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The New Kubota Grand L30 Series Compact Tractors are powerful, user-friendly compact tractors that have advanced functions to provide the maximum performance. Many new features such as IntelliPanel enable users to obtain high workability, comfort, and operability. IntelliPanel is an advanced function that displays information on a liquid crystal display to help users' with operation and maintenance. An electronically controlled multi-gear GST (Glide Shift Transmission) enables users to choose gears for 12 travel speeds using one lever, during travel without operating a clutch. An ECU (Electric Control Unit) controls solenoid valves and a proportional reducing valve to allow for smooth gear changes.

Toyota Motor Corporation began leasing a new generation fuel cell vehicle the FCHV (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle) in December 2002. That vehicle includes a new variable voltage power electronics system and uses the Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery system from the Prius hybrid gasoline electric vehicle. This paper describes on-going efforts to model optimum secondary storage systems for future vehicles. Efficiency modeling is presented for the base Ni-MH storage system, an ultra capacitor system and a Lithium ion (Li-ion) battery system. The Li-ion system in combination with a new high efficiency converter shows a 4% improvement in fuel economy relative to the base system. The ultra capacitor system is not as efficient as the base system.

Extensive work was conducted to develop a corrosion resistant brazing sheet alloy and to apply it to a drawn cup type evaporator in automotive air conditioning system. The items to be investigated included the influence of chemical composition of the core alloy on corrosion resistance, suppression of erosion during the brazing cycle, and enhancement of the brazing sheet formability. Additional investigation was conducted to develop a new corrosion test method on the basis of better understanding of the mechanism of corrosion in the field and to evaluate the corrosion resistance of a evaporator fabricated from the new alloy. This paper, as Part 1, describes the results of alloy development from the metallurgical and electrochemical point of view.

The lean combustion of an SI engine has been recognized as one of the most promising methods for further improvement of fuel economy. There has been, however, difficulty in extending the lean misfire limit enough to realize NOx emission levels below the mandatory level and still keep satisfactory driveability. A simulation study has been carried out to search for the possibility of getting better fuel economy under the constrainsts of NOx emission and driveability. To realize the optimum calibration, the lean misfire limit has been extended by the introduction of (1) high swirl and high combustion chamber turbulence through the use of a helical port with an unique swirl control valve, (2) a newly developed ZrO2 lean mixture sensor and (3) the multi-point fuel injection with sophisticated control. A very good fuel economy level of 17.0 km/1 (Japanese 10 mode) has been accomplished while still meeting the NOx emission cycle regulation of 0.25 g/km.