Smart Charge System

[johnan]

Just for information for technically interested people.

I have a Scanguage 2 in my iQ monitoring various engine systems including alternator output voltage, and I noticed that quite often the digital voltage reading was dropping to just over 12volts while driving at a decent speed.

Usually in other cars I have owned the alternator will produce an above idle voltage of between 13.8 to 14.4volts at all times.

I asked local MrT but he wasn't sure about it but as no warning lights were on, not to worry,which is fair enough.

Last week I dropped a line to Toyota head office in the UK asking about it and today got a very helpful telephone call from their technical department explaining the "smart charge" system used on Toyotas now which effectively switches the alternator off if a Battery charge is not really required.

This is a new system (to me anyway) to save engine loading, and hence fuel, and it certainly gave me cause for concern when I saw the voltage readout as I was a long way from home at the time!

Full marks to Toyota for being accessible and responsive.

[eco9rat]

Just for information for technically interested people.

I have a Scanguage 2 in my iQ monitoring various engine systems including alternator output voltage, and I noticed that quite often the digital voltage reading was dropping to just over 12volts while driving at a decent speed.

Usually in other cars I have owned the alternator will produce an above idle voltage of between 13.8 to 14.4volts at all times.

I asked local MrT but he wasn't sure about it but as no warning lights were on, not to worry,which is fair enough.

Last week I dropped a line to Toyota head office in the UK asking about it and today got a very helpful telephone call from their technical department explaining the "smart charge" system used on Toyotas now which effectively switches the alternator off if a battery charge is not really required.

This is a new system (to me anyway) to save engine loading, and hence fuel, and it certainly gave me cause for concern when I saw the voltage readout as I was a long way from home at the time!

Full marks to Toyota for being accessible and responsive.

Thanks for the info. I too was puzzled by the voltage displayed. That makes sense now.

[steveybaby]

A useful system, I think they really ought to make more of it in their blurb, they could score lots more brownie points - good detective work Johnan. This will also reduce the alternator 'cooking' the Battery so it may last longer. All good.

The Audi system where braking generates electricity to recharge the Battery seems overly complicated to me - must be extra weight that is carted around all the time, is there really a benefit?

Being an argumentative so and so, I'd want to know how much carbon was generated in all the meetings and whatever that went on to discuss these systems and how much co2 is created during manufacture and disposal then compare it to what it saves but I'm sad like that.

Or honest.

Assuming global warming is man made by co2... :P

[johnan]

Being an argumentative so and so, I'd want to know how much carbon was generated in all the meetings and whatever that went on to discuss these systems and how much co2 is created during manufacture and disposal then compare it to what it saves but I'm sad like that.

Or honest.

Assuming global warming is man made by co2... :P

I think the think-tank and brainstorming sessions would have had the remit of finding how to get the magic output of less than 100gms/km of Co2 for the iQ (with, in the UK, the benefits of zero road tax and possible congestion charge reduction) as a major marketing asset, rather than for pure "green" reasons, and to heck with the amount of Co2 ,or hot air, produced at the meetings!

Other manufacturers have caught up with this figure now and anyway alternators are not manufactured in house by Toyota, so I presume the "smart charge" technology will be available to all manufactuers of vehicles.