Abstract
This paper introduces a brief overview of SUBARU´s first full hybrid vehicle the "PLEO HEV," which was government-registered through the alternation registration in October 2000. In the mid 1990s, the common understanding in the automobile industry was that it was too early to introduce HEV technology to the market because of major challenges in mass production including cost issues. However, in the end of 1997, the first-generation Prius was launched into the market. Its selling price and the fact that the vehicle was already designed based on mass production technology gave the industry a great shock. With such an experience in the background, the "PLEO HEV" was developed and prototyped with SUBARU unique hybrid mechanism and cutting edge technologies available at that time for high quality targets. The original preconditions and development target were to install the hybrid system into the existing vehicle, to improve driving cycle fuel economy by 50% compared to the base vehicle, and to build a unique system with mass production feasibility. The features of the "PLEO HEV" are: an Atkinson cycle engine; an extra compact hybrid mechanical CVT transmission; a thin main battery box (Ni-MH); the total control system which is integrated by the CAN communication network. The paper also describes the endurance test of the vehicle on public roads that was conducted for four years and half: the results clarify problems and issues on performance, function, reliability and durability. The results we report will contribute as a guideline for further development of hybrid vehicles at SUBARU.
Keywords: Hybrid electric vehicle, endurance test, reliability, can, battery