Pickup Hybrid Planned as Joint Ford-Toyota Project

[AutoGuide.com]

Toyota and Ford began a partnership last year to develop a hybrid system for trucks and SUVs, and according to a “high ranking Ford engineer” the goal is a Ford F-150 hybrid.

“The nut we’re trying to crack is how do we do an F-150 hybrid,” an unnamed Ford engineer told Ward’s Auto. The new truck would compete against GM’s Chevrolet Silvervado and GMC Sierra hybrid trucks.

The partnership deal signed between Ford and Toyota last year is generally focused on developing a hybrid system that would work on rear-wheel drive trucks and SUVs. The system would be designed to excel at towing while maximizing fuel economy. Toyota and Ford would tune the hybrid technology to their individual vehicles like the F-150, Tundra, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and/or Toyota Sequoia.

Towing is however a major obstacle to overcome. According to Kevin Layden, who is Ford’s Director of electrification and engineering “Everyone wants to tow with a truck, and that’s a duty cycle that really taxes the battery and electric motor.” He added, “We have to figure out how you maximize that and still get the fuel economy.”

For the rest of the story, head over to Autoguide

[gpend5.7sport]

lets just hope toyota does not attempt the idiotic hybrid truck with the tundra.

[mjp0212]

In my common non engineer mind it seems simple. Set a tow mode for it that allows more gas power to be used to reduce the battery drain upon takeoff or while driving. In a Tacoma this would be very nice.

[Mr. Creosote]

They all keep trying and failing. Time to move on and produce a diesel with 1000 ft-lbs.

[dikkie]

Originally Posted by Mr. Creosote

They all keep trying and failing. Time to move on and produce a diesel with 1000 ft-lbs.

tons of torque..!!

dikkie

[Toxarch]

Originally Posted by dikkie

tons of torque..!!

dikkie

1/2 ton of torque.

[tundrav8yamaha]

It's going to be interesting to see what Toyota comes up with. I know this Tundra is ready for the 3rd Gen and it's aging very fast now. 2014 Is a all new Tundra I don't doubt that but it's going to have to have Mpg figures to back up it's new Image. I know nobody will buy a full sized truck based On Mpg number's but folks with Ford's Ego boast engine Toyota will very likely have to go in that direction.

[Wrider]

Originally Posted by Mr. Creosote

They all keep trying and failing. Time to move on and produce a diesel with 1000 ft-lbs.

They're all already rated for 800 ft/lbs. Intake, EGR delete, and turbo-back exhaust and you're already at 1000.

[Vettelover84]

I would love to see Trucks go to a Diesel/Electric system like Trains use!!! There have been quite a few on the road vehcile concepts... Its to bad.. I think its a great idea..

[texasranger96]

Just by talking to the Ford engineers it has deemed the Toyota just a little less reliable.

[meburdick]

Originally Posted by Vettelover84

I would love to see Trucks go to a Diesel/Electric system like Trains use!!! There have been quite a few on the road vehcile concepts... Its to bad.. I think its a great idea..

I couldn't agree with this idea more... I've been saying it for a few YEARS now.

The diesel / electric combination has been used in locomotives for an incredibly long time. Clearly, the ability to pair the two and create tremendous pulling power is there.

If you put the electric motors on the wheels directly, I would imagine that there would some limitations on speed. But, if you built an electric drive motor and kept a transmission in play, you should be able to develop all of the low-end torque needed to pull a house off of its foundation and also be able to provide 100MPH on the highway.

There would be some obvious (to me) design changes from how the locomotives are set up, though...

- Loco's use a diesel motor that runs at constant speed, trucks don't.
- The constant speed motor would yield LOWER MPG numbers for a street vehicle being driven around town. BUT, if it only needed to run when necessary (charging a battery bank or constant power for towing), then this sort of goes out the window.
- Loco's use a very large diesel motor and run a genny that puts out a pretty high voltage (upwards of 1kv) - that would probably not be viable in a street vehicle.

If no one is going to do it, I'd like them to write up an excellent article on WHY they won't do it. I've seen similar setups using a natural gas engine and a generator, why not diesel?

[polcat]

I liked the concept idea of the diesel from Cummins in the Tundra's...I’m just not into the dually set up. I like electric idea also, but considering that Ford is looking at a lawsuit from the company that apparently has the patent on the Eco boost engines fuel injection system (TMC Fuel Injection System LLC ) that Ford said they were not interested in...but still used...says that they might not be the best/honest people to be working with.
There are several ways to relive us from the petrol burning, gas sucking engines of the now, but the issue is getting the rest of the market on board. Considering my job is "Fuels", I see the need for change. I also see a lot of talk of all these other ways to improve consumption rates, but it just never seems to get past the simple issue of import/export costs....too much $$$ in oil right now..wars are being fought right now because of it....but I would like to see some new designs n the Tundra world...

[j_fuggin_t]

Originally Posted by polcat

I liked the concept idea of the diesel from Cummins in the Tundra's...I’m just not into the dually set up. I like electric idea also, but considering that Ford is looking at a lawsuit from the company that apparently has the patent on the Eco boost engines fuel injection system (TMC Fuel Injection System LLC ) that Ford said they were not interested in...but still used...says that they might not be the best/honest people to be working with.
There are several ways to relive us from the petrol burning, gas sucking engines of the now, but the issue is getting the rest of the market on board. Considering my job is "Fuels", I see the need for change. I also see a lot of talk of all these other ways to improve consumption rates, but it just never seems to get past the simple issue of import/export costs....too much $$$ in oil right now..wars are being fought right now because of it....but I would like to see some new designs n the Tundra world...

i wouldn't mind seeing a tundra with the active fuel management like the gm folks have, i think it would be a good addition esp for the hwy mpgs

[Maxisp2000]

Before I was scr$ed by a constantly broke down GM; Ford and Chrysler did it to me too. I bought a Camry and ran it for 200K+ miles and changed the alternator, and a radiator that was hit by a rock.

Don't like the idea of Ford mixing with Toyota.

[Vlado]

I agree with the diesel idea. I remember reading about it coming out a while ago but I guess those were hopes and dreams....