Present status and future prospects for electronics in electric vehicles/hybrid electric vehicles and expectations for wide-bandgap semiconductor devices

Toyota refers to the ability of users to continuously enjoy the convenience provided by automobiles as 'sustainable mobility'. In order to achieve this, we are carrying out of the endless challenge of minimizing the negative aspects of automobiles, such as CO2 emissions, air pollution, traffic fatalities, and congestion, while maximizing automobile comfort, enjoyment and excitement. In the area of the environment, we believe that we can come closer to creating the 'ultimate eco-vehicle' by increasing the environmental performance of the power train, utilizing new fuels and electrical energy, and integrating hybrid technology into all of the results. In the Toyota Group, we think that power electronics is a key technology for the automotive technology of the future. We have defined SiC and GaN as core items for breakthroughs in power electronics technologies for the future, and we are energetically pursuing research and development in those areas. (C) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.