Fast-paced development of hybrids

There’s more than just an electric motor to the new generation of hybrid vehicles.

A new batch of motor cars is poised to hit Australian roads with the hybrid vehicle sure to be an attractive alternative for motorists looking to become greener in their approach to driving.

But with these new vehicles comes a raft of new vehicle constructions. This will see the introduction of a host of new technologies, as well as incorporating existing technologies not before associated with car manufacturing.

So what will happen when one of these vehicles is involved in an accident? What can the panel beater expect to see when a quarter panel has to be replaced, a rail straightened or a bumber replaced?

Toyota already has the hybrid Prius on the road and is poised to launch a hybrid Camry next year. Here, we take a look at the developments with Toyota’s Prius Hybrid and see what technology has been introduced to this range.

These developments have seen the introduction of such things as electronically controlled brakes, parking assistance, radar-controlled cruise control, exhaust gas recirculation, a pre-crash safety system and even plant-based foam and injuction-moulded parts.

Brake-by-wire

The Electronically Controlled Brake system (ECB) is a Toyota first in Australia and combines brake-by-wire technology and regenerative braking.

The system operates when the vehicle speed is greater than 55km/h and the deceleration force is greater than seven metres per second squared (0.71G) and it uses inputs from the acceleration sensor, wheel-speed sensors and brake-pedal switch.

In addition, Prius has regenerative braking using its motor/generators to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy.
The ECB is part of Prius’ leading-edge electronic active safety systems that include ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, VSC+ (Vehicle Stability Control with steering assist) and TRC.

The ECB actuator on i-Tech grade has the additional feature of Pre-Crash Brake.

Radar cruising

A radar-based cruise-control system, never previously offered on a Toyota vehicle in Australia, is part of the advanced safety technology in new Prius i-Tech.

Known as Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, the system is based on millimetre wavelength radar, using a sensor mounted behind the radiator grille.

It uses the radar sensor as well as yaw-rate and steering sensors and various other units to help the driver maintain an appropriate distance behind another vehicle travelling in the same lane.

A distance-control switch near the steering wheel enables the driver to select from three pre-set vehicle-to-vehicle gaps – short, medium or long.

The i-Tech offers another first for Toyota vehicles in Australia with the inclusion of a radar-based Pre-Crash safety system which uses the  radar sensor to track the relative speed, distance and angle to objects ahead of the new Prius.

It also uses information from the Vehicle Stability Control sensors and the brake system to determine if an emergency situation is developing.

It also has Pre-Crash Brake Assist that ensures maximum braking force is provided when the driver uses the brake pedal and in an extreme situation, when a crash is unavoidable, it will apply the brakes even if the driver has not touched the brake pedal.

The Toyota Pre-Crash system is a fusion of leading-edge active and passive safety technology, developed at the Lexus Development Centre in Aichi, Japan.

Park assist

The i-Tech model is fitted with Intelligent Park Assist (IPA) to assist the driver to enter parallel or perpendicular parking spaces. It is also offered as an option on entry level Prius. IPA uses a rear camera and ultrasonic sensors to identify parking spaces and then calculate the appropriate steering angle to guide the vehicle into the designated parking space.

The rear camera is mounted adjacent to the rear number plate and the ultrasonic sensors are mounted (one on either side) on the front bumper.

The system controls the steering to automatically guide the vehicle into the target parking position identified by the driver.

There is no steering input required from the driver, who merely controls vehicle speed during the manoeuvre by using the brake pedal.

Prius operates under electric power only when reversing.

Eco plastic

Toyota engineers have developed a world first for third-generation Prius hybrid car – plastic components made from plants – adding another dimension for the body repairer to consider.

Known as ecological plastic, the plant-based foam and injection-moulded parts are found in several locations throughout new Prius, including the scuff plates, deck trim and driver’s seat cushion.

The plant-based plastics replace conventional plastics which are made using petro-chemicals, cutting CO2  emissions over the life of the product (from manufacture to disposal) and helping to reduce petroleum use.
Toyota plans to expand the use of plant-derived ecological plastic in future vehicles.