BlueTec is DaimlerChrysler's name for its two nitrogen oxide (NOx) reducing systems, for use in their Diesel automobile engines. One is a urea catalyst called AdBlue, the other is called DeNOx and uses an oxidising catalytic converter and particular filter combined with other NOx introduced the systems in the reducing systems. Both systems were designed to slash emissions further than ever before. Mercedes-BenzE-Class (using the 'DeNOx' system) and GL-Class (using 'AdBlue') at the 2006 North American International Auto Show as the E 320 and GL 320 Bluetec. This system makes these vehicles 45-state and 50-state legal respectively in the United States, and is expected to meet all emissions regulations through 2009. It also makes DaimlerChrysler the only car manufacturer in the the US committed to selling diesel models in the 2007 model year.
A MAP sensor (manifold absolute pressure) is one of the sensors used in an internal combustion engine's electronic control system. Engines that use a MAP sensor are typically fuel injected. The manifold absolute pressure sensor provides instantaneous pressure information to the engine's electronic control unit (ECU). This is necessary to calculate air density and determine the engine's air mass flow rate, which in turn is used to calculate the appropriate fuel flow. (See stoichiometry.)
An engine control system that uses manifold absolute pressure to calculate air mass, is using the speed-density method. Engine speed (RPM) and air temperature are also necessary to complete the speed-density calculation. Not all fuel injected engines use a MAP sensor to infer mass air flow, some use a MAF sensor (mass air flow).
The Valvetronic system is the first variable valve timing system to offer continuously variable timing (on both intake and exhaust camshafts) along with continuously variable intake valve lift, from ~0 to 10 mm, on the intake camshaft only. Valvetronic-equipped engines are unique in that they rely on the amount of valve lift to throttle the engine rather than a butterfly valve in the intake tract. In other words, in normal driving, the 'gas pedal' controls the Valvetronic hardware rather than the throttle plate
First introduced by BMW on the 316ti compact in 2001, Valvetronic has since been added to many of BMW's engines. The Valvetronic system is coupled with BMW's proven double-VANOS, to further enhance both power and efficiency across the engine speed range. Valvetronic will not be coupled to BMW's N53 and N54, 'High Precision Injection' (gasoline direct injection) technology due to lack of room in the cylinder head.
Cylinder heads with Valvetronic use an extra set of rocker arms, called intermediate arms (lift scaler), positioned between the valve stem and the camshaft. These intermediate arms are able to pivot on a central point, by means of an extra, electronicly actuated camshaft. This movement alone, without any movement of the intake camshaft, can open or close the intake valves.
Because the intake valves now have the ability to move from fully closed to fully open positions, and everywhere in between, the primary means of engine load control is transferred from the throttle plate to the intake valvetrain. By eliminating the throttle plate's 'bottleneck' in the intake track, pumping losses are reduced, fuel economy and responsiveness are improved.
A regenerative brake is an apparatus, a device or system which allows a vehicle to recapture part of the kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost to heat when braking and make use of that power either by storing it for future use or feeding it back into a power system for other vehicles to use.
It is similar to an electromagnetic brake, which generates heat instead of electricity and is unable to completely stop a rotor.
Regenerative brakes are a form of dynamo generator, originally discovered in 1832 by Hippolyte Pixii. The dynamo's rotor slows as the kinetic energy is converted to electrical energy through electromagnetic induction. The dynamo can be used as either generator or brake by converting motion into electricity or be reversed to convert electricity into motion.
Using a dynamo as an regenerative brake was discovered co-incident with the modern electric motor. In 1873, Zénobe Gramme attached the wires from two dynamos together. When one dynamo rotor was turned as a regenerative brake, the other became an electric motor.
It is estimated that regenerative braking systems in vehicles currently reach 31.3% electric generation efficiency, with most of the remaining energy being released as heat; the actual efficiency depends on numerous factors, such as the state of charge of the battery, how many wheels are equipped to use the regenerative braking system, and whether the topology used is parallel or serial in nature. The system is no more efficient than conventional friction brakes, but reduces the use of contact elements like brake pads, which eventually wear out. Traditional friction-based brakes must also be provided to be used when rapid, powerful braking is required.
Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) is a set of hybrid car technologies developed by Toyota and used in that company's Prius, Highlander Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h, and Lexus GS 450h automobiles. It combines the characteristics of an electric drive and a continuously variable transmission, using electricity and transistors in place of toothed gears. The Synergy Drive is a drive-by-wire system with no direct mechanical connection between the engine and the engine controls: both the gas pedal and the gearshift lever in an HSD car merely send electrical signals to a control computer.
HSD is a refinement of the original Toyota Hybrid System (THS) used in the 1997–2003 Toyota Prius. As such it is occasionally referred to as THS II. The name was changed in anticipation of its use in vehicles outside the Toyota brand (Lexus).
When required to classify the transmission type of an HSD vehicle (such as in standard specification lists or for regulatory purposes), Toyota describes HSD-equipped vehicles as having E-CVT (Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission).
