Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) unveiled 7 concept cars at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show, which was opened to public from October 22 to November 6 at the International Convention Complex (Makuhari Messe) in Makuhari, Chiba.

The automaker views Tokyo Motor Show as a great opportunity to introduce new vehicle possibilities. Through the years, Toyota has unraveled several cars and groundbreaking and futuristic technologies in said auto show. Among the concept cars presented are the Fine-X and i-swing. The latter is a brand new fuel cell hybrid vehicle while the former is a personal mobility vehicle.

The theme Ecology & Emotion was again used by Toyota in this year’s exhibit. Said exhibit pursued both environmental vehicle concerns as well as the essential emotional appeal of a car.

Toyota Fine-X concept vehicle is a revolutionary car that introduces a glimpse of what is to come in the future. It uses a fuel cell hybrid system that creates an environment-friendly performance. Fine-X also features a 4-wheel independent drive control and a huge steering angle mechanism.

The i-swing concept, on the other hand, is a personal mobility car that lets drivers express their individuality while driving. The car is designed with single-person vehicle package, which boasts its ‘wearable’ design. To soften impact, i-swing is equipped with a urethane body.

What is most exciting about this concept car is that it can shift from a two-wheeled mode to a -wheeled mode depending on the driver’s discretion. In crowded streets, the driver can opt for the two-wheeled mode. Nonetheless, if desires to have a care-free ride he can choose the three-wheeled mode.

Another marvelous concept car is the Estima Hybrid. Said car is a sophisticated hybrid minivan with electric 4WD and THS II, for an environment-friendly and high-performance drive. Subsequently, enhanced Toyota RAV4 parts are incorporated in the new RAV4 concept car. The latter is a small SUV that features a modern and rugged theme for ultimate yet refined performance. It also employs S-VSC* + Active Control 4WD Integrated Control, which combines the electric 4WD system with electric power steering, ABS and VSC.

Toyota also created a concept car for the new-category vehicle, which is called FSC. Said concept combines the qualities of sedan and utility minivan. Its bB concept car, on the other hand, with ‘sensually edgy attitude’ is especially designed for young urbanites. Finally, the TF105 concept car is a F1 championship racing car, which is noted for its reliable engine and powerful performance.

Electric vehicles have been around for many years, even though the general public think that electrically powered vehicles are a recent invention. This is because only in recent years these type of vehicles have become more widely known due to being considered as possible alternatives to vehicles powered by combustion engines in an effort to reduce emissions that contribute to Global warming.

An electrically powered small scale model car invented in 1828 in Hungary is considered by many as being the first invented electric vehicle. Others consider an electric powered carriage invented in the 1830′s in Scotland by Robert Anderson as the first electrical powered vehicle. Another small scale electric car was designed by Professor Stratingh and built by Christopher Becker, his assistant, in Holland in 1835. Thomas Davenport also built a small electric car in 1835. He also invented the first DC motor built in the US.

Unfortunately battery technology was not advanced enough to justify further development of these type of vehicles back then. It was not until the late 1890′s that the first true passenger electric vehicle was built by William Morrison in the US. In fact in the years 1899 and 1900 more electric vehicles were sold than other types of vehicles like gasoline and steam powered vehicles in the US.

In the 1900′s electric powered vehicles had many advantages as compared to their competitors. They didn’t have the smell, vibration as well as noise as did the gasoline vehicles. Also, changing gears on gasoline vehicles was the most complicated part of driving, while electrical automobiles did not require gear changes. Steam-powered cars additionally had no gear shifting, but they suffered from long start-up times of up to 45 minutes on cold early mornings.

Steam vehicles had less range before requiring water than an electric vehicle’s range on a single charge. The best roads of the period were in town, restricting most travel to local commuting, which was well suitable for electric vehicles, since their range was limited. The electric car was the preferred alternative of many because it did not require to manually turn the hand crank to start the engine as the gasoline vehicles needed and there was no wrestling with a gear shifter to change gears.

