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Toyota once announced that it
had plans to offer the first hybrid truck,
though it has not provided many real details, and since
the Chevy
Silverado hybrid will probably go on sale in late
2008, that prediction doesn't seem realistic.
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.
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.
While the electric
motor offered in Toyota hybrids is good for low end
torque, such as used in pulling a tree stump, it doesn't
offer much benefit if pulling a camper or trailer.
Thus, pulling a trailer, the hybrid wouldn't help
increase fuel efficiency, unlike GM's dual mode hybrid
trucks, such as the Silverado.
Nonetheless, Toyota
wants to resolve this issue; however, 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.
Still, this will be an
important issue, as GM hybrids will have the power to
tow as much as their conventional counterparts,
something Toyota will have to reconcile with its hybrid
trucks.
The battle for hybrid
truck dominance is going to shape up to be a good one by
2010 as both GM and Chrysler bring dual mode hybrid
trucks to market, which should push a Toyota hybrid
truck offering as well.
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>
Toyota
posts record hybrid sales
>
Toyota's
Tundra mistake?
>
Next
Toyota hybrid drive coming in 2008
>
Toyota
Prius price increase for 2006
>
Toyota
still unable to meet hybrid demand (MSNBC)
>
Hybrid
hype: Toyota to double hybrid production
>
Highlander
hybrid qualifies for hybrid tax credit
>
The
Highlander hybrid is the best Highlander
>
Is
Toyota going to raise the price of its hybrid cars?
>
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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