Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Summer 2006 | Page 15

TECHNOLOGIES
B5-TPH Concept Car makes its North American debut at the Detroit Autoshow
Hybrid electric vehicles, which use a combination of an electric motor and an internal
combustion engine, are currently the most popular future-friendly vehicles. By drawing power
from the electric motor, the load on the internal combustion engine is reduced, in turn greatly
reducing fuel consumption and minimizing emissions. The Subaru B5-TPH concept car, with
its turbocharged acceleration and excellent fuel economy, is a perfect example of
the symmetry between electricity and internal combustion.
The B5-TPH employs Subaru’s innovative Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) system.
TPH uses a gasoline turbocharged SUBARU BOXER engine to deliver 256-hp
and 253 lb-ft of torque and a supplemental electric motor that produces 111 lb-ft
of torque.
The thin 10-kw motor generator/electric motor, powered by a high performance
Manganese-Lithium-Ion (Mn Li-ion) battery pack, is placed between the gasoline
turbocharged boxer engine and automatic transmission. This configuration helps
generate low-end torque to match high-end horsepower and provides excellent
fuel economy of 6 L/100 km.
In layman’s terms, the combination of the motor generator and the turbocharged
SUBARU BOXER engine creates a system that offers both a powerful and pleasurable
driving experience when the turbocharger is active, while also delivering superb
acceleration and fuel economy during practical use. Keeping true to the Subaru spirit,
this environmentally friendly concept car delivers sports coupe performance with SUV
functionality and compact car efficiency! For Subaru, TPH just might be the future of
turbocharged vehicles.

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R1e Concept Car – an excellent concept for urban centres
With advances in battery technology, pure electric vehicles are emerging as the next generation of
greener driving. Subaru, with its all-electric R1e concept car, is at the forefront of this technology.
One of the main drawbacks with operating a purely electric vehicle has always been battery life.
Anyone who has ever had the battery run out on a golf cart in the middle of the 14th hole knows what
we are talking about. Subaru, with its co-development of the compact Manganese-Lithium-Ion
battery, is sparking a renewed hope in the functionality of pure electric vehicles.
For Subaru, that hope begins in the form of the Subaru R1e, which is based on Japan’s
R1 mini car. This little vehicle delivers a rare combination found in electric vehicles – excellent
power output, easy maintenance and a fast charging battery. On a full charge the R1e can
travel 120 km. And, forget what you’ve heard about other electric vehicles taking eight
hours to recharge. With an exclusive charger for the R1e, a quick recharge – five minutes to
power up 90% – and you’re on the road again! Want to get your hands on one? For now, this
innovative concept car is only testing commercially with customers in Japan.

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2 DC-DC converter

3 Electric motor

4 Mn Li-ion battery

5 Inverter

The Manganese-Lithium-Ion (Mn Li-ion) battery pack
Manganese-Lithium-Ion batteries are compact (approximately the size of a VCR), lightweight,
and designed to last up to ten years or 150,000 km. This high performance battery powers
the electric motor/generator of the B5-TPH and the pure electric R1e concept car.
Its roots are traced back to the Li-ion batteries that power laptop computers and
cellphones. Like the batteries in these modern gadgets, the Manganese-Lithium-Ion battery
that keeps these Subaru concept cars going is compact and lightweight, allowing it to
achieve superior electric power density