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Toyota to Stay with NiMH for Mass-Market Hybrids

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Toyota Motor Corporation will continue to use NimH packs for most of its hybrid vehicles after three years of testing Priuses fitted with Li-ion packs. Toyota last month ended road tests of 126 Priuses in the US, Japan and Europe that began in 2006, company spokeswoman Jana Hartline said in an interview.

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NREL study finds gasoline hybrid delivery trucks substantially reduce emissions and beat or maintain fuel economy compared to diesel vehicles

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On a drive cycle representing routes with frequent stops and accelerations, the gHEV trucks exhibited a 20% improvement in fuel economy. On drive cycles representing routes with fewer stops and accelerations, the gHEV trucks demonstrated similar fuel economy to the diesels. Ah NiMH battery pack. Click to enlarge.

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Toyota announces expected fuel economy and pricing for RAV4 Hybrid: 33 mpg combined, entry at $28,370

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liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine and a small high-torque electric motor through its unique transaxle, delivering a combined 194 system horsepower and 206 lb-ft (279 N·m) of torque. The system varies power between the gasoline engine and electric motor, or combines both as needed, all seamlessly.

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Interim NREL Report on In-Use Azure Balance Gasoline Hybrids in FedEx Fleet Finds Substantially Lower Tailpipe Emissions, Similar Fuel Economy to Diesels

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Fuel economy was similar between the gHEVs and diesel vehicles, except for the highest kinetic intensity drive cycle where the hybrid exhibited ~20% higher fuel economy. NREL collected and analyzed data for in-use fuel economy and fuel costs, maintenance costs, total operating costs, and vehicle uptime.

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ORNL, UT Austin team proposes optimization framework for hybrids; balancing fuel consumption, motor efficiency, battery capacity and life

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Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin have developed an optimization framework for hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs and PHEVs) including fuel consumption, motor efficiency, and battery capacity and lifetime. —Shaltout et al.

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Toyota launches Corolla hybrid models in Japan

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Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) launched hybrid versions of the Corolla Axio sedan and Corolla Fielder station wagon in Japan. liter hybrid system akin to that in the Prius c ( earlier post ) and that achieves a fuel efficiency of 33.0 The water pump is driven by an electric motor, thus eliminating the need for a drive belt.

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Panasonic to supply Li-ion battery cells for Ford’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles

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Panasonic Corporation will supply prismatic lithium-ion battery cells for Ford Motor Company’s Fusion Hybrid Electric and C-Max Hybrid Electric as well as the Ford Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrids. kW/kg, compared to 0.412 kW/kg in the outgoing NiMH pack, he said. hybrid electric vehicles (right). Click to enlarge.

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