Toyota FT-CH Concept Illustrates a Growing Focus on Hybrids

In recent months, Toyota outlined its marketing strategy that includes a full range of electrified vehicles. Since batteries are key to bringing these vehicles to market in substantial quantities, the automaker is investing in advanced battery research and development programs that include nickel-metal-hydride, lithium-ion, and ‘beyond lithium’ chemistries. Toyota notes the cost of lithium-ion batteries needs to be reduced significantly or a more affordable alternative developed.

Its goal is no less than selling a million hybrids annually globally in the early part of this decade, with the majority of these in North America. This includes expanded vehicle choices, with Toyota launching eight all new hybrid models over the next few years, in addition to next-generation versions of current hybrids.

These will be all-new dedicated hybrid vehicles or all new hybrid versions of existing gasoline engine models. Toyota will also begin marketing plug-in hybrids and battery electrics in the 2012 model year. Global sales of its first fuel cell vehicles are planned to begin in 2015. The heart of all these future models is battery technology, including fuel cell vehicles since they are also hybrids using electric drive.

Hybrid choices could include a smaller hybrid model that costs less than a Prius and appeals to younger, less-affluent buyers. An example of this strategy is presented by the recently-unveiled FT-CH concept shown here. The ‘CH,’ by the way, stands for ‘compact hybrid’ since it is 22 inches shorter than the Prius and about an inch narrower.

In spite of its compact dimensions, the FT-CH provides maximum passenger comfort and interior roominess. It’s lighter in weight than the Prius and thus should have better fuel economy. Styled at Toyota’s European Design and Development Center in France, it was sized to be maneuverable in urban traffic.

Toyota is testing about 600 Prius PHVs worldwide, with 150 of these plug-hybrid electric vehicles that will be demonstrated in the U.S. The Prius PHV is the first Toyota to use a lithium-ion battery. When fully charged, it has a maximum electric-only range of about 13 miles and is capable of a top speed of up to 60 mph in electric-only mode. For longer distances, the Prius PHV reverts to its conventional hybrid mode and operates like a regular Prius.

The automaker’s advanced FCHV (fuel cell hybrid vehicle) began national demonstrations last year. Over the course of a three year program, more than 100 vehicles will demonstrate the technology’s performance, reliability, and practicality in everyday use. Recent testing in Southern California realized a real-world single-tank range of about 430 miles, which is roughly equivalent to 68 mph…with no emissions other than water vapor.

As Toyota well knows, the challenge is not only to develop batteries with the required performance, but also produce them in large quantities at affordable prices. Through three generations of Prius and a total of seven full-hybrid models, Toyota and its joint venture partner, Panasonic, have reduced battery size, weight, and cost while improving energy density, quality, and reliability.

Later this year, Panasonic EV Energy will have three separate, fully operational battery production facilities with a combined capacity of more than one million units annually, one of many steps in the right direction required to bring more affordable mass-market lithium-ion batteries to the marketplace.