TOP technologies of the year

The world's automakers and suppliers were busy in 2002 equipping production vehicles with significant new technology. The editors review some of those significant “game changing” innovations for the past model year.

From the middle of last year, hybrid-electric technology pioneer Toyota has added two new hybrid vehicles-the Estima Hybrid minivan and Crown mild-hybrid sedan. They follow the series-hybrid Coaster minibus that preceded the Prius four-door sedan in 1997. More than 60,000 Priuses have been delivered, mostly in Japan but also in the U.S. and Europe.

The main components of the Crown's THS-M (Toyota Hybrid System-Mild) are a motor/generator, an inverter, and a 36-V lead-acid battery package. The Crown is primarily motivated by a gasoline-direct-injection 3.0-L inline six driving the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic. A 36-V, 3-kW, three-phase ac motor/alternator-generator is mounted alongside the engine and driven via a ribbed belt. A 36-V battery feeds electricity to the motor/generator and is recharged by the motor/generator when driven by the engine. The THS-M assists the vehicle in moving off from standstill while the engine is stopped to reduce emissions and conserve fuel. When the brake pedal is released, the motor cranks the engine to near idle speed to move off. Braking energy is recovered by the motor/generator and fed to the battery.