Ford, Toyota Joint RWD Hybrid Pickup Drivetrain Not Feasible
The honeymoon is now officially over. 2011 Ford Motor Co. photo.
Two years ago, Ford and Toyota agreed to perform a feasibility study on the two companies working together to develop a hybrid drivetrain for rear wheel drive pickups and SUVs. Apparently, working together wasn’t going to be feasible because Ford and Toyota have both issued statements announcing the end of the tie-up. Ford said that the Dearborn automaker will be developing their own hybrid system for RWD and said that the completely new hybrid architecture will be available by 2020.
Raj Nair, Ford’s global head of product development said in prepared statement:
“We know what it takes to build world-class hybrids, and we now will build and leverage that expertise in-house. By continuing to develop a rear-wheel-drive hybrid system on our own, we can extend our advanced hybrid technologies to new vehicle segments and deliver even better fuel economy across our lineup.”
On its own part, Toyota emphasized its leadership position in hybrid technology without tipping its hand regarding RWD hybrids.
Toyota’s commitment to hybrid technology is unwavering. We have sold over two million Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles in the U.S., representing 70 percent of the U.S. auto industry’s total hybrid sales, and over 5 million hybrids worldwide. In addition, Toyota remains on track to offer 18 new or redesigned hybrid models globally by the end of 2015.
Ford and Toyota will continue to work together on developing standards for the next generation of telematics. Ford and Toyota had made an earlier licensing agreement concerning the hybrid systems in the Prius and Fusion Hybrid to avoid possible litigation over their separately developed technologies.
More by TTAC Staff
Comments
Join the conversation
If my historical reference is correct, it would not be the first time that Ford and Toyota try to work together on something and give up on the idea after an initial study. Back in the early eighties, when Toyota was considering starting manufacturing in the US with a partner, it first discussed with Ford (who had an assembly plant in Milpitas, California -- now a shopping mall) but I heard the talks broke off over the product to jointly build there. Toyota turned around and asked another American OEM, GM -- and the rest is history: the two collaborated successfully for over 25 years up the street at NUMMI in Fremont, California. That JV is now dissolved (following GM's bankruptcy filing a few years back) but the plant lives on -- it's where Tesla is manufacturing its Model S (and hopefully many more to come). Always good to keep manufacturing going.
Our operation has 2 regular size less than 10 year old PUs. Neither drives more than 40 miles a day around the city of Phoenix. I suggested to management that one of the PUs could be replaced with a Ford Transit (easier to drive, load, and covers the load) but I didn't push very hard because the Transit also gets poor mileage. When is Ford going to build an electric Transit? When is Nissan going to build a Leaf with a flat open low bed in back? This combination would better solve our needs. Forget hybrids. Forget interiors slightly better than a prison cell, Forget gas. Forget high loading surfaces. Forget noise. Forget 10 times more moving parts.
I think a more feasible plan, that would actually have merit, is to see how big of an engine they could stick into a Prius. I'd like to see either fords V10 or the 7.3 diesel. That's about how much sense hybrid trucks makes, and would probably sell just as well as the hybrid truck.
Hey guys, an idea is in my mind: make big big truck electric(Peterbilt,mack,etc),got the right electric engine power now,its know technology, the main problem is the range, you have with the load or trailer few extra wheel that can recharge on continue basis the batteries, if you think this, they can travel foverer for free, put the batteries on the flat platform of load in the back, in few years a complete fleet of rolling batteries can cross your country without the need of conection to any external electrical network, add solar panel on the roof if you want for more power in the desert. you got regenerative brakes: put in reverse direction, when you move the trailer you generate the electricity, if the problem its the size you have plenty. the problem in many cases is convince the people, test the technology, in few years the lesson learned can by apply on light truck, full size truck,etc. yust imagine the time you expend in maintance,recharge fuel, etc, that time is money no? and the other idea for the truck driver: k.e.r.s. system, a couple of buttons and the toretto name in the license plate, you get the idea.