Dieselution Tour will be making a stop at the AltWheels Alternative Transportation and Energy Festival on September 28 to 29 in Boston, Massachusetts. The AltWheels festival will be the Dieselution's first public stop. The people behind the Tour will be using interactive displays and exhibits to point out the growing concern for the protection of the environment. The exhibits will also feature how the automaker designed their advanced diesel engines and all its parts like the Volkswagen glow plug Duraterm, and other for-diesel engine components.

The Dieselution Tour will be going across the United States and making stops at events and displaying the company's diesel technology. They will spend four months on the road and the biggest event that they will be making a stop in is during the 2008 Super Bowl. The Dieselution Tour will also be making stops at auto shows across the country.

"Volkswagen of America considers the Dieselution Tour an important informational resource for everyone concerned about the environment and improved fuel economy standards," said Keith Price, Public Relations Manager for Product and Technology at Volkswagen of America. He further said that this tour is aimed to change the perception of many American consumers whose view of a diesel engine is that of diesel engines in the 80s which produces a lot of soot and noise. "We want to show Americans that today's clean diesel technology is a quantum leap from the powerplants introduced nearly 30 years ago. This tour aims to change any outdated perceptions about diesel technology," said Price.

In the end, this tour is about bringing consumers to Volkswagen dealership. With gasoline priced higher than diesel, consumers need just a bit more persuasion to give diesels a chance. And that persuasion is what the Dieselution Tour brings to the table. "As the diesel car sales leader in the United States, we have worked hard to make our diesels cleaner, quieter and more fuel efficient," said Price. "Once consumers realize that a clean diesel alternative can improve their fuel economy by nearly 35 percent over comparable gasoline engines, we're confident that many drivers will visit their local Volkswagen dealerships."