Toyota researchers recognised for hybrid innovation

Eric Dede, a manager of the Electronics Research Department at Toyota's Technical Centre (TTC)

After spending considerable time working with the University of Michigan Space Physics Research Laboratory, Dede decided in 2008 to test the waters in the evolving technology of hybrid vehicles and joined Toyota to research and develop multiphysics simulation and thermal management technology for hybrid vehicle power electronic systems.

Now, five years after joining Toyota, Dede's futuristic mindset has helped him invent something that has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of hybrid vehicles. His invention is a new micro-channel cold plate in EVs and hybrids. It provides a 70% increase in heat transfer with a 50% reduction of pumping power. What that boils down to is the potential for a 10% increase in hybrid efficiency.

Major impact

This invention has the potential to have such a major impact that it was recognised for an R&D 100 Award. The R&D 100 Awards recognise and celebrate the top 100 technology products of the year. In a highly innovative and quickly evolving field, having one of the top 100 technology products is no small feat, but it's not the first R&D 100 award Toyota engineers and scientists have won.

It is, however, the first that resulted from research that was done entirely in-house at TTC. While the patent and resulting award bear Dede's name, he's certainly not one to take all the credit. "This was a great collaborative project that established useful methods for the advanced design and optimisation of electromechanical systems," Dede said.

Dede and his fellow TTC scientists and engineers were recognised for their efforts that lead to 1,355 patents in 2013 at a special Innovation Dinner held on 19 June in Michigan in the USA.

A comprehensive range of Toyota hybrid models are available in South Africa including Prius, Yaris, Auris, as well as hybrid variants in the Lexus CT, ES, RX and GS ranges.