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Generally Hybrid Electrical Vehicles (HEV's) tend to have difficulty with regard to evaporative emissions because they have less capability of purging canisters compared with that of conventional systems. Toyota has developed a new fuel system that can address this difficulty and enables outstanding performance for the new-generation HEV. The fuel system, called the “Fuel Vapor-containment System (FVS)”, consists of newly developed or redesigned components, such as a high strength fuel tank, a Fuel Vapor-containment Valve (FVV), refueling canister and a purge buffer as well as newly defined controls of the components for the vehicle. The fuel tank is sealed while a vehicle is parked and fuel vapor does not flow into the canister by control of the FVV, except during refueling events. Therefore, HEV's do not have to ensure as much as purge capacity to achieve the necessary lower evaporative requirements.

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.

The basic concept of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) powered by microwave is defined first by specially developed CAD software. Tele-communication relay or earth observation platform is its possible application. Some preliminary research programs including propeller efficiency, electric power plant, basic structural concepts and material testings are undergoing at NAL. The present paper demonstrates the results of a structural concept study and early strength characterization at room and low(= -60 °C) temperature points for a system of CF/thermoplastic composite as one of candidate material of main structures. The concerned strength drop due to a wide difference of the low temperature environment from the processing point of CF/PEEK can not be observed.