Unceasing research and creation
Believing both practical skills and academic research to be of great importance, Kiichiro establishes a research institute
Kiichiro believed that independent development of new technologies would lead to industrial growth and, as such, that continual research and creation was essential. To this end, he established the Shibaura Laboratory, Tokyo, in 1936. Construction of the Battery Research Laboratory in 1939 led first to the establishment of the Toyoda Physical and Chemical Research Institute in 1940, then the Toyoda Central Research & Development Laboratories in 1960.
Commencing research into aircraft
Possessing a strong admiration for the aircraft industry, Kiichiro Toyoda brought the French-made ultra-compact aircraft, "Pou de Ciel," to the Tokyo Shibaura Laboratory to study. As an evolution of the "Pou," Kiichiro conducted research into an autogyro with rotor blades, which had a short take-off distance. He aimed to develop an aircraft that took the air based on the lift force generated by spinning rotor blades-in other words, a helicopter.
Responding to alternative fuels to gasoline
As wartime economic controls strengthened and the refining and import of oil was restricted, Toyota conducted research into fuels that could serve as substitutes for gasoline. The company advanced research into charcoal gas generating furnaces, which used firewood and charcoal to generate gas that could power automobiles. Toyota developed and patented a device that could appropriately control the ignition timing for a fuel mix of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent alcohol.
Technological development of storage batteries after Sakichi
Sakichi's dying wish was to continue researching and developing storage batteries. At the Battery Research Laboratory, production commenced on storage batteries for electric vehicles. These were combined with the non-combustion electric engines made at the Kariya Electrical Components Plant (which would later become Denso) to create EC electric vehicles. After Kiichiro was appointed president of Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., research into electric vehicles continued under his direct control. Using the BA passenger car as a base, six prototypes were made and used as personal vehicles by Risaburo and Kiichiro Toyoda.