Singapore’s first hybrid truck will go on sale in February, aimed at eco-minded multi-national companies.
The Hino 300 Series light duty truck (LDT) will have a novel diesel-electric hybrid system. Until now, the hybrid systems available here have all been of the petrol-electric variety.
Hino is majority owned by auto giant Toyota, which is a leader in petrol-electric hybrid technology. The Toyota Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid when it was launched in 1997 and this month, authorised distributor Borneo Motors Singapore (BMS) introduced the smaller and more affordable Prius C. BMS also sells Lexus luxury hybrids such as the GS450h, RX450h and LS600h. Lexus is the luxury division of Toyota.
As for the Hino, it has a four-litre four-cylinder common rail direct injection turbodiesel engine. According to BMS, this 150hp unit with 420 Newton-metres of torque is hooked up to a 49hp electric motor generator which pumps out a whopping 333Nm.
The Hino’s parallel hybrid system is so frugal that BMS says local tests have recorded an approximately one-third savings in fuel consumption.
‘Based on local test run, we can expect it to achieve 30 per cent fuel savings against its equivalent diesel model,’ said Desmond Wong, BMS general manager for Toyota marketing.
Two versions of the low-emission truck will be offered – a short wheelbase narrow cab (12-foot, five-tonne) and a medium wheelbase wide cab (14-foot, five-tonne).
‘Our target customers for the Hino hybrid LDT are MNCs who have a vested interest in conserving the environment as part of their social responsibility,’ he explained.
BMS is also confident that diesel-electric hybrid power will be a plus point among potential buyers.
‘As Hino is the first to introduce a hybrid commercial vehicle in Singapore, we are looking at a preliminary sales forecast of 20 units in 2012,’ he said.
Among the Hino’s standard equipment are a five-speed automated manual transmission, power idle stop, regenerative braking, ABS anti-lock braking system, vehicle stability control and twin airbags.
There is also a choice of three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Power – to suit different driving conditions.
BMS says the Hino hybrid light duty truck’s price has not been fixed yet.