During World War I, the cost of petrol went through the roof contributing to the popularity of electric cars. This lead to the development of the Detroit Electric which started production in 1907. The car’s range between battery recharging was about 130km (80 miles). The range depended on exactly what type of battery came with the vehicle. The typical Detroit Electric was actually powered by a rechargeable lead acid battery, which did exceptionally well in cold weather.

But the popularity of the electric car quickly came to an end. With better roads being built not only within cities, but also connecting them, the need for longer range vehicles grew. This made the electric car an impractical means of transportation. Also the newly discovered oil in the state of Texas in the US which brought the price of gas down considerably, along with the electric starter invention in 1912 which eliminated the need for a hand crank, made the gasoline vehicle the vehicle of choice. And with Henry Ford making them extremely affordable to the general public by mass producing them, the fate of the electric vehicle was sealed for many years.

It wasn’t until the 1990′s that electric vehicles started resurfacing. With the Global warming issue, the exorbitant prices of imported crude oil and legislation for smog reduction in cities, electric vehicles not only resurfaced but this time are here to stay. One of the main reasons contributing to the re-birth of the electric car is the advance in battery technology. The lithium-ion battery packs and the nickel metal hybrid battery packs are much lighter than previous batteries and can hold enough charge to power a vehicle for 100′s of Miles at high speeds between charges making electrical vehicles efficient and practical.

Concept cars are prototypes of ideal cars. They are usually showcased for public exhibition. In the fiercely competitive world of car manufacturing, manufacturers are constantly designing and making special cars to show their ability to design and manufacture highly useful cars, built ahead of the times. As the name goes, such cars are purely conceptual in nature.

Why are concept cars conceptual?

Manufacturers of such cars do not go for mass production. This is because prototype cars are non-traditional and are made of very expensive materials or materials like paper or carbon fiber, mass production of which is not feasible. The designs and layouts of such cars are too fanciful to be implemented practically.

Purpose of designing concept cars:

Concept cars are made combining the best of modern technology with the highly effective and time-tested layouts of cars from the past. Reactions to such cars enable automobile companies feel the pulse of the market. The fanciness of the cars set the pace for future designs. Manufacturers come to know whether a car is acceptable or requires a few modifications before going to production. Cars which evince little interest are usually destroyed. Those which catch the imagination of the public are preserved as a strategy to expand the list of company patents.

Toyota Motor Corp. showcased 7  Toyota concept cars at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show. The cars unveiled by the company feature several groundbreaking and futuristic technologies. Among the concept cars showcased are the Fine-X and i-swing. While the former is a personal mobility vehicle the latter is a brand new fuel cell hybrid vehicle. The company has also showcased a prototype car, which has headlights that change intensity of light from dull to bright. The change in color reflects feeling of the driver, whether is happy, sad, or angry.

Among the 2009 concept cars Vision GLK Bluetec, the GLK compact crossover and Vision GLK Freeside are expected to be popular among the mass. Cheverolet will be launching the Chevrolet Camaro Convertile. Audi will introduce six new models in next three years. Audi Q7 SUV is the first of the six models. Audi r8 will make debut later this year. Other models are Audi A4, Audi A5, and Audi Q5. The last of the models which is shrouded in mystery is likely to be out after 2 years. To make its aging models come off age, Jaguar’s S type line-up is being replaced by Jaguar XF in 2009.

With all the great news from the auto industry introducing another hybrid vehicle or another electric vehicle, this article explores a bit what such vehicles are made of. What are the differences with the conventional petrol car and what might the future hold for them?

The first difference you see these days is that both the electric vehicle and the hybrid vehicle come with a plug to charge it at home; the conventional vehicle has not. The conventional vehicle also has no electric engine to power the wheels or a large battery to power this engine. The conventional car of course does have a battery, but that is just used for starting the internal combustion engine and it acts as a buffer for the electrical systems used. Power in the conventional vehicle is generated by the combustion engine.

