Japanese

Exhibition Info

   
for HV, PHV, EV
Electric Vehicle
Plastic Glazing
 

42nd Tokyo Motor Show Press Briefing Summary
Photo of press briefing Photo of press briefing
  1. Key Concept of Exhibit
    Think Smart
    Together, Let’s Step into a Smart Mobility City

    To present our environmentally-friendly products and environmental technologies as a genuine contributor to a Smart Mobility City enabling efficient transportation of people and goods, primarily through the technological exhibits at the booth and demonstrations on the stage.

  2. Environmental Technologies
    Toyota Industries Corporation is engaged in a range of fields including automobiles, materials handling equipment and textile machinery. In these fields, we are committed to research, technical development and production engineering development. Our focus is centered around for technologies involving energy saving, electrification and weight reduction that is based on the Three E's: environment, ecology and energy. Through this research and development, we aim to minimizing the environmental impact of our products.

    1) Environmentally-friendly Vehicles
    (1) Electric Commercial Van
    • The e-Porter(reference exhibit) is an electric commercial van that helps enhance efficient logistics with minimal environmental impact in a Smart Mobility City. This is the first time that we showcase our concept car at the Tokyo Motor Shows.
    • The e-Porter is a concept model of the next-generation commercial van. This concept car is a culmination of our comprehensive technological capability including technologies for vehicle body design based on our materials handling know-how, power electronics, and electric drive system development. For this car, we developed a new dedicated platform with a more streamlined structure for electric vehicles, which helps reduce both weight and cost. Also, in this e-Porter we were able to realize a roomy driver's cabin on par with conventional passenger cars and wide luggage area with a low and flat floor, coupled with the class-leading minimum turning radius, thereby providing unprecedentedly excellent access to both the driver cabin and the loading area.
    (2) EV Powertrain Unit
    • We optimized the parts assembly layout by integrating functional components such as inverters and motors, resulting in a compact and lightweight powertrain unit based on an entirely new concept. This is suitable for a wide range of electric vehicles, from mini to standard passenger cars.
    • For the inverter, we reduced size and weight by the modularization of parts as well our original direct-cooling structure that is also employed in the power control unit of the Toyota Prius. Also, we made the motor smaller and lighter through high-speed revolution and improvement in coil winding.
    • In October 2011, we begun ECU Development & Promotion Project in order to enhance our technology capacity of electric control system and software, and to keep up with the progress in the electrification of our products, including vehicles.
    (3) PHV/EV Charging System
    • We have developed a compact wall-hanging home charging unit with charging cable, which we have recently begun supplying to Toyota Housing Corporation. We plan to supply this unit to both Japanese and overseas markets, with an annual sales target of 5,000 units.
    • Toyota Industries Corporation is also working to enhance charging infrastructure through developing non-contact power delivery systems and addressing comprehensive power systems while trying to make on-board chargers more compact and efficient. In this way, we are helping encourage the use of plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles towards the realization of a Smart Mobility City.
    (4) Electric Compressor for Car Air-conditioning
    • The compressor is available in a range of sizes and specifications to suit compact vehicles through to large vehicles including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.
    • Against a backdrop of increasing demand for electric compressors, annual production capacity level will be boosted from the current 1,000,000 units to approximately 1,500,000 units by 2012. At the same time, we will continue to reduce compressor size and weight for better fuel efficiencyand work to expand sales to auto manufacturers throughout the world.
    (5) Fuel Cell Lift Truck
    • Under a joint initiative together with Toyota Motor Corporation, we developed a fuel cell system for lift trucks and participated in verification trials conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the City of Kitakyushu from FY2012. The fuel cell lift truck is designed to serve as a mobile power supply for a plant when not in use, thus saving overall energy at plant. This is the world first practical application of smart grid technologies in lift trucks.
    2) Reducing Vehicle Weight
    • New lightweight materials developed to reduce in overall vehicle weight that helps improve fuel efficiency.
    (1) Plastic Glazing
    • Replacing conventional glass windows with new lightweight plastic windows is seen as a promising solution for reducing overall vehicle weight.
    • Plastic glazing has already been adopted on the quarter windows in the Lexus LFA as well as the panoramic roof of the Toyota Prius α, currently the world's largest application of this plastic glazing technology on a vehicle. Plastic glazing weighs half as much as conventional glass, and the panoramic roof is 40% lighter than a glass equivalent.
    • Toyota Industries Corporation is working to reduce the cost of plastic glazing through the development of improved mass-production technology as well as development of hard coating materials. We are continuing to accelerate the development of this plastic glazing technology with the challenging goal of replacing glasses for use in all areas of the vehicle, including the front doors with our plastic glazing.
    In closing
    • Toyota Industries Corporation is committed to developing technologies to meet the demands of modern society with regards to environmental considerations, energy efficiency and cost savings in a wide range of business areas thereby contributing to the evolution of vehicles and a better life for all of humanity.

Return to Top