Toyota and Lexus Hybrids Recalled Over Stalling Issues

A problem with the electronics of the hybrid system, which could cause certain Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUVs to lose power or stop running, is the reason behind the Japanese carmaker’s latest recall.

Toyota said about 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h vehicles from the 2006 and 2007 model years sold in the USA are affected by the voluntary recall.

According to the automaker, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) located inside the Hybrid System Inverter contains a control board with transistors that may have been “inadequately soldered and could be damaged from heat caused by a large current flow during high-load driving”.

Toyota said if the transistors are damaged, then the various warning lamps will illuminate on the instrument panel and in most cases, the vehicle will enter a fail-safe driving mode, resulting in reduced power in which the vehicle can still be driven for short distances. In some cases though the power supply circuit fuse could blow bringing the vehicle to complete stop.

The company noted that it does not have the necessary replacement parts readily available but is working on obtaining them. Toyota said it will notify owners once the replacement parts have been “produced in sufficient quantities”.

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Prime Minister Putin gets behind the Wheel of Russia's First Hybrid Car

When he's not driving a Renault Formula 1 car or a locally-made Chrysler Sebring, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin test drives hybrid cars – or at least that's what he did on April 1 (no, really), when he got behind the wheel of the country’s first hybrid vehicle, the Yo-Mobile. Built by Yo-Auto, a joint-venture between truck maker Yarovit Motors and Onexim Group, the company of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov who also owns the New Jersey Nets, the car has an unusual hybrid setup. It uses a rotary vane engine (see video below) that works on petrol and natural gas and is linked to a pair of electric motors.
Instead of a classic battery-pack, the Yo-Mobile uses a super-capacitor, which is an energy-storing device seen by Russian engineers as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The capacitor stores the energy produced by the engine and sends it to the electric motors that drive the car. The main advantage of the capacitor is that it doesn't require re-charging from a power network.
The Russian hybrid returns an average fuel consumption of 3.5 liters/100 km (67.2 mpg) and has a combined driving range of 1,100 km (683.5 miles). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7-8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 130 km/h (80.8 mph).
Set to be built in three different body styles (hatchbach, cross-coupe and a van) from the second half of 2012, the Russian hybrid will retail for $12,000 - $15,000 (€8,500 - €10,500). The most expensive model will have four-wheel drive, satellite navigation system, cruise-control and climate control.
Before getting behind the wheel of the hybrid cross-coupe to drive it to president Medvedev's residence, Putin said to Prokhorov: "I hope your Yo-Mobile will not fall apart on the way." Luckily for the Russian billionaire, it didn't. Scroll down to see Putin's ride

By Dan Mihalascu

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