| English Abstract |
| Materials Innovation for Forthcoming Automobile Shigeki SUZUKI Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota, Aichi, Japan Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi,(2007),80(5),172-178 General Review in Japanese Abstract Currently more than 850 million vehicles are used all over the world, we are facing many environmental issues such as tail pipe emission or global warming by carbon dioxide. For the measures of these issues, reducing emission by catalyst with minimum noble metals has been forwarded strongly. Lightening by materials substitution, such as high strength steel, aluminum, magnesium and plastic, has been everlastingly forwarded with the advance of materials technology. For the sustainable development, it is also important to minimize the dependence on fossil oil. We Toyota have introduced bio-plastic to mass production model in 2003. Bio fuel has been introduced some countries and Toyota will continue to develop new technologies for bio fuel. Automobiles with new power sources such as hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles or fuel-cell vehicles are strongly expected to introduce widely in the market. Safety is also the key word for forthcoming vehicle. Toyota has been developing gpre-crash safety systemh that includes alarming system by monitoring driverÕs face direction or brake assist system. To realize this expectation, innovative development of materials is a key to the evolution of future automotive technologies. Nanotechnology, Biotechnology and Information technology will be the breakthrough fields that will revolutionize mature industrial technologies. Keywords: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Hybrid Vehicle |
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