GM'S BAS hybrid systems vindicated : Toyota now planning a mild hybrid.

[K-1]

Originally Posted by jbernie

Given this is in Denver Colorado the Michigan Manufactuer plate stood out quite a bit.

Toyota has a Tech Center in Ann Arbor. I guess they took the Prius fleet out for a Sunday cruise and just kept on going...

[AMERICA 123]

You may have seen a 'mule' or a 'mule train'.

In certain locations and 'routes' from time to time its not that uncommon . - almost always at least 1/2 the stuff they cram in there is related to temperature measurements here there and eveywhere.

The big screen is probably for engineering purposes - like real world data collection and related.

Toyota has a significant Engineering center in Ann Arbor Michigan - that could be why the Mi plate.

Possibly running between Arizona and Michigan.

[ericmvest]

This will vindicate General Motors decision to pursue BAS along with many other fuel saving technologies. The BAS tweaks General Motors is working on for next model year discussed in another recent thread make this technology very attractive particularly for city driving. BAS II will probably be another significant improvement. Other threads have stated that even the current BAS gets significantly better real world miles per gallon than the EPA estimates. The many people who were highly critical of BAS may be proven wrong in just the next few years.

[uvaeeman]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

GM's been sitting on the technology for about 4+ years now. And it hasn't proliferated.

It would be sad if Toyota did this across the board AHEAD of GM.

We spend quite a bit of time at stop lights in many areas of the country. Probably all cars should come with "start-stop" i.e. mild hybrid technology! Indeed, it will be sad if Toyota beats GM to across the board implementation.

I would at least like to see GM be first to include it on any vehicle over $20k-$25k.

[rozz]

Originally Posted by ericmvest

This will vindicate General Motors decision to pursue BAS along with many other fuel saving technologies. The BAS tweaks General Motors is working on for next model year discussed in another recent thread make this technology very attractive particularly for city driving. BAS II will probably be another significant improvement. Other threads have stated that even the current BAS gets significantly better real world miles per gallon than the EPA estimates. The many people who were highly critical of BAS may be proven wrong in just the next few years.

The problem with the BAS System is that GM calls it a Hybrid (normal people have mistaking it as a “FULL Hybrid”). I have not seen anything that said Toyota would call their version a "Hybrid"...Just “Stop/Go” feature. Therefore, they will not get any dissension for it.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by ericmvest

This will vindicate General Motors decision to pursue BAS along with many other fuel saving technologies.

The BAS tweaks General Motors is working on for next model year discussed in another recent thread make this technology very attractive particularly for city driving.

BAS II will probably be another significant improvement.

Other threads have stated that even the current BAS gets significantly better real world miles per gallon than the EPA estimates.

The many people who were highly critical of BAS may be proven wrong in just the next few years.

So true. In fact you've inspired a change in title.

[motorman]

this is nothing new gas powered golf carts have had this system for years.

[windvale]

I've never seen an Aura or Malibu hybrid in real life...so I don't believe they actually exist. I asked my local Chevy dealer about buying a Malibu hybrid, and he told me not just that he didn't have one - but that he'd never actually even seen one...

Malibu hybrid = bigfoot

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by windvale

I've never seen an Aura or Malibu hybrid in real life...so I don't believe they actually exist. I asked my local Chevy dealer about buying a Malibu hybrid, and he told me not just that he didn't have one - but that he'd never actually even seen one...

Malibu hybrid = bigfoot

The Aura Hybrid is known as the Chupacabra I believe.
The Tahoe Hybrid can be the Loch Ness Monster.

[Realist]

So ... if Toyota isn't calling it a mild hybrid, why does the topic title imply that, just wondering.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by Realist

So ... if Toyota isn't calling it a mild hybrid, why does the topic title imply that, just wondering.

Because some of us would rather think for ourselves , live in a country where you can still make some choices, can recognize an appropriate use of the slang substitution term 'mild hybrid' , and consider 'stop start' already taken by BMW, a much better company with a better pedigree and product that we like owning and supporting - so I'M SOMEWHAT ARBITARILY keeping that one for them - they had it first.

BTW, Toyota has never invented much of anything anyway - including the word 'Toyota' so basically WGAS what Toyota calls it - I wanted to make damn sure people understood its a mild hybrid and not HSD, and that it vindicates GM's mild hybrid programs AKA BAS.

I also wanted to make clear that once again, Toyota is following GM - in one of the hybrid technologies that currently make the most sense.

See how simple it is if you just ask an intelligent question???

[377Z]

Originally Posted by windvale

I've never seen an Aura or Malibu hybrid in real life...so I don't believe they actually exist. I asked my local Chevy dealer about buying a Malibu hybrid, and he told me not just that he didn't have one - but that he'd never actually even seen one...

Malibu hybrid = bigfoot

Totally. I did hear one was spotted in Ontario somewhere...

Not even grainy footage is available though.

[prototype66]

lets look back to the begining......Toyoda was never very original as is not today.Even their first car's name was a ripoff and so were the cars. Total reverse engineering.

Kiichiro Toyoda had traveled to Europe and the United States in 1929 to investigate automobile production and had begun researching gasoline-powered engines in 1930.[7] Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was encouraged to develop automobile production by the Japanese government, which needed domestic vehicle production partly due to the worldwide money shortage and partly due to the war with China.[8] In 1934, the division produced its first Type A Engine, which was used in the first Model A1 passenger car in May 1935 and the G1 truck in August 1935. Production of the Model AA passenger car started in 1936. Early vehicles bear a striking resemblance to the Dodge Power Wagon and Chevrolet, with some parts actually interchanging with their American originals.and now more of the same.

[1487]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Then there is hope.
But seeing as Toyota has declared a few years back that their entire lineup across the board will be hybrid, we should see movement from GM to counter that, even if it is with BAS/BAS+.

how is Toyota's entire lineup going to be hybrid when they dont even have an application for large trucks and SUVs? A while back Toyota claimed to offer a hybrid for every model by 2010 but they have backed off that. Toyota may eventually offer a hybrid model for every nameplate but that isnt the same as their entire lineup being hybrids.

GM has the stop start system in 3 vehicles. I would assume the new SRX and Equinox/Terrain will have Two mode systems. To me that says that GM will have at least 8 hybrid models by next year.

[WishIhadatruck]

A mild hybrid is not the same thing as a start/stop system. A basic start/stop simply allows the engine to stop when the vehicle is coasting or stopped and will restart automatically when you want to move again. The BAS system is a mild hybrid because it has a larger battery and has regenerative braking so it will actually capture some of the kinetic energy of the car when slowing down. The BAS has start/stop capability as well of course. A simple start/stop would be even cheaper than a mild hybrid system and should be standard on all cars if you ask me. A mild hybrid would be a small upgrade from there.

I wonder what the Toyota start/stop system is? Just start/stop capability or an actual mild hybrid system?

Aren't Honda hybrids just mild hybrids? Until the last gen. Civic the gas engine always runs unless coasting or stopped. I think the current one can shut the engine off but the gas engine still spins with the valves closed. The biggest between the Honda and the GM BAS is that the Honda elec. motor is sandwiched between the engine and trans. versus being attached to the engine by a belt. The original mild hybrid Silverado was more like the Honda's with a sandwiched elec. motor. I don't recall if it had regen. capabilities however.