Friday, July 16th, 2010 |
Toyota announced that it will display the Toyota FT-EV concept on opening Media Day at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), confirming its plan to launch an urban commuter battery-electric vehicle (BEV) by 2012. This announcement, coupled with its compressed natural gas powered Camry Hybrid concept display at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, signal Toyota’s intention to broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicle development.
“Nowhere is this more important than with our industry’s duty and commitment to provide true sustainable mobility with vehicles that significantly reduce fuel consumption, our carbon footprint and overall greenhouse gases.”
The Toyota FT-EV concept shares its platform with the revolutionary-new Toyota iQ urban commuter vehicle. Toyota 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. Although BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota’s sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, is considered Toyota’s long-term core powertrain technology.
Also, last year, Toyota announced that it would roll-out a large number of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) to global lease-fleet customers in 2010. Beginning in late 2009, Toyota will start global delivery of 500 Prius PHVs powered by lithium-ion batteries. The first-generation lithium-ion batteries powering these PHVs will be built on an assembly line at Toyota’s PEVE (Panasonic EV Energy Company, LTD) battery plant, a joint-venture production facility in which Toyota owns 60 percent equity. Lease-fleet customers will monitor the performance and durability of the first-generation lithium-ion battery, while offering real world feedback on how future customers might respond to the plug-in process.
“Future customers will have high expectations for these emerging technologies. This Prius PHV fleet program is a key first step in confirming how and when we might bring large numbers of plug-in hybrids to global markets,” said Miller.
toyota ft ev front side
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Sunday, September 6th, 2009 |
Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show late last year, the Pod concept vehicle is collaboration between Toyota and Sony that takes the relationship between car and driver to a new level. The Pod is able to provide this feedback through a series of sensors that detect and store data on the driver’s preferences. This extends well beyond musical taste, with sensors detecting variations in driving conditions, appropriate use of steering wheel, accelerator and brakes, the pulse and the perspiration level of the driver – the Pod even employs a face recognition sensor to detect if the driver is falling asleep. For example the mini pod picked up on a the name of a band whilst you were at home and this name is subsequently mentioned during conversation in the car, the Pod will immediately begin surfing the Internet to download and play their songs.
The ’smart’ capabilities of the Pod also extend beyond the realm of entertainment – the driving data collected by the car can be compared with pre-recorded ‘expert’ data and the driver given warnings or encouragement through text on the Pod’s monitor. The car also features a hands only ‘drive-by-wire’ control system enabling steering, braking and acceleration to be operated through a single controller.
The colour changing LED panels on the front that make up the Pod’s smiling face turn yellow with happiness as the driver approaches – we’re not sure exactly what you have to do to make it wag its tail – and orange during normal operation when all systems are running smoothly. Two more colours also appear – blue for sadness when the fuel runs out or the Pod is ‘neglected’ by a long period of misuse, and red for anger when braking heavily or driving aggressively. And if the Pod is happy and it senses that its occupants are happy it will capture the moment by taking your photograph.
Although still at concept stage, the prototype of the Pod can be driven and is technically ready for practical use – the drawback is that its operation is dependent on communications infrastructure such as the radio DSRC (dedicated short range communication) system, so your chances of replacing Rover with a four-wheeled pet in the not too distant future will come down to where you live.
toyota pod
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