Why isnt toyota using Xtreme Hybrids?

Some possible reasons come to mind:

1) The diagram labeled "from patent filing" is dated 2006. The Prius has been around a lot longer. And, engineering changes require extensive testing before fielding.

2) The AFS system actually works as advertised, but the owners of the patent want exorbitant licensing fees

3) The AFS system work as advertised, but doesn't have sufficient life-expectancy to provide the miles of service required in the automotive marked

4) The AFS system doesn't work as advertised.

5) Toyota has their own PHEV system in the works.

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

 

Prius is the best selling hybrid as it is. They can't keep them in stock. They must be doing something right. The question is, why aren't other makers exploring newer technology like this, instead of just a "me too" copy hoping to cash in on Prius-type success. The answer is $$$$. Each new development takes lots of those.

 

Because its a view graph?

Seriously, I don't see one original idea on there. They have a basic phev layout, throw in "ultracapacitors" to make it look cool, and then on their "phev comparison" page proceed to compare their phev against current non plug in hybrids. They also compare it to the Cal-cars plugin, which is open source designed by a bunch of guys in their spare time and costs ~$3k using off the shelf retail parts. They also claim that the cal-cars can only get 100mpg below 34mph, which is wrong. It gets inf mpg below 34mph, and ~100mpg at any higher speed. These guys claim that their system would only cost ~$9k based on "expected" 2015 high volume costs.

They are pretty obviously playing people who have no clue about PHEVs looking for investment. 150mpg sounds impressive until you realize that mileage in a PHEV is completely arbitrary. Any PHEV can run at inf mpg until the ICE kicks in. After that the mileage just depends on how much battery you throw in there, where your EV/mixed mode break over speed is, and what driving cycle you use and for what distance.

You could use off the shelf parts to build a system exactly like this for about $5-20k (minus the obligatory "super duper capacitors"). My guess is that is all they have done. Ive actually considered it myself.

1. Find a small SUV that is available in both a FWD and AWD configuration.
2. Buy the FWD version, and swap a rear end from an AWD version.
3. Drive the rear end with an electric motor
4. Swap in manual brakes/steering if available, otherwise add an electric hydraulic pump so you can steer/brake while the ICE is off
5. Program a uC to monitor the CAN traffic and decide when to use electric and how much, and when to stop/start the ICE if you want to get fancy.

Budget version $6275:
9" Netgain Warp9 Series Wound DC Motor $1700:
http://www.go-ev.com/WarP.html#WarP_9
Cafe Electric Zilla 1k Controller $1975:
Z1K LV [Z1K LV] - $1975.00 : Cafe Electric llc
12xOptima D51 Yellow Tops $1200, 300 lbs, 5.4kWh:
http://www.optimabatteries.com/_media/documents/specs/D51_D51R_082004.pdf
Zivan NG3 programable charger $900:
Zivan NG3 Battery Charger
Misc fabrication and wiring: $500

High end fancy version $17350:
Solectria AC55 Motor $3495:
Electro Automotive: Motors
Solectria DMOC445 AC controller w/ regen $3495:
Electro Automotive: Speed Controllers
35xNilar NimH $7000, 300 lbs, 7.5kWh
Nilar - a new way of packaging energy
Manzanita Micro PFC20 Programable charger $1860:
Manzanita Micro PFC-20 Charger
Custom BMS $1000
Misc fab and wiring: $500

Both of these would be faster under electric than gas, and with both put together would probably snap half shafts. You would also need the uC controller to manage ICE vs. electric. If I was doing this DIY I would just use an auto-centering joystick to control the electric drive/regen braking. if you were doing it to sell you'd have to suck it up and develop a controler. Complexity would be very similar to the hobby developed CAN-View.
CAN-view index

I'm not bagging on these guys particularly. This is a very common tech startup approach, we call it "Veiw Graph Engineering". You cook up some swanky looking view graphs, build a prototype from off the shelf parts, make a lot of very optimistic projections about performance and cost, and then go shopping for VC money or to sell the "IP" directly.

Rob

 

BTW the above is nothing new to anyone who's looked into EV conversion. The EV converters just usually take the ICE out first.

Rob

 

The technique of using large capacitors to supply bursts of current has been around for probably a hundred years, and is used on all areas of electronics. I wonder if they ever even got the patent...

In any case, the answer to the question is obvious. Where are all the AFS "Xtreme Hybrids" out there on the market competing with the Prius? No where mon frere.