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SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc Bao Smith, B.Sc Tim Blythman, B.E., B.Sc Technical Contributor Duraid Madina, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD Art Director & Production Manager Ross Tester Reader Services Ann Morris Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Dave Thompson David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Ian Batty Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Founding Editor (retired) Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Subscription rates (12 issues): $105.00 per year, post paid, in Australia. For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 * Recommended & maximum price only. Printing and Distribution: Editorial Viewpoint Toyota deserves praise for innovation We have an interesting article on Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system starting on page 46 of this issue. While this system has been around for just over 20 years now, it is still very much current; just recently, Toyota (finally) released the hybrid RAV4 in Australia, and it has (predictably) been selling very well. One wonders what took them so long. Still, I have to give credit to Toyota for not only popularising hybrid drivetrains but also perfecting them and bringing them to the masses. Not only that, but they have been able to fit these complex systems into a range of vehicles, without charging a huge premium to do so. And despite this complexity, Toyota’s hybrid systems are very reliable. Perhaps even more reliable than traditional engines! That’s quite an achievement. Keep in mind that Toyota has a reputation for outstanding reliability, in part because their engineering is so conservative. They’re not a company known for rushing new technology into production, with the high likelihood of early failures, like some other manufacturers. That makes the fact that they have been so innovative in the drivetrain field even more impressive. I think many electronics enthusiasts must also be fascinated with mechanical engineering. There are many parallels between the two disciplines, especially in the automotive field. And of course, the hybrid system brings the two together, combining electric motors, inverters and batteries with internal combustion engines, transmissions, gears etc. Part of what makes Toyota’s system so brilliant, and I think better than any other hybrid drive system, is the way it uses the “Power Split Device” to eliminate the need for a traditional transmission. This simple (and thus reliable) mechanical device is responsible for proportioning and directing energy between the petrol engine, electric motors and wheels. Read our in-depth article for a full explanation of how it works. Of course, there’s a lot of talk lately about pure electric vehicles, and more models are being released all the time. But Toyota has managed to sell more than 10 million hybrid vehicles worldwide, while EV leader Tesla has yet to sell one-tenth of that (admittedly, in a somewhat shorter timeframe). And one significant advantage that hybrid vehicles have is that their much smaller battery pack is not only cheaper, but it uses fewer resources to manufacture. So the same quantity of rare earth metals can go into manufacturing dozens of hybrids compared to just one EV. Plus the onboard internal combustion engine and liquid fuel source make ‘range anxiety’ virtually non-existent. In fact, with their great fuel economy, hybrids can have an even better range than purely internal combustion-engined vehicles. And with the advent of plug-in hybrids, you even have the option of using it as a pure EV for short trips (eg, driving to-and-from work), while still being having a longer range when needed. I hope that other manufacturers begin adopting Toyota’s approach of offering a hybrid version of virtually every model that they sell. It gives consumers the option of spending a little bit more money to get lower fuel use and a greater range. There are many more hybrid vehicles available overseas, which surely will become available in the Australian market soon. Nicholas Vinen 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 2 Silicon Chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au