For an electric vehicle, there are two main components: the electric motor and the battery. The electric motor is the one to power the wheels of the vehicle and the battery is used to bring along energy for the trip. They almost all have the option of regenerative braking, which allows one to recover energy when slowing down and charging the battery a little while doing so. This is a great method to increase the overall efficiency for a vehicle! Further more there is often a special battery management system (BMS) which ensures the battery is kept at the right temperature and is not charged or discharged in a way that can damage the battery.

For a hybrid vehicle there are a few more main components: besides the electric motor and the battery, there is also an onboard power source like the conventional combustion engine (but also a fuel cell is used for example). Additionally, there is a system that somehow connects the power from the battery and the for example combustion engine and gets it to the wheels. There are many ways to do this last step, the simplest being that the combustion engine would be used as a generator to power the electric motor with electricity. Excess electricity is stored in the battery for future use. Another method is to have a special gear set combine the mechanical power from the combustion engine and the electric engine and get them to the wheels. There are also manufacturers who power one set of wheels with the combustion engine and the other set of wheels with the electric engine. A big advantage of the hybrid vehicle is that it can use the very efficient electric engine at lower speeds (for example urban areas) and the combustion engine for extra power on the highways or for extra range.

To sum it up, an electric vehicle consists of:

- Electric Engine
- Battery

A hybrid vehicle consists of:

- Electric Engine
- Battery
- Energy source (internal combustion engine, fuel cell, etc)

The disadvantages of the electric vehicle and the hybrid are mostly the cost. Compared to the conventional car they can cost more to purchase. This has two main reasons; the first being that the conventional car is mass-manufactured which makes it cheaper (compare one million units produces versus one thousand units produced) and the second is the current price of batteries. Batteries at the moment are the biggest cost within the vehicle, the larger your battery is, the larger the cost is in the total price of the vehicle.

Another disadvantage which currently mostly applies to the electric vehicle, is the range it can cover. Current vehicles are of such a weight and their batteries can only hold a certain amount of power. Comparing the electric vehicle to a conventional petrol car they can cover a lot less ground on a full charge or tank. The first argument to counter this disadvantage is that most people do not drive distances that can not be covered by an electric vehicle. Current electric vehicles can cover about double or four times the daily distance required by many people! However, there are three movements currently helping to overcome the range anxiety problem. The first is the battery manufacturer, which improves the technology so that the battery will weigh less and can contain more power. The second is the charging industry, where solutions are found in fast charging. Conventional charging can take up to eight hours to charge your vehicle. The goal is to reduce this to an acceptable amount of mere minutes. The third force is heading for battery swapping; much like a petrol station, an electric vehicle can swap the empty battery for a fully charged one.

For the future of the electric vehicle and the hybrid there are many options, the most popular ones are:

- Fuel Cells
- Fast Charging of batteries
- Better batteries that weigh less and hold more power
- Battery swapping stations
- New car design options

Lots to expect from the electric vehicle and the hybrid vehicle!

In the recent years of vehicle trends, it seems like everyone is into eco-friendly vehicles such as hybrids and all electric cars. Americans cannot get enough of the mediocre looking Prius. They pee in their pants just thinking about the new all electric Nissan Leaf. But what about all the driving enthusiasts out there who wish they could drive a fun sports car that was both riveted by powerful performance and looked dead sexy? Both Nissan and Toyota have put their thinking caps on and came up with a couple exciting new concept cars for the future. Prius haters rejoice! You can still look good and be eco-friendly at the same time when driving these vehicles:

1) Nissan ESFLOW Electric Sports Car-it looks like a sports car and drives like a sports car, but it has one key difference-it’s all electric. The ESFLOW is powered by the same technology used in the Nissan Leaf. The ESFLOW is a pure electric vehicle with zero emissions, has two electric motors and lithium ion batteries. With the new ESFLOW, no sacrifices need to be made to drive an ecological car. You get everything you want out of this eco-friendly sports car-an attractive sleek look, sporty performance and friendly to the environment.

