Development of Vapor Reducing Fuel Tank System

In succession to the world-first introduction of a mass production gasoline hybrid passenger car into the Japanese market in 1997, Toyota also has introduced an enhanced version of the above to the US and European markets in 2000.

Upon introduction of Toyota Hybrid System (THS) into the US market, a drastic reduction of gasoline vapor evaporation from the fuel tank was necessary, in order to meet the most stringent exhaust emission (SULEV) and evaporative emission standards in the world.

In order to meet this requirement, a fuel tank system named “Vapor Reducing Fuel Tank System” was developed. This is the first commercial application in the world to use a variable tank volume to drastically reduce gasoline vapor generation.