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At one time Toyota announced plans to offer the first hybrid truck, but those plans never came to fruition and the Chevy
Silverado hybrid became the first hybrid pickup truck to hit US dealerships.
Regardless, Toyota's
first hybrid truck won't be the Tundra. According to rumors coming out of Toyota,
The Tundra hybrid will be delayed until at least 2013 or
2014. Instead, something like the A-BAT
hybrid truck concept is more plausible.
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Much like the Highlander
hybrid, or the Camry
hybrid, the
Tundra hybrid will simply be the hybrid version of the
conventional hybrid whenever it finally heads into production.
However, it appears
that Toyota is primarily interested in developing the Tundra
hybrid as a lithium-powered hybrid vehicle. Since
Toyota's lithium hybrids are going to be delayed by at
least a year or two, the Tundra has also been delayed.
A towing concern
While the electric
motor offered in Toyota hybrids is fine for low end
torque, such as that used in pulling a tree stump, it doesn't
offer much benefit if pulling a heavy camper or trailer. Thus, towing capacity has been an issue for Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, unlike GM's dual mode hybrid
trucks, such as the Silverado.
Nonetheless, Toyota
wants to resolve this issue and a new hybrid drive for light duty trucks is already underway via Toyota company, Hino Motors, although Toyota has not announced the new drive will make its way into Toyota pickup trucks. Regardless, even if Toyota
cannot find the perfect solution to this problem, expect
Toyota to still offer a hybrid version of the Tundra for
those who don't need to use the truck for long-haul
towing or extra heavy payloads.
One way or another, Toyota hybrid pickup trucks are coming as part of Toyota's plans to offer a hybrid model in every vehicle segment.
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>
10 more new Toyota hybrids by 2015
>
Toyota
posts record hybrid sales
>
Toyota's
Tundra mistake?
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Next
Toyota hybrid drive coming in 2008
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Toyota
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Toyota
still unable to meet hybrid demand (MSNBC)
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Hybrid
hype: Toyota to double hybrid production
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Highlander
hybrid qualifies for hybrid tax credit
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The
Highlander hybrid is the best Highlander
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Is
Toyota going to raise the price of its hybrid cars?
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Lexus
qualifies for hybrid vehicle tax credit
> Official
Highlander hybrid pricing
> Toyota
hybrid SUVs push hybrid technology
> Hybrid
car sales: Toyota versus Honda
> Toyota
wants to sell a million hybrids per year
> Will
36,000 Highlander hybrids be enough?
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