Shiotsu Autotrade Japan – President’s Blog

Environment friendly Japanese Hybrid Trucks

Rising global temperatures and escalating fuel prices emphasize the need for hybrid trucks.  This type of vehicle would reduce CO2 emissions and also create less noise pollution besides conserving the remaining naturally available reserves of non-renewable energy sources such as oil.

Fortunately, today we see that not only the small cars, but also the bigger vehicles are taking the greener route.  Many auto companies like UD Trucks, Mitsubishi Fuso, and Hino are taking measures to ensure that their cars as well as their trucks are becoming eco-friendly.  This is a good sign, for the world is becoming more aware about environment pollution and is more sensitive today to carbon emissions.  Also, more stringent standards are being introduced in many countries for controlling carbon emissions.

In today’s world, it is vital for auto customers to give due importance to a vehicle’s fuel consumption statistics when they are deciding on buying a truck.  This is because a truck’s fuel efficiency plays a key role in decreasing the greenhouse effect across the world.

Japanese truck manufacturers make prevention of global warming an important theme for all their research and development initiatives to maximize the fuel efficiency levels of the entire vehicle.  Here are three hybrid trucks that are made to be eco-friendly.

1. Hino Dutro Hybrid Truck

A hybrid model from Hino, Toyota’s subsidiary, the Dutro is powered by a 100 KW diesel engine, 288V NiMH batteries, and a 36VKw 350 Nm electric motor.  This hybrid truck consumes around 10 liters of fuel per 100 km, and its four-liter diesel engine can generate 353 Nm of torque.

2. Mitsubishi Fuso Canter eco hybrid light duty truck

This light duty truck seen for quite some time now on Japanese roads is one of the best examples of environment friendly trucks today.  It is claimed to release as much as 41% less nitrogen oxide and reduce fuel consumption by 20%. Built by Mitsubishi Fuso, an arm of the Daimler Chrysler’s Truck Group, the Canter claims to be the cleanest truck on earth.  Just like Volvo’s FE hybrid, this truck too has a diesel engine, an electric motor, and lithium ion batteries.

3. Hybrid Trucks manufactured by UD Trucks

One of the leading truck makers in Japan, UD Trucks has developed an environment-friendly hybrid truck that is equipped with a an electric motor, a diesel engine, and a capacitor – making their initiative the world’s first commercialization of a hybrid vehicle having a capacitor. Read the rest of this entry »

Daihatsu launches Mira e:S Kei car in Japan – Does 32 Km/liter

The popularity of small cars also called Kei cars in Japan is gaining rapid momentum in Japan. These small cars are light and hence the name Kei cars. These cars are powered by engines up to 660 cc.  The Kei cars were designed mainly to take advantage of the insurance regulations and local tax.  These cars are a rage in rural areas as most of the rural areas are exempt from stringent rules and regulations.  Parking space is also not a problem with these small cars.

The Kei cars are not expensive and easy way to negotiate the traffic as they find their way between the heavy vehicles.  The Kei cars can also be used as minivans and small trucks.  Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota has just come up with the latest model of the very famous Mira known as e: S. This wonderful car Mira e:S has been designed using the latest technologies and promises to be fuel efficient. The car has been designed to derive maximum mileage.  The body of the car, the transmission and the engine all has been totally revised in order to provide maximum efficiency.

Mira e:S – Super High Fuel Efficiency

All the above changes in the body, transmission and engine have made Mira e: S a good forty percent more efficient than all other small cars in terms of energy and fuel efficiency.  The Mira e: S has proved to be the best small car among the 660 cc models.  The fuel consumed by Mira e: S is a good forty percent less than all small cars.  The engine of this car consists of three cylinders, essentially a gasoline 650 cc engine.  The engine provides a very impressive 6800 rpm and 52 horsepower.  The small car achieves a peak torque of 60Nm at 5200rpm.

The mileage provided by Mira e: S is what amazes many.  On one liter of fuel, the small car can travel an amazing 30 Km based on the test cycle of JC08 mode.  This small car can travel a good 32 Km per liter if a test cycle like 10-15 mode is carried out.  The Mira e: S is readily available in four wheel and two wheel drive guise in the domestic market.

Two years ago, the small car sported an e: S idea of three doors and has now been modified to a five door model.  It still continues with variants at four levels for the model released before two years and two variants for the present model. The engines of both the versions are same that is an engine comprising of three cylinders.

The Mira e: S is an expensive car and costs a good $10,500.  This small car is a huge rage and success at home. But, this car has still not gained popularity in the export markets as it is too small for their needs.  But, with the Japanese domestic car market preferring small cars, the producers of Mira e: S have every reason to cheer.

Review of Honda CR-Z Hybrid

The CR-Z car introduced by Honda is a great sports car.  The Honda CR-Z is also a pleasant surprise for all the car lovers as it is one of the best hybrid versions.  The Honda CR-Z is a sleek car with only two seats and two doors.  The design of the suspension and the body structure has been well planned out.  The present CR-Z is shorter in length by a good one foot.  The height of the car has also been reduced by a few inches and the track has been widened a little bit.  The weight of the CR-Z is a good eighty pounds less than the Insight and is quite light.  We’ll discuss more details in this review of Honda CR-Z Hybrid sports car.

Honda CR-Z – Awesome Specs

The Honda CR-Z is based on the IMA hybrid setup.  The CR-Z now sports an engine that runs on gasoline and is a shade bigger than the engine of Insight.  The engine of the CR-Z consumes 1.5 liters of gasoline that generates a torque of 107 pound per feet and a horsepower of 112.  The strong electric motor of the CR-Z produces another 58 lb per feet and 13hp.  The manual transmission system has also been greatly enhanced.  The fuel efficiency is reasonably good with the car delivering a good 39 mpg on the highways and 35 mpg on the city roads.

The CR-Z 2011 with two comfortable seats is available at three levels: EX, EX accompanied with navigation features and the base model.  The popular base model consists of headlights that turn on automatically, climate control system that is automatic, alloy wheels measuring 16 inches in size, manual transmission, accessories for optimum power, manual seats along with adjustment of height options on the driver’s side, steering wheel that is telescoping and comfortable, great cruise control and a CD audio system with six speakers.

The EX model sports fog lights, xenon headlights, side mirrors that are heated, interior trim that is metallic, steering wheel wrapped in leather, advanced audio system with seven speakers and a Bluetooth.  You can also attach a navigation system.  The dealers on their part provide a satellite radio, quality tires and wheels up to 17 inches in size.  The makers of CR-Z have also taken safety in to account by including head restraints that are active, curtain airbags on the sides, airbags on both the sides of the front seat, traction control and stability along with antilock brakes.

The CR-Z 2011 will be introduced with a comfortable, yet a very small backseat, when it is ready to be sold in the car markets across the world.  The CR-Z cars to be introduced in the American car market will have some modifications in the car interiors.  cargo divider of the CR-Z on the rear side can be easily lowered.  This would help in creating a flat floor for accommodating more loads.

Driving the CR-Z is also a great experience.  It is indeed a small car, but it also makes driving simple as it becomes very easy to negotiate the heavy traffic.  The car is very light and does not occupy much parking space.  This wonderful car is definitely a great introduction on the part of Honda and those who love small cars will definitely enjoy driving CR-Z