What is Hybrid X?
Is the FT-HS hybrid concept Hybrid X?Earlier this week I mentioned that Toyota will debut the Hybrid X at the Geneva Auto show next week and I wondered whether the Hybrid X is the FT-HS concept, or a derivative of this concept. I just don't know.
Also, recently, Toyota claimed that the third generation Toyota Prius, and all of Toyota's hybrid cars, will utilize lithium-ion batteries, rather than the NiMH batteries used today. This development - this revolution - promises much lighter vehicles and greater energy capacity - two things that should increase both the performance and the fuel efficiency of Toyota's hybrid vehicles. At the same time, Toyota claimed this will also reduce the price of hybrid technology.
So is this Hybrid X? More on Hybrid X.
Labels: FT-HS hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles, hybrid x
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:40 AM
2 Comments:
(Rest of Story)
Back to the FT-HS. The FT-HS hybrid is a lithium-ion powered hybrid vehicle, which means its a third generation Toyota hybrid. Additionally, the FT-HS uses carbon fiber in its body. While this isn't terribly uncommon for concept cars, there are many whom believe that carbon fiber's weight and strength position it as an important part of the automotive future.
Is Toyota serious about carbon composites? Is this part of Hybrid X?
While that might seem too sci-fi for reality, GM is also exploring this direction, except GM is using plastic composites, such as was debuted on the Chevy Volt hybrid concept at NAIAS.
So, much like hybrid cars, is Toyota going to again do what everyone else says is impossible?
On the other hand, maybe the Hybrid X is a city hybrid - a derivative of the current Toyota Prius, just smaller and lighter. Such a hybrid, with lithium technology, might achieve 80 mpg or more without any plug-in technology. Is this the Hybrid X?
Or, maybe Toyota is really pushing the envelope and going for the holy grail of hybrid cars, the plug-in hybrid vehicle. Toyota has in the past claimed that they are investigating the potential of plug-in hybrid technology, and Toyota has admitted that they would produce plug-in hybrid vehicles if the technology were proven road-ready.
Since Toyota is ready to evolve to lithium, is Toyota also ready to evolve to plug-in capabilities?
While I have more questions than answers, I'm as excited as ever about the potential of Hybrid X. And, if I were any other automaker, I'd be as worried as ever about what Hybrid X might be.
I believe the hybrid-x is going to be the next generation prius, or at least the concept that demonstrates the next generation hybrid system. I don't think it's the FT-HS.
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