Toyota develops Diamond-like chips for Hybrid cars to boost fuel efficiency

Toyota Motor Corp. in collaboration with Denso Corp. and Toyota Central R&D labs. Inc. has developed a silicon carbide used as a power semiconductor in automotive power control units. This material is nearly as hard as a diamond, which makes it one of the hardest materials in nature.

Left:Silicon power semiconductor wafer (transistor)

Right:SiC power semiconductor wafer (transistor)

“A key way to improve fuel efficiency is to improve power semiconductor efficiency,” Kimimori Hamada, a Toyota engineer, said in a media briefing.

Toyota hopes to cut hybrid vehicle fuel consumption by up to 10 percent by introducing diamond-like silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors in power control units in cars such as its Prius by 2020. Test driving vehicles with this technology are to be released on public roads in Japan within a year.

Right: PCU with silicon power semiconductors(Production model) 

Left: PCU with SiC power semiconductors(Future target)

“In December last year, Toyota established a clean room for dedicated development of SiC semiconductors at its Hirose Plant, which is a facility for research, development and production of devices such as electronic controllers and semiconductors.”

Toyota says this allows the engineers to reduce the size of the coil and capacitor in the hybrid vehicle power control unit (PCU) by 80 percent.

“In addition to improving engine and aerodynamic performance, Toyota is positioning high efficiency power semiconductors as key technology for improving fuel efficiency for HVs and other vehicles with electrified powertrains,” the company said. 

“Going forward, Toyota will continue to boost development activities aimed at early implementation of SiC power semiconductors.”

Toyota Develops New Series of Gas Cars to Get Efficient Engine From Hybrids

Toyota has developed an efficient gasoline engine using technology fine-tuned with gas-electric hybrids, in which Toyota is an industry leader. 

Toyota said the new engine will deliver 10 percent better fuel efficiency than comparable current engines. Two engines will form the base of the new series. The first is a 1.3-liter gasoline engine, it uses an old-style    engine type called the Atkinson cycle, which reduces heat through greater thermal efficiency. The second is a 1.0-liter gasoline engine, jointly developed with Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., that has achieved maximum thermal efficiency of 37 percent.

Toyota said it developed a version that achieves efficiency without sacrificing power. In addition they also used other features such as better combustion and reduced friction to boost efficiency.

The new engine will come in 1.0 liter and 1.3 liter versions, but will be extended to other types, and variations of it will also be used in future hybrid models, according to Toyota.

"They show the future direction of Toyota engine development," said Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons.

Toyota has been concerned about the reliability of the oil supply for decades and has focused on green cars, especially hybrids.

The new engines will be used in models scheduled for partial redesign in the near future, and a total of 14 engine models will be introduced globally by 2015.