Η Toyota παρουσιάζει το Camry Hybrid SiC prototype, το νέο της υβριδικό πρωτότυπο Camry που κάνει χρήση τη νέα τεχνολογία ημιαγωγών που ετοίμασε μαζί με την Denso.
Οι ημιαγωγοί, είναι κατασκευασμένοι από καρβίδιο του πυριτίου (SiC) και εξαιτίας αυτού, “μειώνουν σημαντικά” την απώλεια ισχύος στα υβριδικά αυτοκίνητα, αυξάνοντας τη βελτίωση της οικονομίας καυσίμου κατά 10%. Οι ημιαγωγοί παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στα υβριδικά συστήματα. Εντοπίζονται στη μονάδα ελέγχου ισχύος (PCU) που επιβλέπει τη ροή του ηλεκτρισμού από την μπαταρία στον ηλεκτροκινητήρα και στέλνει ηλεκτρισμό που έχει ανακτηθεί από το φρενάρισμα και την επιβράδυνση στην μπαταρία για αποθήκευση. Ωστόσο, η PCU είναι υπεύθυνη για το 25% της χαμένης ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας στα υβριδικά αυτοκίνητα, με το 20% να οφείλεται στους ημιαγωγούς.
Οι δοκιμές του πρωτότυπου θα ξεκινήσουν μέσα στον επόμενο μήνα, με την Toyota να συλλέγει δεδομένα και να τα συγκρίνει με άλλα μοντέλα της που είναι εξοπλισμένα με παραδοσιακούς ημιαγωγούς πυριτίου, για να αξιολογήσει τις βελτιώσεις που επιτυγχάνουν οι ημιαγωγοί κατασκευασμένοι από καρβίδιο του πυριτίου. Αν όλα πάνε καλά, μπορούμε να περιμένουμε εφαρμογή της νέας αυτής τεχνολογίας σε μελλοντικά υβριδικά και ηλεκτρικά οχήματα της εταιρίας.
Στις σχετικές ειδήσεις, η Toyota ανακοίνωσε την ανάκληση 52.000 Avalon παραγωγής 2011 και 2012 στις Η.Π.Α, εξαιτίας ενός πιθανού βραχυκυκλώματος στη καλωδίωση του subwoofer του ηχοσυστήματος, που μπορεί να προκαλέσει και πυρκαγιά.
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Toyota to Trial New SiC Power Semiconductor Technology
Toyota City, Japan, January 29, 2015?Using a “Camry” hybrid prototype and a fuel cell bus, Toyota Motor Corporation will bring a brand new technology to the streets of Japan for testing this year. The tests will evaluate the performance of silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, which could lead to significant efficiency improvements in hybrids and other vehicles with electric powertrains.
Camry prototype featuring SiC power semiconductors Fuel cell bus featuring SiC power semiconductors
Camry prototype and fuel cell bus featuring SiC power semiconductors
Power control unit
Power control unit
Technology
Power semiconductors are found in power control units (PCUs), which are used to control motor drive power in hybrids and other vehicles with electric powertrains. PCUs play a crucial role in the use of electricity, supplying battery power to the motors during operation and recharging the battery using energy recovered during deceleration.
At present, power semiconductors account for approximately 20 percent of a vehicle’s total electrical losses, meaning that raising the efficiency of the power semiconductors is a promising way to increase powertrain efficiency.
By comparison with existing silicon power semiconductors, the newly developed high quality silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors create less resistance when electricity flows through them. The technologies behind these SiC power semiconductors were developed jointly by Toyota, Denso Corporation, and Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc. as part of the results of a broader R&D project* in Japan.
Test vehicles and period
In the Camry hybrid prototype, Toyota is installing SiC power semiconductors (transistors and diodes) in the PCU’s internal voltage step-up converter and the inverter that controls the motor. Data gathered will include PCU voltage and current as well as driving speeds, driving patterns, and conditions such as outside temperature. By comparing this information with data from silicon semiconductors currently in use, Toyota will assess the improvement to efficiency achieved by the new SiC power semiconductors. Road testing of the Camry prototype will begin (primarily in Toyota City) in early February 2015, and will continue for about one year.
Similarly, on January 9, 2015, Toyota began collecting operating data from a fuel cell bus currently in regular commercial operation in Toyota City. The bus features SiC diodes in the fuel cell voltage step-up converter, which is used to control the voltage of electricity from the fuel cell stack.
Data from testing will be reflected in development, with the goal of putting the new SiC power semiconductors into practical use as soon as possible.
TOYOTA RECALLS CERTAIN 2011-2012 MODEL YEAR AVALON VEHICLES
TORRANCE, Calif., January 28, 2015 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced plans to conduct a safety recall of approximately 52,000 Model Year 2011-2012 Avalon sedans.
In the involved vehicles, cargo could contact one of the audio system subwoofer wires located inside the trunk, and move the wire out of its normal position. If one of these wires contacts the metal frame of the subwoofer, it may result in an intermittent short circuit. If this occurs, the subwoofer could overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Toyota is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities caused by this condition.
Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a notification by first class mail. Toyota dealers will provide a repair for the audio system. Until the remedy is available, as a precaution, Toyota dealers will disconnect the rear subwoofer.
Detailed information is available at www.toyota.com/recall and by calling Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331.
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