Animated explanation of the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive, with its petrolengine, two motor-generators, planetgearset and big battery. Modeled in Blender, rendered in the Blender Game Engine.
Yea they make incredible use of a planetary gear set, much more so than the planetaries in an automatic trans. I think it's brilliant they made a flawlessly smooth transitioning device that allows additive torque input from 3 different sources. It runs on simple, normal trans fluid, and it shares a separate coolant loop with the inverter/converter solid state control box. Separate from the engine's coolant I mean. And all this stuff runs north of 300-400k miles before even pretending to have problems. And it's certainly worth the battery cost every decade or two since it pays for itself in saved gas money in 2-3 years.
This is one of the best explanations of how the hybrid engine works. Superb graphics and dialog make this a must-see for all Toyota Hybrid car drivers, such as I. This documentation was not easy to do and the creator spent a lot of time. It is worthwhile and I thank you for the excellence and passing on the knowledge. Well done.
There is always something special to me about these "sketchy" animation videos. Like they just explain it casually and straightforwadly rather than trying to have a glamorous looking presentation.
I have had a Toyota Camry Hybrid since February 2015. When I drove it away from the dealership, it felt like Star Trek technology to me. After almost four years, it has been 100% reliable with no break downs whatsoever!
Just got an 08 Prius myself. Had a good laugh when I realized it doesn't even have automatic headlights (it's an option)...Good god I hate unnecessary beeps :D But yeah, feels weird after a Mini.
Another channel removed and opened up the ICE of a Prius after 200,000miles/300,000km. It was like brand new. The battery and occasionally the inverter coolant pump is about the only thing that can go wrong with these cars.
Sir, your video is a piece of jewelry - you're truly an "internet angel" producing high quality content and promoting interest for technology and science. My profound respect and gratefulness!
This is a great explanation. We bought a Prius in 2008, and have been really happy with it. An amazing vehicle. Almost no maintenance, after 151000 miles, and excellent mileage. Lately the battery has shown decreased performance, but we still love it.
This a beautiful presentation - Simply brilliant! Your motion graphics spared you the effort of at minimum 5,000 words. I'm subscribed and looking forward to your further efforts. thank you-
Just came across this. Absolutely fantastic! What a labour of love. I love animated CAD and thoughtful explanations. Very enjoyable and recommended to a number of friends. Matt Lee (age 62. And old engineer.)
Outstanding explanation .. watched several times to fully understand .. I play at 75%, stop frequently, replay and reflect on the actions inside the planetary element .. a pleasure to learn this. Thanks a million !
This is a really good video. Starting off by explaining the problems engineers were trying to solve using clutches and gearboxes sets the context and makes you realise just how amazing the HSD is. Great animation - it must have taken a lot of effort. Thank you.
What a fantastic video, and amazing use of 3D software! I asked the man in the Toyota shop yesterday how the engine coupled into the wheels along with the motor - did it use a clutch of some sort - and he fobbed me off with utter nonsense. Now I understand! The explanation given here could not be bettered, and the two-motor-generator system with planetary gears has to be the new challenge for youngster to grasp, just as the differential once was. I wonder if anyone has built it in Lego yet! Thanks very much.
I suspect that very few mechanics (even those working at a Toyota dealer) understand how the hybrid system works. It so seldom needs repair that only a few specialists ever work on it, just the rest of the car and things like cooling system, exhaust, brakes, suspension, etc.
What a great video! Well done, Niels! You have done something which is so necessary: you have used graphics and words to explain CONCEPTS. This is so crucial in explaining the IDEAS behind how things work. Indeed, your are an exceptionally good teacher.
A brilliant mind is able to understand complex things, a genius is able to understand complex things and explain them in simple terms to those who don’t understand
After spending an afternoon trying to get the hang of the Toyota e-cvt that's appearantly in my Rav4 Plugin, this video was the best and actually manages to explain how it works. Thank you Nils!
You did an amazing job of breaking it down and making it logical and relatively easy to understand!! Thank You!! You have quite a gift of logical communication!
Very impressive explanation of the Prius. Complicated to say the least. These cars are ubiquitous. They're everywhere. One of Toyota's greatest successes.
Nice explanation! I always wondered exactly how this system worked and it's simpler than I thought. Loved the graphics. Made it much easier to understand. Thanks!
I think it is brilliant to use an generator as a clutch. [that is what MG1 is doing. It is acting like a clutch, all the while it is a generator. The friction that normally would have been lost as heat in a conventional clutch is converted to electricity that runs MG2] Genius!
@ Poker Channel Yeah that's pretty cool. I wonder why hybrid tech isn't more or less mandatory - since it seems naturally more efficient with fuel, in a number of ways.
Best illustration/explanation I've seen on the HSD. I could even say it's the best explanation I've seen on anything on youtube. Well done and thanks a lot!
There's also the old black & white "more spokes" video on the principle of the differential that has the same step-by-step explanatory quality. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yYAw79386WI.html
I know this is a few years on, but it’s the first time it has ‘come to life’ as it were. You graphics for explaining how the planetary set works is effective - better than the original Toyota presentations. Note that the second planetary set connected to MG2 (the traction motor) is really a fixed ratio reduction set, allowing the motor to run faster. The ‘smaller’ version of this drive (the so-called “hybrid synergy drive” (HSD) ) does not use a chain to connect to the differential gear set - it’s a short shaft from the ‘ring gear’. Although the mechanical arrangement is well described, there’s a bit more to it! In particular, there are three inverters (to work with the motors, which are variable frequency a.c.), and a pair of d.c. converters. The most important battery in this type of car is the high voltage d.c. one - if it’s dead you’ve had it, but if the smaller 12V d.c. one fails, that is easy to overcome with a conventional external d.c. “jump start” device. The contractor for the HSD is Aisin-Seiko - at least 30% of it’s shares being owned by Toyota; it’s own site may be of interest. Also worth noting that the choice of this system is related to the use of the Atkinson cycle for the engine (most of the time), so as to optimise it’s thermal efficiency, at the expense of reduced torque/power at any given engine speed. What is nice about it is that traction motors have maximum torque at zero speed.
Brilliant video. Complex engineering made much simpler to understand. I am sure Neils you will give it the required update and revision when required. One of the most informative animations I have ever seen.
I had a fair understanding about the hybrid engines but you brought it to a real full understanding of it _ I wanted to thank you _ and I will recommend this video to Prius drivers...
What an amazing video, thanks Niels for all your work. I’m not 100% sure how the damn thing works but I’m much closer and I’ll continuing studying so I can get tp a point where I can explain it to my granddaughter.
Nice explanation, thanks. I have driven my friends on a couple occasions and found I really like the car. Will probably be my next vehicle in some iteration.
Family has two hybrids, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Ford Fusion Hybrid, the latter actually employs the same identical powertrain as the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive as Ford & Toyota cross licenses patents. The lack of gearshift and no intrusive engine start stop is something that I learn to love in driving hybrids. Even better understanding regenerative braking- no more guilt of riding the brakes and replacing pads & rotors when the MG2 can take it all back and give you more electricity to get even further.
EXCELLENT video & explanations. my prius just died & stranded me not far from the middle of nowhere last week. your video allows me to better understand what happened.
Weber auto and your video just blew my mind. This is all i was looking for the past 3 days and yet you did it. I drive an Auris II and i finally knows how it works thanks to weber auto and you. Keep up the great work!!!