Toyota Motor Corporation

The Toyota Motor Corporation created the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) to address many critical issues afflicting the world today: petroleum depletion, global warming and air pollution.

THS combines an on-board rechargeable energy storage system that is re-energized using the kinetic energy from the vehicle and a fueled power source for drive and added power. Unlike other hybrids, Toyota’s THS has the ability to run solely on battery power, during which time it is a zero emission vehicle. Other advantages include surpassing severe emission standards and doubling the fuel efficiency of a conventional vehicle of the same class.

Additionally, since THS components were required to be more compact with higher performance and higher reliance than conventional mass-produced electronic components, suppliers developed complementary component technology. Resulting innovations include advances in power electronics; improved nickel metal hydride battery technology; and advanced control systems, energy recovery (regenerative) braking systems, and fuel efficiency technologies.

Toyota made its THS technology available to the general public though the launch of the world’s first mass-produced hybrid automobile, Prius, in 1997. Since the introduction of THS, Toyota has developed nine models and sold over 800,000 vehicles by the end of 2006.

Toyota plans to continue developing technological advancements to benefit the automotive and electronic industries; making THS technology available to a variety of alternative energy industries including fuel cell, electric and bio-fuel.