2) Nissan Townpod Concept. After seeing the new 2011 Juke, it isn’t shocking to see Nissan developing the most unique looking concept vehicles in the market today. Take a look at the Nissan Townpod Concept, a car that looks more like a toy than an actual vehicle. Nissan notices that there are more people today who work from home and do not have fixed hours or regimented schedules. Their business life and social life tend to blend together. As such, Nissan believes “their personal transportation must be equally multifaceted.” The Townpod will combine the “comfort and style of a passenger car with the businesslike utility of a commercial vehicle.” This will also be a zero emission vehicle.

3) Toyota FT-HS. Toyota’s concept FT-HS combines hybrid powertrain with sports car fundamentals. In order to come up with a “suitable sports car for the 21st century” Toyota developed the FT-HS concept, a hybrid sports car that is powered by a V6 3.5L engine and coupled with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive that produces 400 horsepower and a projected zero-to-60 acceleration in the four-second range.

With the price of gas steadily climbing around the country, more and more drivers are looking forward to the next wave of cars that will look great, serve their needs, and save them money at the pump (or take them away from the pump). At auto shows around the country this past year, more and more auto makers were showing concept cars that were green, ones that used little to no gas. Here are a few of those cars that you may be driving in the next five years.

Mazda Nagare

Offering a sleek style and futuristic look, the Mazda Nagare features gull-wing doors that open up to reveal space inside for four passengers, with the driver sitting front and center, and three passengers sitting in the rear lounge style seat. While Mazda hasn’t confirmed exactly what type of drive-train will be used on the Nagare, they have said that it could use a hydrogen-powered rotary engine. No time table or production numbers have yet been given for the Nagare, as Mazda is currently using it mostly as a design experiment.

Daihatsu UFE-III

A third generation concept from the Tokyo auto show, the UFE-III features three seats (a 1 + 2 configuration), and an aerodynamic body that is part of the root of its fuel economy. Powered by a diminutive 660cc Atkinson 3 cylinder engine and two electric motors, the UFE-III has a fuel economy of 203 miles per gallon. It’s unclear if this car will ever be seen in the United States, but the design and fuel economy are exactly that US drivers are currently looking for.

GM Saab Aero X

Taking a cue from their aviation roots, Saab has created a concept car without traditional doors, instead opting for a canopy opening similar to what one would find on a fighter jet. This two seater is made from lighter materials to help with fuel economy, and uses ethanol instead of standard gasoline to fuel its 400-hp twin turbo V6 engine. No word on when or if this car will ever see production, but more than one car enthusiast is already drooling over the possibility.

Volvo 3CC

Featuring an electric powertrain that can quietly propel the car to a top speed of 85mph, the Volvo 3CC is what many drivers are starting to look forward to – a car that doesn’t rely on gasoline. Initially designed with 3 seats (2 in the front, one in the back), the current design is offering a more traditional four seat layout, while maintaining the futuristic look of many concept cars, including upswing doors for easy entrance. Included in this concept car, are added safety features such as steering wheel, instrument panel, and foot pedals that all shift forward during a collision to reduce impact.

Ford Airstream

Taking a page from the classic airstream trailers, the Ford Airstream pays homage with its classic colors and body design, all the while offering a family car for the next century. Powered by an electric fuel cell that gets the equivalent of 41 miles per gallon, the Ford Airstream can travel 25 miles before the fuel cells kick in to recharge the lithium ion batteries that give power to operate the car. With a screen for entertaining and setting the mood inside the car, this is a family vehicle that looks great and is great for the environment. Ford hasn’t said whether you’ll be able to find this at your local dealership yet (be that a Kansas Ford dealership or someplace in California), but with the demand for family vehicles that are environmentally friendly, be on the lookout for it in the near future.

