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To help respond to growing customer demand for environmentally friendly vehicles, a new transaxle for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) has been developed that achieves excellent fuel economy and ensures high performance when the PHV operates in electric vehicle (EV) mode. Under the basic concept of sharing a large number of parts with the transaxle in the all new Prius, the newly designed PHV transaxle was developed with the aim of enhancing EV power and range. To achieve our goal, the new transaxle uses a Dual Motor Drive System that operates the generator as a motor to supplement the existing motor. It also features an electrical oil pump (EOP) that improves cooling performance in EV mode. The developed transaxle helps to advance the PHV as a key next-generation environmentally friendly vehicle by maximizing the performance of the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) and achieving even better dynamic EV mode performance than the new Prius HV.

Toyota Motor Corporation developed a new hybrid system, Multi Stage Hybrid System, for the Lexus flagship coupe LC500h with the aim of achieving an excellent balance between fuel economy and acceleration performance. The Multi Stage Hybrid Transmission used in this new hybrid system includes a shift device located immediately after the power split device and motor. Compared with previous hybrid systems, the new hybrid system improves fuel economy by reducing electrical loss in the optimal gears, which are selected depending on the driving state. The system also improves acceleration performance by increasing the driving force at low and medium vehicle speeds in lower gears. In addition, the range of the power split device that cooperates with the shift device was widened to enable both an electrically-controlled continuously variable transmission mode and a ten-speed transmission mode, which creates a direct shift feeling to improve driving pleasure.

1 As the demand for so-called eco-cars has been increasing recently, new hybrid transaxle P610 has been developed to achieve outstanding fuel economy and an excellent driving performance. P610 was installed in the 4th generation Prius, the first car to implement TOYOTA's new development strategy, TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture). In order to accomplish the goal, radical reduction of mechanical loss, size and weight, dual-axle motor structure are adopted to draw out the potential capability of the THS (Toyota Hybrid System) to the maximum extent possible. Furthermore, placing the compact power train low, which is realized by installed the PCU(Power Control Unit) on top of the transaxle, led to provide the low center of gravity of the vehicle and excellent driving performance.

A new hybrid transmission has been developed for all-wheel-drive (AWD) cars, and is used in the new Lexus LS600h and LS600hL for its first application. It has a compact layout consisting of a power-split device, generator, high-output electric motor, and a two-stage speed reduction device. Combined with a 5-liter V-8 engine, it achieves power performance rivaling 6-liter engine vehicles, the fuel efficiency of a medium-class vehicle, and outstanding quietness. This paper describes the structure, performance, and shift control technology of this hybrid transmission.

1 The new L110 hybrid transmission was developed for use in front-engine, rear wheel drive (FR) vehicles with 3.5-liter engines. The project goals were to develop a compact, slim structure that could be installed on a platform with an FR layout, and to provide the power performance, high-speed performance, and quietness of a luxury car while maintaining the fuel economy performance of a hybrid. To accomplish this, a new gear train, motor, and other components were developed. The newly developed hybrid transmission also uses coordinated control between the shift mechanism and the motor to achieve acceleration performance without causing the driver to feel any shock from an abrupt change of speed. This paper describes the main structural elements of the transmission and various aspects of its performance.