Toyota Says New Semiconductor Technology Will Improve Hybrid Fuel Efficiency
Toyota says it is aiming to achieve a 10 per cent improvement in the fuel efficiency of its hybrids and other electric-powered vehicles using a new power semiconductor technology.
Semiconductors play a key role in the hybrid system, located in the power control unit (PCU) which governs the flow of electricity from the battery to the electric motor, and sends electricity generated under braking and deceleration to the battery for storage. However, PCUs account for about 25 per cent of the total electrical power losses in hybrid vehicles, with 20 per cent occurring in the semiconductors.
Toyota claims that using a new silicon carbide (SiC) compound instead of traditional silicon for the power semiconductors can substantially reduce these energy losses, and also allow for the PCU to be reduced in size by about 80 per cent.
(Left) Silicon and (Right) SiC power semiconductor wafers
Toyota has developed the technology in-house in partnership with Denso and aims to test its performance in public road trials within the year. Prototype hybrids using SiC power semiconductors have already indicated an improvement of more than five per cent in fuel efficiency tests conducted in line with the official Japanese JC08 test cycle.
As a result the Japanese car maker has set up a dedicated research facility at its Hirose plant to further develop the new technology so that it can be implemented at an early stage.
Toyota plans to showcase its SiC power semiconductor programme at the 2014 Automotive Engineering Exposition in Yokohama next week.
Source: Toyota
I have really learned new things as a result of your web site. One other thing I want to say is that newer computer operating systems tend to allow more memory to be used, but they likewise demand more memory space simply to operate. If a person’s computer is unable to handle more memory as well as the newest software requires that ram increase, it might be the time to shop for a new Computer system. Thanks
Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!