Interesting articles about Toyota and 2020

I read an article that states Toyota is investing 2 Billion dollars into the 2020 Olympics and plan to release no fewer than 20 new or redesigned vehicles. According to the article the company is shifting towards an electric focus within the near future which makes me think:
Toyota already makes an electric truck ( in Japan ) called the Hino truck.
The Tacoma uses the 3.5 Atkinson engine which has been used previously in Lexus and is that engine type is normally used in hybrid applications the question comes up as to wether you think Toyota will go with some sort of electric or hybrid Tacoma? It's not far out of the realm of possibility given what Tesla is doing and seeing as Toyota was huge into fuel cell vehicles and seems to shifting to a new focus. I get that Prius and other small cars would most likely be the beneficiary of EV drive but given this taco engine I'm not sure it's a rediculous idea...

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/07/toyota-electric-vehicle-mass-production-2020/

https://electrek.co/2016/11/07/toyo...ectric-cars-2020-hydrogen-fuel-cells-failing/

 

I'm wondering if the 4.6l v8 gets an expanded role in the truck line, 4Runner and Tacoma.

 

I saw some stuff on Hybrid Hydraulic trucks, when driving it pressurized a hydraulic tank that would propel the truck until the gas engine was needed again, I like that idea a lot more over batteries.

 

I'm guessing the Tacoma and Toyota truck fleet will get 0$ of additional research and redesign money. Well maybe I'm wrong....perhaps a new grill.

2018 Tundra Get's A New Grill!



I'm outta here.

 

Don't forget the really cool bedside stickers!

 

Changes will come ,but most likely will be pushed back because of cheap gas and the near term easing of EPA regs . No rush for for now and maybe another 8 years or more before anything changes.

 

Given Toyota's inexplicable troubles getting a V6 and AT to play nicely together, I'd steer clear if they ever add an electric motor to the mix...

 

Hybrid in a truck doesn't sound good. The batteries take up what 400 lbs of cargo capacity? Electric motor is a torque monster, you have max torque at 1 rpm but you need the battery weight to run it.

 

I think a hybrid in this truck would be great. Take care of the city MPG and low end torque. Toyota is the king of hybrids so they could make it work for sure.

As said, main problem would be batteries. Seems like they would take up cargo space and add weight. I'm sure they could figure it out though. There's plenty room under the hood for an electric motor.

 

Batteries aren't as big a problem as you think. I occasionally replace cells in our electric/hybrid cars. The battery packs can be designed in such a way that it is basically the floor of the vehicle. It drops out as an assembly once you evacuate the dedicated a/c system. Total weight of the unit is about 280 lbs.
Here's a few pics from a car recently that needed one of its 96 cells replaced.
sealed battery unit/basically the floor. In the pic it looks larger than it is. The measurements are roughly 3 feet by 4.5 feet...weird camera angle I guess
Showing the 96 cells
High voltage connection
A/c connection with expansion valve

 

Interesting thought. I figure most people don't care about speed in a truck anyways.

 

GM did some hybrid trucks not so long ago but I think they only got 1 MPG better.

 

Ford is coming out with a hybrid f150 in 2021 or so.

I'd be into a hybrid tacoma. Max torque at idle with crawl control sounds rad to me.

 

Next gen or earlier tacoma will most definitely be a hybrid. Guaranteed.

At least it will fix the low end torque issue.

 

But gotdammit I like the smell of GAS

 

this is exactly what all the makers are dealing with (and i understand). stateside, the culture is the obstacle, and it's not exactly the same elsewhere. i think the makers will maybe need to get together in order to push hybridism on trucks through. cus in America I'm not seeing anyone but Ridgeliner folks buying anything like it... unless they have no choice with new vehicles.

 

you mean available torque at the electric motor, not actual (kinda like our 3.5's... plenty of potential, right?)

so, I'm not seeing any guarantees here.

 

I bet with a hybrid the 23 mpg won't be elusive.

My ideal hybrid would be an electric motor in each wheel and a gas generator... potential!

 

I was wondering when discussions about this would pop up. I'm really intrigued about electric engines in a truck, especially how it would work with towing, offroad, reliability, etc.

 

I think choice is a good thing, no reason to force anything, something that is good and a better product will make others want to compete.