Toyota using lithium-ion batteries in Japan

[BumbleBee]

From the Globe and Mail:

Toyota using lithium-ion batteries in Japan


YURI KAGEYAMA
Associated Press
November 6, 2007 at 3:32 PM EST

TOKYO — Amid the race among auto makers to introduce a more powerful but possibly risky kind of battery to reduce emissions, Toyota has already been quietly offering a green technology based on the lithium-ion battery in Japan.
Lithium-ion batteries are considered critical in developing ecological cars of the future. The batteries are widely used in laptops and other gadgets. But they still aren't common in cars except in experimental electric vehicles.
Worries about the safety of lithium-ion batteries, which overheated recently in laptops and cell phones, are a major obstacle to introducing them in cars.
But the lithium-ion battery has been part of an "intelligent package" for Toyota Motor Corp.'s Vitz subcompact since 2003 — although the feature is available in extremely small numbers at about 10 vehicles a month.
Toyota now uses a different kind of battery called nickel-metal hydride battery in its hit gas-electric hybrid Prius.
Still, the commercially sold cars with Toyota's own lithium-ion batteries may be its best kept secret.
It underlines how Toyota is quietly but surely collecting information about the battery's performance under road conditions among consumers.
Toyota Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto told The Associated Press recently the company hasn't marketed the feature aggressively because battery supplies are limited and the company can't respond to massive demand.
But the feature is available at dealers, and consumers can get them if they ask for it.
"We don't tell everybody about it," Takimoto said. "But we already have our own lithium-ion battery."
The Vitz with the lithium-ion battery delivers better mileage at about 25 kilometers a liter (60 miles a gallon), in Japanese testing, compared with the regular Vitz at about 22 kilometers a liter (53 miles a gallon), according to Toyota.
The Vitz lithium-ion battery sits below the passenger seat. The car also has a regular battery under the hood. The ignition starts using the regular battery.
When the car goes into idling, as when the driver shifts to neutral or park at a stop light or congested traffic, the engine stops automatically.
While the car is idling, the lithium-ion battery keeps providing electric power to the car's air conditioning, radio and other equipment.
When the driver's foot is lifted from the brake pedal, the engine restarts from idling, using the lithium-ion battery. The lithium-ion battery recharges automatically as the car gets driven.
A Vitz with the "intelligent" feature costs about 1.17 million yen ($10,200), about 100,000 yen ($870) more than standard models.
Other auto makers, including General Motors Corp. and Japanese rival Nissan Motor Co., are all working on lithium-ion battery technology for green cars expected in the next decade or so.
Toyota has not given details about what's in store for the next-generation Prius. And it's unclear when it plans to offer electric cars, hybrids or other models with lithium-ion batteries.

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It seems as though Toyota is much further along in this endeavour than they were letting on. I don't think that the Volt will have the edge into market we were expecting. Rather than talking about their Lithium Ion Batteries Toyota just does it. This should be a big reminder and motivation to GM that they must be first to Mass Market with this technology.

[K-1]

This is more like GM's BAS system than the Volt. The Li-Ion batteries aren't the driving force behind the Vitz, they just restart the engine. BFD.

Pro-Toyota propaganda out of Japan, who'd a thunk it!

[mbukukanyau]

Boy this race is heating up.

[adevine39]

I just don't get Toyota sometimes. They slam Lithium Ion technology as unfeasible, but when people question them, they say "But we already have our own!" I also don't get why they get a free pass on this. They want to have it both ways, and people let them. Dang it's frustrating.

[jkennedy293]

It is kind of interesting. Its a little different than the BAS system, as there is no electric motor for assist. It doesn't sound like it is that expensive or difficult to implement.

It seems simple enough, and cheap enough, to put the system in every vehicle. Since you don't have an electric motor creating a huge draw on the battery, the packs should be relatively small. I guess, once Li-Ion production ramps up. this kind of system will eventually become standard equipment.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by K-1

This is more like GM's BAS system than the Volt. The Li-Ion batteries aren't the driving force behind the Vitz, they just restart the engine. BFD.

Pro-Toyota propaganda out of Japan, who'd a thunk it!

Yep a mild hybrid Vitz, which is a very small car, but also very inexpensive. The key point is the 4 yrs of road testing.

[K-1]

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

Yep a mild hybrid Vitz, which is a very small car, but also very inexpensive. The key point is the 4 yrs of road testing.

Not even a "mild hybrid", actually. The Li-Ion batteries don't help propel the vehicle in any way. They just restart the engine and power the accessories at idle. This is hardly the road testing that would contribute to a Volt competitor.

This is propaganda attempting to make Toyota not look as far behind as they are. The headline alludes to something that the "news" story doesn't back up.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by adevine39

I just don't get Toyota sometimes. They slam Lithium Ion technology as unfeasible

Maybe because the low volume Li-Ion Vitz provided data Toyota didn't like...

[AndrewGS]

This is an Auto-Stop feature also available on other cars in Japan, not any type of hybrid system. It just runs the accessories and is a very small pack, unlike what is needed to power an electric propultion system, rather, like a big laptop battery, so heat and reliability aren't an issue. It doesn't even start the engine, the standard 12v lead-acid battery does that as in any car.

It's like proclaiming "GM is using lithium batteries worldwide" because the batteries in the keyless entry fob are lithium.

[Tequilujan]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

This is an Auto-Stop feature also available on other cars in Japan, not any type of hybrid system. It just runs the accessories and is a very small pack, unlike what is needed to power an electric propultion system, rather, like a big laptop battery, so heat and reliability aren't an issue. It doesn't even start the engine, the standard 12v lead-acid battery does that as in any car.

It's like proclaiming "GM is using lithium batteries worldwide" because the batteries in the keyless entry fob are lithium.

edzachery my friend, edzachery.

[A Bum In A Bus]

Originally Posted by K-1

Not even a "mild hybrid", actually. The Li-Ion batteries don't help propel the vehicle in any way. They just restart the engine and power the accessories at idle. This is hardly the road testing that would contribute to a Volt competitor.

This is propaganda attempting to make Toyota not look as far behind as they are. The headline alludes to something that the "news" story doesn't back up.

You have hit the proverbial nail on the head, this is propaganda, Toyota cannot stand someone beating them to the punch........as GM has done, and will continue doing.

[eaton53]

Get back to us when you make a pack big enough to run an entire car to work.
Until then... meh.

[Al465]

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

Yep a mild hybrid Vitz, which is a very small car, but also very inexpensive. The key point is the 4 yrs of road testing.

Read more about this Vitz and rest your mind.


http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/11...2003/#comments

[packardlust]

[quote=K-1;1229907]This is more like GM's BAS system than the Volt. The Li-Ion batteries aren't the driving force behind the Vitz, they just restart the engine. BFD.


It's good to see that Toyota saw the necessity to develop a BAS alternative similar to the existing GM system. Bet in the future we see it here in the US in some form. Maybe the competition from Toyota will push GM to add electric AC and 6 speed to their BAS system.

[tholland]

Originally Posted by K-1

This is propaganda attempting to make Toyota not look as far behind as they are. The headline alludes to something that the "news" story doesn't back up.

Yes. Shame on the Globe and others who passed this along.