How Hybrid Works
Enter the Age of PERFORMANCEHYBRID
The revolution of our time has necessitated a new age of thought. Growing concerns over the economy and environment have motivated the world to change its course. Lexus has contributed to this global discourse by ushering in advanced hybrid technology. Truly sustainable transport, without any compromise on performance and luxury, is available.
The technology of Lexus Hybrid Drive (LHD) harnesses the tension between traditional opposites: performance and conscience; past and present. Combining both electric energy and petrol performance Lexus presents the first ever PERFORMANCEHYBRID, which maximises power and efficiency while significantly reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and emissions.
Traditionally hybrid engineers have focused exclusively on economy, at the expense of performance, for the sake of the environment. Lexus however, have devised a solution: an electric motor that reduces CO2 emissions and enhances the performance of its complimentary petrol engine. The petrol engine in hybrid drive vehicles works with the electric motor to give a smoother and quieter ride, better performance, decreased emissions and improved fuel economy.
Self-Sustaining System
What’s more, the system is entirely self-sustaining. Lexus hybrids never need to be plugged in as regenerative braking charges the electric motor, while the Power Control Unit distributes the energy for maximum efficiency of both the electric motor and the petrol engine. Any excess is then stored in the advanced compact battery, which is designed to last as long as the vehicle itself.
While fuel prices continue to rise and the environment increasingly becomes a global concern, Lexus Hybrid is not just in vogue, but the luxury vehicle of the future.
Lexus Hybrid Drive
Unlike other hybrids, the Lexus Hybrid Drive is a complete hybrid: making use of all six hybrid technologies to enhance its performance while offering the same benefits typical to that of other hybrid vehicles.
Electric Motor
The electric motor is a highly compact permanent magnet type, which allows for maximum torque to be reached instantly when the car is started, and makes almost no sound. The water and oil cooled, AC synchronous motor accelerates powerfully from pull-off and adds an impressive 275 Nm of torque and 147 kW of power to the GS450h petrol engine when at full throttle, significantly improving the performance without increasing the fuel consumption.
The motor also functions as a second generator by capturing heat energy created during deceleration and converting it into electric energy to be stored in the high performance battery. The ingenious motor requires a current of 650V to run, which it is allocated by the Power Control Unit.
V6 Petrol Engine
The GS450h V6 petrol engine makes use of advanced direct-injection technology with a high compression ratio to provide 218 kW of power at 6 400 rpm. The Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i) technology – an advanced variable intake and exhaust valve timing system - ensures that the maximum power is reached with economic consumption of fuel and reduced carbon emissions. Maximum torque produced by the petrol engine is 368 Nm at 4 800 rpm.
Hybrid Transmission
The Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT) does not function like a normal automatic where shift-shock is felt when gears change. Rather, the E-CVT ensures that there is a smooth transition between the electric motor and petrol engine, while optimising the performance of both. Thus increased speed is not hindered by the interruption of lower gears moving into higher gears.
Power Control Unit
Said to be the brain of the hybrid drive, the Power Control Unit (PCU) allocates the power resources of the car to the various components of the Lexus Hybrid Drive. As the car’s speed and torque increases, the PCU will switch on the V6 petrol engine and run it with its supplement – the electric motor. When the car becomes stationary again or reduces speed for inner-city traffic, it will switch the petrol engine off again so that no fuel is burned and no carbon emissions created.
The PCU also ensures that excess energy is not lost by allocating it to be stored in the Hybrid Battery.
Electric Drive Generator
Like the electric motor, the generator is a water and oil cooled, permanent magnet type and converts surplus power from the engine into electricity. The device splits the power so that the V6 engine doesn’t only propel the wheels but provides electricity to be allocated by the PCU for either use in the electric motor or compact battery. The 650V generator starts the petrol engine when the vehicle’s speed increases.
Hybrid Battery
The advanced compact battery stores electricity created by the Lexus Hybrid Drive system until it is required. The 288V nickel-metal hydride compact battery is designed to last as long as the vehicle and does not require any external or supplementary charging – this is taken care of by the generator and regenerative braking process.