April 27, 2009

TOYOTA WINS FIRST HYBRID


Toyota's Tokashi 24-Hour motor race win marks the first time that a Hybrid race car has ever won a competition. In 2006 Toyota was the first manufacturer to enter a hybrid vehicle, a Lexus GS450h, into the Tokashi race, hoping to discover how to make hybrid systems both more efficient and lighter. Utilizing data from last year's race, where the Lexus GS450h finished 17th, Toyota has now been able to develop a special racing unit "to test the limits of hybrid performance." The advanced hybrid technology can be used in future hybrid production cars. The Denso Toyota Supra HV-R weighs 1,080 kg (2376 lbs) and produces a maximum output of 480 hp at 6,800 rpm. For more specifications, see press release. Press release, car specifications and pictures after the jump. Source: Toyota

TOYOTA: FIRST MOTOR RACE WIN WITH A HYBRID CAR Toyota made history last weekend by winning the Tokashi 24-Hour Race with its Supra HV-R hybrid race car. It is the first time ever that a Hybrid race car has won a competition. The Supra success follows an entry last year when Toyota was the first car manufacturer to enter a hybrid vehicle the Lexus GS450h into the Tokashi 24-Hour race which finished 17th overall. By entering hybrid systems into racing events, Toyota engineers hope to discover ways to make hybrid systems, most famously fitted to the Toyota Prius production car, more efficient and lighter. In only the second year of competition Toyota used with success the data gained from last year race in order to develop a new, special racing unit to the limits of hybrid performance. The race car was based on the iconic Supra GT used in Super GT races in Japan. It was modified and equipped with a special racing hybrid system. In order to improve the system energy regeneration and operating efficiency during the race, the following two distinctive technologies have been incorporated into it: 1. Three electric motors A four-wheel energy regeneration and drive system has been adopted which includes in-wheel motors in the front wheels in addition to one 150 kW rear-axle mounted electric motor. Thanks to this energy regeneration system with three motors/generators, the vehicle can more efficiently recover a greater amount of energy during rapid deceleration and braking from high speeds. 2. Specially Designed Capacitor In light of the fact that racing involves a repeated acceleration and deceleration under full system performance, a quick-charging capacitor system was adopted instead of the usual rechargeable batteries.

Specifications of Toyota Supra HV-R

Vehicle name

Denso Toyota Supra HV-R

Entry Class

GT/TP1

Engine

Modified (Super GT version 3UZ-FE engine)

Engine displacement

4,480cc

Air restrictor

29.6mm i2

Maximum output

480ps/6,800rpm

Maximum torque

510 Nm at 5,600rpm

Electric motor

Front motor: 10kW i2 (in-wheel motor)
Rear motor: 150kW

Vehicle weight

1,080 kg

Team name

TOYOTA Team SARD

Drivers

Katsuyuki Hiranaka (Japan)
Andre Couto (Portugal)
Akira Lida (Japan)
Tatsuya Kataoka (Japan)

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