Talk of Tacoma powertrain upgrade from head guy at Toyota US...

Yes

 

exactly true, no electric powered vehicle can take the utility use and abuse that a gas/diesel powered truck can withstand, manufacturing a Hybrid truck only appeals to granola eating types who think they are saving the world/environment by having a oil free world pipedream.

 

Full electric and hybrid are 2 different things , Hino has had a diesel / electric hybrid box truck for about 5 years now

 

who is Hino and how can we get one? how much does it cost?

 

http://www.hino.com/phone/index.html

I'm not a dealer but if you pm me your credit card info I'll see what I can do

 

nah that's alright , I live in a State where my hydro carbons are checked during a mandatory Inspection, so far my 1995 HiLux gets passing grades based on standards that are as tough as California emissions and will get 24mpgs, im not at all interested in Hino although China and India should be they are the Worlds top air polluters.

 

"Hino is America's fastest growing medium duty truck brand, thank you!"
It's a Toyota with Hino badge. And it comes in double-cab, no-box!

 

when are you getting it?

 

I am certainly no tree hugger, but getting real tired of putting fuel in the Tacoma. I run my vehicles up to 300K+, the fuel cost difference between the two at those miles is.... well.....gawd I don't want to even look at it.

I dunno, think most people use Tacomas for running around and light duty hauling. For the price these things demand now, and for what little hauling/towing they are capable of, they need to get better fuel economy. Kinda sad you can buy a fullsize truck for cheaper, gets better fuel consumption, and has much better capacities.

People have been screaming for years that the Taco needs to get better mpg. Believe there is a big market it for it. I don't care how they do it, but it needs to be done.

Kinda waiting to see what Ford does with the Ranger, if they can get it near 30 mpg...might jump ship, and I have been loyal to Toyota for 27 years now.

 

Yet millions of full size diesels from the big 3 driving our streets daily. Get out of here.

 

You should Google "Baogang Steel and Rare Earth Complex" to see the side effect of so-called green technologies. There's nothing environmentally benign about wind generators, batteries and electrical motors.

I do think there's a market for hybrid trucks, that's the whole point behind what Hino is doing and why there's a Navistar eStar like Coke is using. I don't understand the reluctance over diesel. They pollute but no worse than gasoline, just different type of exhaust. The upside is they are much more efficient use of resources, less refining necessary, use less fuel, can use biofuels easier.

 

I agree with everything you said (even the Ford part, also a dedicated 20 year Toyota buyer). I'm all about reasonable power and better mileage. Modern diesels are much better in the drivability department, you don't give up nearly as much on a daily basis like you did with those terrible 1980s Rabbits and stuff. It's frustrating because the solution is right there, the 4WD Hilux, similar size, weight gets around 25 in real life driving with a very nice diesel. In a 2WD version they'll get that 30 MPG I imagine.

 

Just pmed you my CC# and my SSN.

 

Word on the street is Ford is going with a twin turbo 4cyl Diesel in the Ranger. It's supposed to out perform the 5cyl model they use overseas

 

I just got 23 on my way home yesterday. Mixed city and highway. I don't think that's good enough to warrant a necessary change. If Toyota threw an 8 speed in this truck that actually could shift I think you'd see some very impressive numbers out of the 3.5

 

Don't doubt you did, but overall I doubt everyone gets that kind of mileage. If you believe Fuelly some get 34 MPG from Hilux 2.8L diesel.

http://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/hilux/2016

The usage varies all over is the problem. I can get 17 or 18 MPG in my truck (it's an old 4.0L and I'm lifted, front plate bumper, tall shell so I certainly don't expect much) but it drops to single digits when I go off highway. Even if I only bump to 25 MPG on the highway, which is doable with the 3.5L as you point out, the diesel won't nosedive in 4WD low range idling along.

 

I looked at the Colorado and the Ram, the GM I can't get a extra cab with the diesel, nor does it come in the dirt bag WT model...Ram, can get in the configuration I want, but man....can't bring myself to buy a Chry-Fiat product.

Never really cared about fuel economy before, but with my new 60 mile round trip commute has me looking. Don't care for cars in the very least, but I might have to go that route, and just use the Tacoma for camping. Though for road tripping, having a vehicle that gets very good mpg, is very appealing. Wish there was a more utilitarian vehicle that fetched 40-50 mpg, not really seeing anything on the market. Those micro vans, like the Transit Connect and the Nissan

$28 NV200 GunVault NanoVault Travel Handgun Safe for Pistols with Key Lock - TSA-Approved

NV200 only get in the mid 20's. Looked at the Mercedes Metris too, price is right, Worker model has the bare bones interior I like...but the mileage is so-so, for the same price you can get a Tacoma SR with 4WD, and roughly the same mpg's.

Maybe Ford will get it right, we will see.

Also seeing if Toyota brings the FT-4X to market, albeit the concept is a bit garish looking, do like the 2 speed transfer case, and high ground clearance. Looks like Toyota's version of the Fiat Panda....that might work too for what I need.

 

Good point. I always forget about the awesome low range torque mpg you can get out of diesel.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm picking on you but the use model for pickups has changed, particularly in the last 10 or 15 years. Using a truck as a commuter daily driver was silly when I bought my first one. It was a way to haul crap and get to camp spots, so you put up with some things (basic interiors, poor mileage) to gain utility for the task at hand. It's the same now with those Big 3 diesels, some people go nuts with them with stacks and chips and it's not helping the people who actually use them for construction and work.