Automotive

Toyota details its triple-motor, super capacitor-powered Yaris Hybrid-R

Toyota details its triple-motor, super capacitor-powered Yaris Hybrid-R
Independent 60-hp motors power each rear wheel
Independent 60-hp motors power each rear wheel
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A 300-hp four-cylinder gas engine powers the front wheels
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A 300-hp four-cylinder gas engine powers the front wheels
Independent 60-hp motors power each rear wheel
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Independent 60-hp motors power each rear wheel
Toyota's 1.6-liter turbo Global Race Engine
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Toyota's 1.6-liter turbo Global Race Engine
The Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R concept's design is based on the three-door Yaris
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The Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R concept's design is based on the three-door Yaris
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Toyota has revealed the full powertrain details of the Yaris Hybrid-R concept that it teased a few weeks ago. The intriguing concept uses a 420-hp 4WD driveline that's derived from racing. In an interesting twist, Toyota uses a combination of super capacitor and motor-generator, in place of the battery pack that typically powers the motors in contemporary hybrids.

Toyota says that the super capacitor has a higher power density than an NiMH hybrid battery, along with faster charge/discharge speeds. This makes it suitable for the fast bursts of boosting power needed, both in the TS030 Hybrid race car and in the Yaris Hybrid-R, which Toyota envisions as a track-focused hot hatch. The super capacitor is charged via regenerative braking provided by the dual rear electric motors.

Each 60-hp motor is mounted at a rear wheel. These aren't electric mode, fuel economy-boosting supplements, but performance-enhancing boosters designed to quicken acceleration. In this capacity, they assist the 300-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo "Global Race Engine". That engine is mounted up front and works through a 6-speed sequential gearbox.

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R concept's design is based on the three-door Yaris
The Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R concept's design is based on the three-door Yaris

By mounting electric motors at each rear wheel, Toyota has developed a system that can split the torque, increasing cornering and handling capabilities. The automaker explains this more concisely than we can hope to, so we'll leave it to it:

"Depending on the radius of the curve, the system can send more torque to the outside rear wheel allowing higher cornering speeds into the corner (middle-speed curves), apply more braking force to the inside wheel (fast curves), or even brake and accelerate each wheel independently (slow curves) to adjust the yaw effect for a better line, to limit steering angle, and understeer."

As Toyota mentioned in its original teaser, the Yaris Hybrid-R has two driving modes, one for road and one for track. In road mode, the super capacitor powers the electric motors for boosts up to 10 seconds in duration. The combined power of the electric motors is slashed to 40 hp. In track mode, the motors shoot their full 120 horses out for up to five seconds, providing short, potent bursts.

The Hybrid-R has a third 60-hp motor, a non-drive unit. Located between the engine and the transmission, this motor is purely a generator, sending power to the super capacitor during deceleration and acting as a traction control device. In the latter role, the motor-generator sends power directly to the rear motors in cases where engine power and torque threaten to overwhelm the front tires and destabilize the car. The excess torque is converted into electric energy and routed to the rear wheels.

A 420-hp Yaris hybrid hot hatch with racing technology seems like the quintessential "never going to build it" concept car, but equally strange things have been known to happen. At the very least, you can look forward to moving beyond sketch and onwards to real, live photos when it debuts at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Source: Toyota

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19 comments
19 comments
Ryandroid86
Please Toyota... Im begging you! MAKE THIS CAR!
I always thought generator cars would be a great alternative to save on fuel with a constant fuel intake that is very minimal. But then through in 420 HP Combined Electric Motors with AWD small car.... Sounds like a Win, Win, Win
ZekeG
Brilliant! Finally they get it! Figures it's called a never will build it car. But it actually will be part of many in the future. Make a camper van with this tech and regen shocks and millions will want it. VW has missed the boat. A diesel option would be nice.
Mantion
I have been against any car with a battery, hybrid, Electric, volts....
THANK FULLY someone figured out that chemical batteries or even mechanical batteries are simply not suited for transportation.
I am so happy to see another car utilizing capacitors.
I wonder what happened to Hydraulic Hybrid Technology.
IF they had made one of these car instead of wasting billions of tax payer dollars on the volt we would have a much better world.
hiredassassin
I've NEVER seen a Toyota before that I've liked. This interests me though...
The Skud
Build it! The suggestion of vans or campers getting a boost to highway speeds is a good one. But forget diesel, PLEASE! - diesel particulates (mostly controlled) and nitrous oxide emissions (not so much) are making more pollution and danger to the sick and elderly in big cities than IC vehicles. The idea lacks merit, as only steady-state running seems to be good for diesels, variations of up or down speed seems to be the cause of most pollution.
Brett Horne
This is something so outside the box, I'd expect it to fall into their Scion line but, either way SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
Nairda
So you smoke your tires off at the lights for five seconds and spin out of control, then quietly roll away at snail's place because you don't have any power left.
As a positive, this thing is viable because super caps are cheap and proven. The only money burners are the high power electric motors.
Give me a car with: 1. Supercharged 2.0 from the Cateraham 620 2. Modified Xtronic 3.6l rated CVT from Nissan 3. Four in wheel motors from the PML Electric Mini QED
It will be called the Super mini nissan, or SMINI, and it will be awesome.
worf2
the problem is, that nerds believe to save the world with more tech in bigger cars. The answer to fuel saving is more and more of less and less. Less weight, less speed, less hp.
Bart Viaene
@worf2 : True.
That's why I drive a SANDMAN bike or a TWIKE whenever I can, and a Toyota LandCruiser when I must.
Siegfried Gust
Nairda, Yeah, after the capacitors are discharged your "only" left with 300hp.
worf2, The only way that low power, low velocity, small vehicles will become mainstream is if it's government mandated. I don't see that happening in the US.
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