2007 Subaru Legacy Hybrid?
08-20-2005, 07:06 AM
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2007 Subaru Legacy Hybrid?
From Edmund's Inside Line
Subaru Hybrid Legacy, All-Electric Minicar in the Works
Date Posted 08-19-2005
TOKYO — Subaru plans to debut a hybrid version of the Legacy with a turbocharged engine that delivers 30-percent better fuel economy than a conventional gasoline-powered model, according to media reports here.
The hybrid Legacy is expected to debut in Japan in 2007. Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru cars, said the Subaru hybrid will use a small turbocharged gas engine, compact electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack developed by NEC Corp., a major Japanese electronics maker. Fuji Heavy says it expects the battery for the hybrid to last 15 years.
What this means to you: Strong sales of current hybrid models have told manufacturers that there's money to be made in the gas-electric vehicle market. Subaru will be just one of many carmakers that will jump into hybrid in 2007.
Subaru Hybrid Legacy, All-Electric Minicar in the Works
Date Posted 08-19-2005
TOKYO — Subaru plans to debut a hybrid version of the Legacy with a turbocharged engine that delivers 30-percent better fuel economy than a conventional gasoline-powered model, according to media reports here.
The hybrid Legacy is expected to debut in Japan in 2007. Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru cars, said the Subaru hybrid will use a small turbocharged gas engine, compact electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack developed by NEC Corp., a major Japanese electronics maker. Fuji Heavy says it expects the battery for the hybrid to last 15 years.
What this means to you: Strong sales of current hybrid models have told manufacturers that there's money to be made in the gas-electric vehicle market. Subaru will be just one of many carmakers that will jump into hybrid in 2007.
08-24-2005, 04:59 PM
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Some more info that I'd presume is related.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., which makes Subarus, aims to sell a long-lasting battery for gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains to global automakers starting in 2006.
Together with NEC Corp., a major Japanese electronics maker, Fuji Heavy has developed a manganese lithium ion battery it says can last 15 years or 150,000 miles.
The nickel-metal hydride battery in the Toyota Prius is covered by its warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles.
A year ago, Fuji Heavy started shipping samples of the batteries to several U.S., European and Japanese automakers, which it would not identify. No deals have been struck.
To gain economies of scale, Fuji Heavy wants to sell the batteries to other automakers before using them for Subarus.
"It's not realistic in terms of costs to use the battery only for Subaru cars," says a Fuji Heavy engineer.
The automaker is working on a hybrid powertrain equipped with a turbocharged engine for the Legacy. It plans to test a limited number of the cars in Japan in 2007.
But it's uncertain when Fuji Heavy could bring the powertrain to the United States.
NEC Lamilion Energy Ltd., owned 51 percent by NEC and 49 percent by Fuji Heavy, was set up in 2002 in Japan to develop the hybrid battery.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103034
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., which makes Subarus, aims to sell a long-lasting battery for gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains to global automakers starting in 2006.
Together with NEC Corp., a major Japanese electronics maker, Fuji Heavy has developed a manganese lithium ion battery it says can last 15 years or 150,000 miles.
The nickel-metal hydride battery in the Toyota Prius is covered by its warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles.
A year ago, Fuji Heavy started shipping samples of the batteries to several U.S., European and Japanese automakers, which it would not identify. No deals have been struck.
To gain economies of scale, Fuji Heavy wants to sell the batteries to other automakers before using them for Subarus.
"It's not realistic in terms of costs to use the battery only for Subaru cars," says a Fuji Heavy engineer.
The automaker is working on a hybrid powertrain equipped with a turbocharged engine for the Legacy. It plans to test a limited number of the cars in Japan in 2007.
But it's uncertain when Fuji Heavy could bring the powertrain to the United States.
NEC Lamilion Energy Ltd., owned 51 percent by NEC and 49 percent by Fuji Heavy, was set up in 2002 in Japan to develop the hybrid battery.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103034