The Truck Formerly Know as a ‘Hybrid’

Keen observers may have noticed that the truck formerly know as a ‘hybrid’ is now to be known as an ‘electric hybrid. This is because Hino is promoting the range as a first step on the road to zero emissions. As something an operation can do now to reduce its carbon footprint the before the, in development, zero emission solutions start to appear in numbers and become cost effective.

Late last year Hino decided to reemphasise the advantages of the hybrid platform and promote the technology as a first step solution for those looking to decarbonise their fleets.

“We’ve gone from an average of 50 sales a year, that’s the most successful low or zero type emissions vehicle to be sold in the commercial market over the past 15 years,” says Daniel Petrovski, Department Manager, Product Strategy for Hino Australia. “We’ve got over 700 of them already on the road. We’ve got orders coming in this year and have exceeded 300 vehicles already. We’re expecting that we’re going to see a massive shift and will be hitting 500 plus orders by the end of the year.

Future Solutions

Looking ahead into the trucking crystal ball becomes difficult, as the fast changing technology emerges, gets developed and is finally released to the market. 

That kind of calculation became all the more difficult after the recent announcement of a merger between Fuso and Hino, where Toyota and Daimler will form a single entity to bring the next generation of technology forward for both brands. 

“Fuso and Hino will merge on an equal footing and collaborate in the areas of commercial vehicle development, procurement, and production,” said a statement from Daimler and Toyota. “They will build a globally competitive Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer. Daimler Truck and Toyota will equally invest in the (listed) holding company of the merged Fuso and Hino. They will collaborate on the development of hydrogen and other CASE (Connected/Autonomous and Automated/Shared/Electric) technologies to support the competitiveness of the new company.

Until those solutions eventuate, the Australian truck buyer can make a start down the lower carbon track with a hybrid option, and wait until the uncertainties around BEV and other options play out.

“We see a big take up of BEVs, some time after 2035,” says Daniel. “That’s not to say we’re not going to have them on sale before then. There is a niche part of the market which wants to buy a BEV and they want to be seen doing it.”