Toyota FT-HS

A sports car for the next century, the Toyota FT-HS features seating for between two and four passengers (depending on whether or not the roof is retracted), and 400-hp or engine output from its Hybrid Synergy Drive. With a dedicated drivers cockpit that has all of the instruments and readings necessary centered on the driver, this sports car features sleek lines to help reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. Toyota hasn’t said when or if the FT-HS will see production, but do keep an eye out for some of its features to start appearing in Scions.

Honda FCX

One of the closer vehicles to seeing production, the Honda FCX features a fuel cell system, but that’s only the start of what makes this concept so impressive. Speed sensitive adjusting instrument panels move according to speed to be more effective, biometric systems adjust the mirrors, wheel, and pedals to your settings as you approach the vehicle, and line of sight operated switches allow you to control things like audio and air conditioning without removing your hands from the wheel. All of this, coupled with a spacious interior made from new-age light-weight materials and you have a vehicle that provides 21st century technology and green efficiency into a vehicle that suits the needs of most drivers.

Chevrolet Volt

Looking to see production in 2010, the Chevy Volt drew rave reviews at the most recent car shows due to its design and E-Flex propulsion system that utilizes a combination of plug-in electricity and gasoline to provide a car that can attain an estimated 640 miles on a single tank of gas. All of this on a car that is rumored to range in price from $20,000 to $35,000.

With most people commuting less than 40 miles, Chevy designed the Volt to travel up to 40 miles without using a single drop of gas, and then using gas only to recharge the batteries that actually move the wheels. With space for five and a futuristic design that is both appealing and aerodynamic, the Volt is well on its way to being the first of many vehicles that are environmentally friendly and stylish at the same time.

More to Come

Every year more and more manufacturers are offering concept cars that are stylish, spacious, and fuel efficient to a more and more demanding public. While this is certainly not a comprehensive list of green concept cars, there will certainly be more shown in the years to come.

With rising fuel costs, more and more people and are looking for alternatives. One such alternative that is gaining popularity, especially with the do-it yourself types, are the electric vehicle kits. Anyone familiar with automobiles can now use these kits to convert traditional gas powered vehicles to one powered by electric current.

However, converting a traditional Gas powered vehicle into an electric vehicle can be a very daunting task. Only those who are the very mechanically minded should try this. To convert the vehicle will require extensive modifications to nearly all-mechanical parts of the car. Everything from the engine to the radiator, heater and air-conditioning, to the gauges on the panel. On top of that, the electric cars have to be recharged on a regular basis, which means having to purchase or use the services of recharging station. Solar power could be another potential source of power for the electric vehicle.

Can any car be converted into an electric vehicle?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Not all cars can be converted into an electric vehicle. However, and the most common electric vehicle kit seems to be the Chevy S-10 pick up kit. For examples to follow just do a search online for Chevy S-10 pickup Electric conversions.
Other cars that are good candidates for conversion are the Chevy Geo, especially from 1989 to 1999. These cars are good potential candidates for an electric vehicle kit conversion. Cars similar to the Chevy Geo Metro, such as the Chevy Sprint, Pontiac Firefly and the Suzuki Swift are also ideal for conversions too.

Are there downsides to using an electric vehicle kit?

Going back a few years, many people associated electric powered vehicles with slowness and a lack of power. But as usual, thanks to technology, significant advances in the electric vehicle have changed all that. With these electric vehicle kits some cars can reach top speeds of between 70 and 75 mph. nonetheless, converting to electric power still has its drawbacks.

The biggest drawback it is of course the need for recharging the batteries. As an example, the Chevy Geo Metro kit must be recharged every 20 to 40 miles, depending on driving habits and battery quality. For city driving, this would be ideal. However, for lengthy commutes on the highway, this would not be ideal.

The Chevy S-10 with an electric vehicle kit installed will run a little longer on a single charge. On a single charge, the S-10 should last between 40 and 60 miles. Again this depends upon the driving habits as well as the size and quality of batteries. Some S-10 models can be equipped with solar powered panels which would in reduced in the need for charging, at least when driving during daylight hours.

