Ford, Toyota to work together on hybrid trucks
Ford Motor Co. Ltd. (F-N10.450.141.36%) and Toyota Motor Corp. say they'll work together to develop a gas-electric hybrid system to power pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.
The companies signed a deal Monday to share development costs, saying they want to make the technology more affordable for customers and bring it to market faster.
Both companies now sell hybrid cars, but trucks need a different system with power to tow and haul heavy loads.
Hybrid trucks would help auto makers meet stricter government fuel economy and pollution standards in the U.S. and other countries. In the U.S., the fleet of new cars and trucks will have to average 56.5 miles per gallon (4.16 litres per 100 km) by 2025, although trucks will have lower mileage targets.
It will take a year for the companies to figure out who will do what research, Ford product development chief Derrick Kuzak said. He said it would be at least two or three years after that before a system can be developed. The companies aren't sure yet what kind of gas mileage it will get.
The system would power some of Ford's F-Series pickup trucks, the top-selling vehicle in the U.S., and it would run the Tundra, Toyota's full-sized pickup truck. It also would be used in rear-wheel-drive sport utility vehicles, the companies said.
Interesting co-operative deal that Im sure will benefit both car makers. But by "gas-electric" Im assuming because its american that its typical "petrol/electric hybrid" like the prius not Gas as in Natural Gas per se.
Why they do Not develop a D4D Hybrid beats the hell out of me. Surely a Landcruiser Twin Turbo V8 D4D couple to a large generator with a flat battery pack under the tray would work wonders.
The battery pack would aid in vehicle handling in a large truck by balancing some of the weight, and whilst cruising on flat roads, the batteries would be operating...saving heaps of diesel. The torque available on tap from such an engine with the electric generator aswell (Note: when you put your foot down in a hybrid both the petrol engines torque is used aswell as the electric generator at the same time) means you would have a huge rush of torque when needed.
For the record....my wife Hybrid camry keeps up with a late model commodore V6 upto almost 80-90kph for comparison from standing start.
