Mitsubishi 2001 Annual Report Download - page 31

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MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION Annual Report 2001 [29]
must cope with increasing numbers of
senior citizens, creating a need for
greater accessibility. MMC has tackled
both these requirements at once
through the development of a hybrid
no-step bus. This combines the low
pollution and superior fuel economy of
a lightweight, compact hybrid power-
train within a HEV (hybrid electric
vehicle) with increased ease of acces-
sibility (no-step buses can vary their
ground clearance so that the entrance
to the bus is much lower when it is
stopped, thereby allowing passengers
to enter or exit the vehicle without
having to negotiate a step).
To produce a low-pollution vehicle
that could be used nationwide without
the need for any new infrastructure,
MMC based the HEV powertrain around
a diesel engine that was modified to
reduce exhaust emissions, fuel con-
sumption and noise—all by consider-
able amounts. The design of the bus
was also rationalized to maximize
cabin floor area and make the vehicle
as practical for passengers as possible.
The bus utilizes a hybrid powertrain
that incorporates a diesel engine and
an electric motor arranged in series.
One advantage of this design is that it
maximizes the free space created by
the layout. The motor provides the
main motive force, while the engine is
used to drive a generator that feeds
power to the motor. Electronic control
of the battery level regulates the oper-
ation of the generator, with the result
that the engine and the generator are
automatically switched off when
battery power is sufficiently high.
During braking, the motor is run in
reverse to provide top-up power for the
battery. This regenerative braking
mechanism helps to raise the energy
efficiency of the system substantially,
allowing for a much smaller size of
MMC’s hybrid no-step bus meets
the demands of modern urban
transport systems.