Tag Archives: adapt

Even the smallest automakers should adapt to the inevitable electrical future. And for sports activities automobile producers targeted on weight, putting in a battery pack and an electrical motor is usually a robust process in comparison with the equal combustion engine.

Caterham confirmed that minimizing the load penalty is doable with its Project V electric coupe. Now, one other British marque is revealing what it has achieved up to now when it comes to a sporty, light-weight EV.

Meet the Morgan XP-1, an experimental prototype with an all-electric coronary heart. It’s based mostly on the Ford-powered Super 3, however it has had its oily bits yanked off to make room for the brand new {hardware}. Fun truth: This automobile makes use of Morgan’s first powertrain developed in-house, no matter whether or not we’re speaking a few combustion engine or an electrical motor.

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7 Changes Made to Convert Toyota Innova Hycross Strong Hybrid into a Flex Fuel Model

August 31, 2023 Prafful Singh

These changes were necessary to adapt the engine to the properties of ethanol-rich fuel.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently introduced the Toyota Innova Hycross flex fuel prototype, which is capable of running on a greener fuel with up to 85 percent ethanol blend. The prototype uses the Hycross’ 2-liter strong-hybrid petrol powertrain, allowing the car to switch between fuel and electricity for propulsion.

However, in order to accommodate the high percentage of ethanol blending, Toyota had to make several changes to the locally-manufactured engine and related components. Here are the key changes made to ensure compatibility with E85 fuel:

1. Motor Driven VVT

In order to address cold start issues with ethanol vehicles, changes have been made to the Innova Hycross engine to enable it to start in temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius.

2. Improved Corrosion-Resistance Within The Engine

Due to ethanol’s acidic nature and higher water absorption, the engine is at a higher risk of corrosion. To combat this, the flex fuel prototype is equipped with ethanol-compatible spark plugs, valves, valve seats, and piston rings that resist corrosion and improve wear and tear.

Also Read: Maruti Invicto vs Toyota Innova Hycross vs Kia Carens: Price Comparison

3. Three-Way Catalyst

Ethanol-powered cars require a more advanced three-way catalyst to significantly reduce emissions. Ethanol combustion produces different hydrocarbons and emissions compared to regular petrol engines, so a different catalyst is necessary to comply with BS6 phase 2 norms.

4. High Pressure Fuel Injectors

Ethanol requires higher temperatures to burn compared to gasoline, so the Hycross engine employs high-pressure fuel injectors that provide the required flow rate and are resistant to heat and corrosion.

5. Changes To The Fuel Tank

The Innova Hycross flex fuel prototype is equipped with anti-oxidant materials and coatings in the fuel tank and fuel pipe to prevent corrosion and rusting, ensuring smooth fuel flow over a longer period of time.

6. Ethanol Sensor

The flex fuel MPV version of the Hycross features an ethanol sensor that measures the concentration of ethanol in the fuel. This information is relayed to the specialized ECU, which adjusts other aspects of the engine accordingly. This is similar to how regular petrol models can detect octane ratings. The system can also assess the current blend of fuel in the tank to ensure smooth engine operation, even with lower blend ratios like E20.

Also Read: Upcoming Electric Cars In India

7. Changes To The ECU

The Hycross flex fuel ECU determines the electronically controlled functions of the engine based on the percentage of ethanol blend detected by the ethanol sensor. This allows the engine to seamlessly operate on different ethanol blends, ranging from E20 to E85, as well as petrol, making it a true flex fuel vehicle.

The Innova Hycross flex fuel prototype can run on electric power 60 percent of the time and biofuel for the remainder. This makes it more economical and environmentally-friendly compared to a flex fuel car running solely on ethanol.

However, further testing and calibration are required before the vehicle is ready for the Indian market. By 2025, all vehicles in India will need to be E20 compatible, and the Toyota Innova Hycross hybrid flex fuel could be ready for production in another 3 to 4 years.

Read More on: Toyota Innova Hycross Automatic

Motorsport

GM To Cut 200 Engineering Positions Amidst Strategic Evolution

August 22, 2023 Prafful Singh

General Motors (GM) has announced plans to eliminate approximately 200 engineering positions as part of its ongoing efforts to adapt and streamline operations. The company assures that affected employees will have the opportunity to transition into other roles within the organization.

This decision is part of GM’s broader strategy, called “Winning with Simplicity,” which aims to simplify design and engineering processes, reduce costs and complexity, and enhance marketing, engineering, and manufacturing efficiency. By significantly reducing the number of trim levels and part numbers, GM aims to retain desirable features while streamlining operations.

In a statement, GM confirmed the decision, stating that it is rebalancing its engineering resources to align with its growth strategy and will help engineers affected by the cuts to apply for other open positions within the company. GM is also targeting $2 billion in cost reduction over the next two years and plans to reduce sales and marketing finances by $800 million.

However, in addition to internal adjustments, GM also faces external pressures from changing industry regulations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a significant increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which has sparked debates and concerns within the automotive sector, including GM.

Prior to the public release of the proposal, GM presented a claim to the Biden Administration warning that strict fuel economy standards could result in potential fines of up to $300 billion for automakers. However, as the proposal undergoes further examination, GM’s certainty regarding this figure has started to waver.

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