This Denso website has descriptions of many of the parts, sensors and ECUs used in the Prius (though Toyota is only mentioned by name a couple of times), including descriptions of lane keep assist, collision avoidance, etc.
Re: Denso electric A/C I read the description of the electric A/C for hybrids. The description of the A/c mentions that it runs at 7500 RPM regardless of the engine RPM and since it runs so fast, only a small refrigerant charge goes thru the compressor on each revolution. Does anyone understand show the electric A/C is powered on the Prius? Is this unit ran in an ON and OFF mode or is the RPM of the A/C compressor varied from low to high RPM in proportion to the amount of cooling required? The old engine powered A/C systems are typically the ON/OFF control.
2G Prius A/C compressor speed is variable, and controlled by the A/C ECU. The ECU takes into account interior humidity, the amount of sunlight, interior temperature, which vents are selected, and whether the wipers are operating.
Thanks Patrick on the explanation on the control of the A/C. A variable speed control of the compressor insures that only a minimum amount of fuel is used to cool the interior of the car. This is way better than mixing hot outside ambient air with the cooled air to control the interior temperature of the vehicle. It will be interesting to understand the "improvements" to the A/C efficiency of the Gen III Prius compared to Gen II.
