EVLN(SAE highlights concepts: Toyota HV-M4 & Honda FCX)

[Bruce EVangel Parmenter <brucedp@yahoo.com>]

EVLN(SAE highlights concepts: Toyota HV-M4 & Honda FCX)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV informational
 purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
 --- {EVangel}
GLOBAL CONCEPTS.  Kevin Jost 07/01/2000 Automotive Engineering
International 70 Copyright 2000 Information Access Company. All rights
reserved.  COPYRIGHT 2000 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. (SAE
International)

This review of some of the more significant vehicles from this part
year's motor shows showcases trends in design and technology from the
world's automakers.

Concepts highlighted here include some of the many vehicles introduced
at acclaimed shows in Geneva, Seoul, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Detroit, and
Chicago. One major trend from most of the venues was the distinct
movement away from pure automobiles, many of the vehicles being
station wagons, minivans, SUVs, or tall minicars or hybrids of one or
more. When the first Seoul show was held back in 1995, Korea's
personal transport was invariably sedan types. Now, the streets of
Seoul, and elsewhere in the country, have more tall minis, minivans,
and SUVs, with a sprinkle of sporty coupes. In Tokyo, there were
plenty of concept vehicles--in fact more of them than ever before--and
some significant new technologies, many in answer to the demands of an
environmental and resource-conscious world. Another show car trend
among the Japanese automakers was the B-pillarless body with centrally
opening four doors.  At the North American International Auto Show in
Detroit, this year's crop of concept and production vehicles included
a number of fuel-cell and hybrid electric vehicles and, again, many
cross-over vehicles that blur the lines among traditional car and
truck segments. At the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, there was a mix of
aesthetic and technological exotica that few motor shows can match.
This first in a two-part series highlights some of the more
interesting designs and technologies covered by the AEI editors in the
past year.
[...]
Toyota HV-M4

The HV-M4 is a minivan-type concept vehicle representing Toyota's
second-generation hybrid technology. It also hints at the shape and
configuration of a new minivan destined for the Japanese market to
replace the current Estima (Previa). The internal-combustion engine
version of the new minivan will adopt a conventional
transverse-powertrain, front-wheel-drive configuration. The HV-M4's
suffix indicates that it employs a motorized four-wheel-drive system. 
Its drivetrain comprises a new inline four-cylinder engine having dual
overhead camshafts, 16 valves, and 2.3-L displacement. In addition,
there are two electric motors/generators, one each for front and rear
drive; front planetary gear and clutch torque split/transfer; front
CVT; an inverter/controller; and a nickel/ metalhydride battery pack.
The engine works on the Atkinson/Miller-cycle high-expansion principle
with late intake-valve-closing timing. The total hybrid system is
called THS-C, and uses the engine and motors individually or together
to ensure optimum powertrain efficiency and vehicle stability. The
system can generate up to 1.5-kW (2.0-hp) electricity, providing an
onboard charge capability to any electrically driven or assisted
vehicle, including a wheelchair or bicycle. The nickel/metalhydride
battery is a new space- and mass-saver cubic type that is 40% smaller
than a comparable cylindrical type.

Honda FCX

Honda is developing its own fuel-cell stacks (and using Ballard
units), methanol reformer, and fuel and water tanks in conjunction
with its FCX fuel-cell vehicle program. The concept car shown in Tokyo
and Detroit has a short nose that houses a compact high-power
propulsion motor developed from the EV-Plus electric vehicle, together
with its electronic control unit. Honda's two FCX fuel-cell
development vehicles, the V1 and V2, are based on the EV-Plus electric
car. The FCX V1 is driven by a Honda-designed and -manufactured
permanent magnet ac synchronous motor of 49-kW (66-hp) output.
Electric energy is supplied by a Ballard PEM fuel-cell stack of 60-kW
(80-hp) output. The vehicle's hydrogen fuel is stored in a
metal-hydride tank. For the FCX V2, Honda is developing its own PEM
fuel-cell system of 60-kW (80-hp) output, which supplies energy to the
49-kW (66-hp) Honda motor. This vehicle is equipped with a
methanol-reformer system. As with most methanol reformer-equipped FC
vehicles, it requires a lengthy startup time (up to 20 minutes). The
FCX-V2 emits clean water and enough heat to boil eggs from its
tailpipe. The high heat emitted to the atmosphere, though chemically
harmless, is still wasted energy that the company hopes to harness.
 ...
 http://www.sae.org/automag/
Automotive Engineering International (SAE)
 ---
% RE for your EV %  BruceDP@iname.com  http://members.aol.com/brucedp
  ____               EV List Editor  http://crest.org/ev-list-archive
~/__|o\__         EAA San Jose EVents Officer  http://eaaev.org/sjeaa
'@----- @'---(= Get Amp'd   'Electric cruis'n the Santa Clara Valley'

'Web it Out': http://www.evworld.com/reports2/toyota_hvm4.html
http://www.webpti.com/dan/cars/honda/honda_fcx.htm
http://www.mobilonline.com/mobil/online/konsep/04111999-03-HondaFCX-005.asp



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites.
http://invites.yahoo.com/