Toyota ahead of the hybrid game
SA FIRST: HILUX OFFERED WITH ELECTRICAL ASSISTANCE
Its 48V lithium battery boosts power by 12kW and torque by 65Nm.
Ford’s Ranger and Volkswagen’s Amarok might be the fresh, new high-tech, kids on the block, but Toyota’s ever trusty and aging Hilux has gone and outsparked them by being the first bakkie in South Africa to offer some electrical assistance in the form of the new mild hybrid 48V models.
The drive towards new energy sources and electrification is not going to stop. The world is on a journey and whether you like it or not, and this technology is going to play a part in your life more and more in the future.
Toyota’s current hybrid models have proven to be an unexpected success and this, in my opinion, is because of the measured approach taken by Toyota SA. They have not overwhelmed their conservative customer base with this “love it or hate it” idea of electrified cars.
It is also because the models they have introduced so far are the hybrids that do the thinking, taking the work of “what must charge what, and when”, instead of having to be plugged in somewhere to be charged all the time.
What is Hilux 48V and what does it mean to you?
In simple terms, the tried-andtested 150kW/500Nm, 2.8-litre GD-6 engine remains, but it now drives a compact motor generator using a belt system, which charges a small, 7.6kg, 48V, lithium battery located under the rear seats.
Like Toyota’s full hybrid electric systems in the Corolla Cross, this battery is charged during deceleration. Once charged, the battery sends up to 12kW of power and 65Nm of torque through the motor generator to the engine.
This hybrid 48V system is not only said to improve the on-road characteristics of the bakkie, but also its off-road manners.
On the road, the additional power of the hybrid 48V system delivers better throttle response and linear acceleration, particularly from a standstill, while regenerative braking creates a more effective and natural deceleration feel.
An enhanced stop-start system allows the engine to remain off for longer periods which, coupled with the benefits of the hybrid 48V system, claims to improve fuel efficiency by up to five percent over the conventional non-electrified diesel models in the range.
This hybrid 48V system allows for smoother acceleration when negotiating rough terrain and the regenerative braking supports safer downhill manoeuvring, while the engine’s idling speed is reduced from 720rpm to 600rpm, which increases control.
For the first time, a new multi-terrain select system provides even better performance and control by giving you the option to adjust the vehicle stability control settings according to the driving conditions, while there has been no compromise on towing and payload capacity. Hybrid 48V is available for Fortuner and Hilux, but only on the 2.8 GD-6 automatic models. We will be living with a Hilux Legend for a month to test the technology and the claims in an everyday real-world environment and will report our findings in May.