  At the international summit on global warming held in Kyoto last December, an accord was reached by the three main industrial powers, the EU, the US and Japan, to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 8 percent, 7 percent and 6 percent respectively between 2008 and 2012. While the commitments entered into in Kyoto are only a first step, the fact that they were agreed at all demonstrates that governments now recognise that time is running out for us to take effective action to preserve the global environment. But although society has now developed a general environmental awareness, the basic human need for mobility remains unchanged. And mobility, in whatever form it takes, has an impact on the environment. Take the automobile, for example. Cars have become indispensable in our everyday lives, and their importance will only increase in the future. Yet their impact on the global environment has already grown to a level that simply cannot be ignored. The situation demands positive action. Keeping the car's environmental impact to a minimum and, in the process, overcoming both genuine and apparent conflicts of interest, is a challenge that all automakers the world over now face. 
In order to meet this challenge, it will be necessary to continue improving conventional petrol-fueled vehicles while at the same time exploring totally different concepts, such as EVs (electric vehicles). Daihatsu's history of EV development dates back more than 30 years. During this time Daihatsu has produced all kinds of EVs including prototypes, production models, road-going, and special purpose vehicles. EVs exhibit excellent characteristics in terms of their environmental impact because, in their authentic form, they produce no direct exhaust gas emissions. For this reason, EVs are suitable for wide-ranging business applications such as small-lot deliveries, communication and public relations activities. They are also useful for shopping and commuting. However, the conventional EV's major drawback is that it cannot be used for long haul driving because of its limited range. Currently available types of battery need to be recharged frequently, most typically after every 100 km of driving under normal conditions. But with the world's environmental problems becoming increasingly severe, we cannot afford to simply sit and wait for a revolutionary new battery to come along. So rather than simply waiting for the arrival of a revolutionary new battery, in the meantime why not make an EV that can drastically extend its range even when running on currently available types of battery. That was the concept behind the MOVE EV-H, yet another series hybrid EV study from Daihatsu. In order to extend the vehicle's range using currently available types of battery, the MOVE EV-H is equipped with a power-generating engine. Make no mistake, the MOVE EV-H is always powered solely by an electric motor. However, it carries an internal combustion engine that is used exclusively for generating electricity to store in the batteries.  
The electric power plant consists of a 2-cylinder 570 cc petrol engine and a generator. The engine runs the generator only when the residual energy stored in the batteries runs low. In an effort to reduce exhaust gas emissions and fuel consumption, this engine is designed to run continuously at the rpm at which the fuel burns most efficiently. 
The motor is a permanent magnet DC brushless type especially selected for its high efficiency and capable of producing a maximum output of 19 kW. The power generated by the motor is transmitted to the drive shaft via the final reduction gear and differential. Taking advantage of the characteristics of the electric motor, the MOVE EV-H doesn't require a transmission gearbox, therefore driving is easy with only two pedals to operate just like in an automatic transmission car. 
Twenty-four 28-Ah valve-regulated lead-acid batteries are employed. These batteries are characterised by the high recyclability of their constituents: about 98 percent of the materials used in their construction are recyclable. 
Theoretically, even without the help of its on-board power plant, the MOVE EV-H can travel 60 km with the batteries fully charged. But thanks to this series hybrid configuration, the MOVE EV-H can travel more than 300 km once the batteries are fully charged and the tank is full. As for driving performance, with two people on board the MOVE EV-H can reach a maximum speed of 100 km/h and 0-40 km/h acceleration takes only 6 seconds. 
The motor is mounted above the front axle and below the engine/generator unit, while the batteries are mounted over the rear axle to ensure a balanced weight distribution. 
The original MOVE's long wheelbase and high-roof design remains unchanged in the MOVE EV-H. The new model features a spacious cabin which boasts an interior height of 1360 mm, an interior length of 1705 mm and seats four adults in comfort. Easy access to the interior is assured by wide and tall door openings and an unusually high seat level. 
Superficially, the thing that most distinctly differentiates the MOVE EV-H from its base model is the front mask with its circular headlights. 
The MOVE EV-H can be used as a pure EV for short haul driving. For example, during the day it can be used for travelling relatively short distances as a pure EV, in which case the batteries are charged during the night when electric power demand is generally low. This mode of utilization also contributes to more effective use of electric power on a macro scale by levelling out power consumption around the clock. In addition, the MOVE EV-H can also be used for long haul driving thanks to its own on-board power plant, thereby overcoming the conventional EV's major drawback. 
When we exhibited our earlier series hybrid study, the DASH 21 in 1993, we said that "all the technology used in this car undoubtedly can and probably will be applied for mass-production models in the near future." Although the MOVE EV-H is yet another series hybrid EV study, it is by no means a dream car. Based on the platform of a popular production model, the MOVE EV-H represents a huge step forward toward meeting the practical needs of 21st century motoring. 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SIRION MOVE EV-H |