Toyota Unveils Advanced Prius Tech

I suspect they have just been busy and forgot to mention the "e-four" option. Tideland, cars coming to Canada must all be "certified" for Canada. There is no "me too" for US certification. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict WE will see the system, and the US will too. There are lots of skiers who will want it at any cost and lots of cars sold in the NE US. It's a no-brainer for Canada.

The induction motors sometimes use "slip rings" to supply current to the rotor for magnetizing, allowing them to have good torque at low RPM (the induction magnetization isn't very effective until the rotor is turning at least 10% or so of rated speed). This would require DC as well as the three phase AC to be supplied, but I suspect the main reason for using these is to reduce reliance on rare earth materials, which are pretty much controlled by China.

 

Seems like they're shrinking battery size and loading them up more. Hopefully they don't go down the same rabbit hole as Honda.

 

Toyota Cuts Weight of New Prius by Using More High-tensile Steel Plates

 

^Very good post thank you!

 

" To improve brake feel and control while reducing noise reduction, the all-new Prius utilizes a newly-developed active hydraulic booster for its regenerative brakes."

This is from an official press release. I don't understand what they mean by an "active hydraulic booster."

 

At the end of the Web page behind this link there are two interesting pdf's. For example, page 16 of the second one shows how the engine can stop at higher speeds than for the Gen 3 (110 km/h vs 60 km/h according to page 6 of the document here).

 

Gen 3 can stop the engine at about 75km/h. Gen 3 PHV can stop at higher speeds, about 90km/h, with the same hardware (P410 transaxle).

 

75 kmh on EU cheating spedometer

 

My wife's subaru does that now. It's a great idea that applies to many other situations.

 

Increasing engine stop speed from 70 to 110 km/hr.
Improving cd from 0.25 to 0.24 and slightly less frontal area.
Good signs that highway fuel efficiency improvement may be as dramatic as city improvement.

 

Unless I'm looking for it, I don't notice the change over from regen-braking to hydraulic braking at low speed (7 mph?). I'm sure there is a good reason for a new braking system, but I'm very happy with my Gen 3 brakes.

 

Thank you. I don't drive a Prius (yet) so I am unable to understand how this improvement would alter the driving experience. Also I wonder if it could increase the amount of energy captured in regen braking.

 

That comes from the page describing the higher charging capabilities of the new traction batteries. Today, charging limits determine when the mechanical braking augments the regen braking.

Bob Wilson

 

What do they mean by "newly developed active hydraulic booster"?

 

We may have to wait for the "New Car Features" to get the details. The existing brake uses a metal bellows filled with nitrogen and a high-pressure, electric pump, and complex valving. It is complex yet amazingly effective. Such parts are subject to redesign using "lessons learned."

Bob Wilson

 

This is most commonly called "form winding" as opposed to "random winding".

 

Notice in here (page 3) that they have improved cabin warm up in a cold day.
Google translate:
Third generation Prius, while stopping the circulation of cooling water to the engine warm-up, was to specifications that can not use the heating by the heater.Accordingly, etc. When the vehicle compartment is cold in winter, it can not be warmed by the heating had become a challenge immediately. The two lines branching cooling water, even before the engine warm-up, it has become possible to use the heating immediately by circulating cooling water to the heater side.

In two lines branching they refer to the lines from the EHR heat exchanger.