The name
certainly doesn’t roll off the tongue, but the Subaru B5-TPH is sweet to say because of what those letters stand
for – Turbo Parallel Hybrid. The TPH drivetrain consists of a 10kW electric motor sandwhiched between the
transmission and turbocharged boxer engine. The gasoline engine produces 256 hp and 253 lbs-ft of torque, while the
electric motor antes up another 111 lbs-ft of torque. That extra torque is provided by the electric motor at low speeds
while the turbo spools up, effectively eliminating turbo lag. The engine also employs the Miller cycle, which increases
the engine’s efficiency up to 30 percent by leaving the intake valve open for part of the compression stroke,
which shortens the cycle’s compression stroke. All of this leads to a combined estimated mileage of 40 mpg and a
whopping good time when you mash pedal.
More pics and official press release after the jump…
Subaru Hybrid Concept Vehicle Makes North American Debut;
New Technologies Point to
Brand’s Hybrid Strategy
— Company continues “green” efforts to help safeguard the environment
—
DETROIT, Jan. 9, 2006 – The Subaru B5-TPH, a new type of high-performance hybrid-powered vehicle,
made its North American Debut today at the 2006 North American International Auto Show.
The B5-TPH concept vehicle features the company’s emerging
Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) powertrain system and lithium-ion battery technology in a sporty two-seat grand touring
car.
Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) has been developing the TPH powertrain for
future mass production and will test-launch TPH-powered vehicles in the Japanese market in 2007.
Also at
the 2006 North American International Auto Show, Subaru showcased a test version of its R1e urban electric vehicle
equipped with next-generation long-life lithium-ion type batteries from NEC Lamilion Energy. That company was
jointly established by NEC and FHI in 2002 for the development of secondary batteries. Designed to meet the needs
of city mobility, the Subaru R1e is projected to achieve an 80% recharge in about fifteen minutes. The resulting
charge can supply enough power to serve most daily commuting needs in congested urban areas.
These
high-technology Subaru vehicles are parts of the company’s broad approach to environmental responsibility that
also takes into account current vehicle emissions and fuel efficiency, as well as reduced environmental impact from all
facets of automobile development, production and marketing.
“Subaru has always been, and will
continue to be, committed to safeguarding the natural environment that so many of our customers avidly enjoy,”
said Kunio Ishigami, chairman, president and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. “We will continue to make these
technologies a priority in our product development, manufacturing and business processes.”
New Turbo Hybrid Powertrain Previews New Subaru Core Technology
The Subaru B5-TPH carries a
revolutionary powertrain system beneath sporty bodywork. This vehicle’s TPH powertrain is a strategically
important technology for the power source of clean-energy vehicles and will be incorporated with the Subaru core
technologies including the Subaru Boxer Engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system.
The Subaru TPH
powertrain in the B5-TPH places a thin, 10-kW motor generator between a vehicle’s engine and its automatic
transmission. The combination of the motor-generator and the turbocharged Subaru Boxer engine creates a system that not
only provides power in the mid-speed ranges when the turbocharger is active — as with conventional turbo models — but
it also delivers excellent acceleration and fuel economy. This superb, all-range performance has been enabled by
electric motor-assist, a feature that is designed to boost engine torque at low speeds.
For even greater
efficiency, the TPH gasoline engine adopts the Miller cycle. A Miller-cycle engine leaves the intake valve open
during part of the compression stroke, effectively shortening the compression stroke to avoid detonation.
However, due to the turbocharger, the cylinder still packs a larger “charge” than would a
conventional-cycle engine. In the Subaru B5-TPH, the Miller Cycle turbo boxer engine operates up to 30 percent
more efficiently than a conventional gasoline engine.
In order to bring out even better driving
performance from the TPH, Subaru is planning to equip the system with high-performance manganese lithium-ion
batteries.
Lithium-ion Battery Technology Opens Up New Possibilities
Subaru
is committed to the development of power storage technologies as the key to further promote the use of hybrid vehicles,
fuel cell vehicles, and battery electric vehicles. Consequently, FHI has been concentrating specifically on the
development of power storage systems and the application of NEC Lamilion Energy high-capacity manganese Li-ion
batteries on prototype vehicles, including the Subaru R1e electric vehicle, for further testing and evaluation.
In addition, FHI is currently conducting performance tests on prototype cells of the new Li-ion capacitor. The
eventual successful commercialization of Li-ion capacitors for compact cars would open up many other business
opportunities, including helping to meet the increased demand for new hybrid buses, trucks, and other passenger
vehicles. This new capacitor also has the potential to be an alternative to conventional lead-acid batteries in the
future.