Converting vehicles with electric vehicle kits is not a cheap affair. Most conversion kits seem to cost between $8000 to $10,000. And this does not even include professional installation as well as the cost of the batteries, not to mention access to or the purchase of a charging station.

Quite frankly, with the cost involved of using an electric vehicle kit, it probably wouldn’t be very practical for the average consumer, especially if they do a lot of highway driving. However, that being said, it probably would be ideal for a back yard mechanic who loves to tinker with cars and has a few bucks to throw around and wants to impress his beer-drinking buddies.

A concept car is a car that features an unusual design and it usually highlights certain aspects like style or new technology. The purpose of designing concept car is to generate consumer interest before the car is produced. The manufacturer will see what the general public’s opinion is before they decide to mass produce the car. If public shows favorable response, the manufacturer most likely will produce it. Generally, most concept cars are not mass produced since the cost can be very expensive. However, that should not discourage you from designing your own concept cars, especially if you have the talent. When it comes to the design, there is no limit to what you can and cannot do. Don’t think about whether the car will be produced or not. To design your own concept cars, you just have to follow these five easy steps:

1. Decide a concept or theme that you want to highlight. You may want to emphasize on the material, engine type, or the shape. If you work in a group, brainstorming is a good way to gather ideas. Through the discussion, choose the most innovative concept or combine the best two concepts.

2. Sketch the car manually, don’t go to the computer first. You have to make rough sketches of both the interior and exterior. When creating a sketch by hand, don’t expect perfection. Let the ideas flow and show it through the basic drawing.

3. Choose a color scheme that represents the overall theme. At least, you have to choose colors that look attractive. You can change the colors later when you have moved to the next process but it is important to plan the colors first.

4. Now, you can use the computer to refine your design. You can use whatever graphics software you want, but if you expect the best results, you must use the best software. If you want to view the car from different angles, you can use 3D design software. You can also use a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) program to design the engine or other specific parts of the car. At this stage, you also have to think about the details. Make sure that you design details like mirrors, door handles or seat belts well.

5. Last but not least, create a model. Your work will be easier if you use an existing car as the basis of your design. You can use a toy car and modify it with your own design. Thus you should make the computerized 3D design and physical model.

Who would have thought that you could have a mean looking, fast racing, good looking sports car that also has impressive green credentials? Well, that’s exactly what Porsche are proposing with their latest concept car: the Porsche 918 Spyder. Let’s take a closer look.

Unveiled on the eve of the famous Geneva Auto Show, the Stuttgart based company, Porsche, lifted the lid on their new concept car which happens to be a mid engine, two seater sports cars with hybrid and electric drive technology. It certainly looks mean, but what are the stats like? Remarkably impressive when looked at. Nought to Sixty in less than 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 198mph and it happens to be faster than the Carrera GT, as proven by successfully finishing the Nurburgring lap in less than 7 minutes 30 seconds.

So, how can a car have all this power and claim to be green? The 918 Spyder has electric motors at the front and rear axles. The drive to the front wheels is purely electric via a fixed ratio. The liquid cooled lithium ion battery pack sits behind the cockpit and can be ideally charged at home or by brake regeneration.

This sports car is a high revving V-8 related, 3.4 litre racing car. It produces more than 500 brake horse power with engine revs of up to 9200 rpm. Yet, it does an incredible 78mpg, driven the right way, plus the emissions level sit at just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

The chassis is made from CFP (Carbon fiber reinforced plastic), along with the use of a lot of magnesium and aluminium to keep the frame as light as possible. The stylish interior is designed to be driver orientated with touch screens and intuitive controls.

The Porsche 918 Spyder whilst still a concept car at this stage is a sports car that looks exactly how a sports car should look and drives exactly how a sports car should drive along with boosting very impressive green credentials. It promises to be a car of the future holding real production possibilities which could set a new standard for the next generation of sports cars.