A Ford F-150 hybrid could be one of the products created from an ongoing collaboration between Ford and Toyota to develop rear-drive hybrid technology. The project is intended to help the automakers’ full-size pickups and SUVs meet stricter fuel economy and emissions regulations, but engineers are still determining how to make sure a rear-drive hybrid truck can meet the workload and durability standards demanded of the vehicles, a Ford engineer told WardsAuto.
“The nut we’re trying to crack is: how do we do an F-150 hybrid?” said Kevin Layden, Ford director-electrification programs and engineering, to WardsAuto. “We’re working with [Toyota] and developing plans.”
The automakers expect the partnership to lower costs and reduce developmental time. Aside from figuring out how to make a hybrid powertrain that can handle the stresses of towing and hauling while still meeting fuel economy goals, achieving decent aerodynamics from a full-size truck is another obstacle.
Though Layden didn’t rule out the possibility of sharing a pickup or SUV platform, a project like that might depend on the success of the two vehicles that emerge from the automakers’ current collaboration. Soon, engineers from both companies will move to Ford’s new Advanced Electrification Center with advanced battery testing equipment on site. Layden believes that having Toyota and Ford engineers work together is proving beneficial.
General Motors currently offers a hybrid powertrain option on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500/GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon and Denali SUVs, using an electrically variable transmission (with two electric motors) and 300-volt nickel-metal hydride battery mated to the 6.0-liter V-8 with cylinder deactivation. The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid is EPA-rated at 20/23 mpg city/highway in rear- or four-wheel-drive forms, higher than the Ford F-150’s most efficient performer – the rear-drive F-150 with the 3.7-liter V-6 rated at 17/23 mpg.
Source: WardsAuto (Subscription Required)
Electric motors do have lots of torque. But is the motor gonna be able to handle strain of a truck hauling some weight?
Seeing how Ford is winning the power and economy wars in the smaller cars, Toyota is surely just hoping to piggy back onto whatever Ford engineers come up with
…like the new Ford Falcon/Taurus/Evos
Two powerhouses in the auto industry collaborating…this could mean great things! Both companies apparently see the advantages of working together. Go for it!
LOL, GM’s had a hybrid truck for 6 years and these two still cant figure it out? What a joke
They are trying to create a hybrid truck worth buying, unlike GM’s
Bingo !!
ZING!!!
Gm’s hybrid truck isn’t popular for a reason. If Ford/Toyota make one, it isn’t going to be some 20/23 mpg truck that Ford is already nearly achieving. It will probably be closer to 25-27 mpg which is HUGE for a truck. It’s even possible for them to make those numbers higher if they can get the aerodynamics part down too. GM just want’s to say they were the first to the race even if it wasn’t good. I have NEVER seen a Silverado hybrid on the street…. ever.
they are not popular solely because they are expensive… that’s what GM gets for basing them on highest trim level… if they had a WT or LS package it would have sold much better. either way the Dual mode system is a good hybrid system. it has the power of a V8, can still tow a good 6000 pounds and gets the combined fuel economy of a midsize sedan.
the 25/27mpg idea might have to come at the price of the power and towing capacity. just like the Ecoboost you don’t get both 11’000 pounds of towing and 23mpg you get one or the other based on final drive.
LOL? The GM hybrid pickup can only be had in basic trim. I can’t get the upgraded interior (like from a Sierra Denali) and have to deal with the smallest of rims and basic looks. What a waste. I want a pickup to look good not like a basic work truck with a pathetic engine. Almost got a Sierra rather than the F-150, but hated the options available to me with the lame excuse for a hybrid truck. Fail = GM
Sounds like you can’t figure it out, slapnutts.
Will it be the highest torqued CVT tranny yet, or will they skip the CVT? How far will they go? Should be interesting.
It have no sense if Tundra hybrid would be F-150 “Energi” direct competitor because they both will have the same hybrid technology. Weird.
-Mönst-
“It have no sense.” Is not proper English.
back to the topic the platforms are very different regardless of power train. also see BRZ/FT-86
oh man know your outta your mind!! the only difference between the toyobarus is the light everything else is identical!! i know what ur talking about but i thunk that was a bad example.
I sure do hope they dont share platforms, but if the tundras sales are as lame as they are, i dont think it will hurt Ford. Toyota can benifit from a lil help from the best truck seller the last 35 yrs as well. We will have to wait!!
I don’t know what to think of this, my all time favorite auto company is joining forces with the one I despise most. Fingers crossed that the F-150 doesn’t change too much.
Its not the first, the Fusion and the Escape Hybrid is Toyota tech. Why are you so surprised?.??
Actually, Ford developed the hybrid technology separately from Toyota. To avoid getting sued on the design, Ford bought the rights to use the design. Oh yeah, Ford’s hybrid gets better mileage than Toyota’s Hybrid.
Yeah, EPA has no time to verify numbers, 80% of time they will take manufacturers numbers. Road and Track and Motortrend have done their own tests with Camry and Fusion performing the same on numbers and Camry edging in town performance. Even in Autoline, Ford official admitted to using Toyota tech, the differentiation came in the engine, with Toyota using the Otto cycle 4 stroke and Ford using the Atkinson cycle 4-stroke engine, each has its advantages and disadvantages. At any rate, Ford is looking for automotive engineers, there is a drought in Michigan, so what better way to take care of the problem by Allan Mullaly to joined forces with a powerhouse like Toyota.
No… FAIL! Originally Ford licensed the tech from Toyota for the Escape, they then developed their own system for the Fusion. Motortrend claimed Ford’s system was more “seamless” and “transparent” in its operation than the Camry. The Ford system is also capable of higher speeds while operating on electricity only. This made the Ford perform better in the city tests. Please ditch the bias and open your eyes… There are good things coming from Detroit these days.
No, actually it isn’t Toyota’s technology. It is Fords. Nissan bought the hybrid technology for the Altima, Ford never did. The two systems are very similar, but the Ford system has always been far more efficient in a conventional car (Fusion, Escape) than Toyota’s application in a conventional car (Camry, Highlander). Try again, you fail this time.
forgot to tell you i love pluging in the 12year old diesel truck in the winter time with two charger for batter and one engine block heater about 5 hours before i need and NO i dont live in Alaska bec i would only run wo month a year there. thats if it will start with some starter fluid. and don’t forget about bad diesel fuel i still dont get it how the hell we still get bad diesel fuel in this modern age so the truck has left my dad broken down not once not twice but three times.
hybrids have the lowest maintenance cost
diesel have the highest maintenance cost just look it up
turbo has to be replaced at about 150,000 miles ($1,000) and don’t not forget about the very high pressure direct injectors cost over 2,000 dollars to replace all of them. not factoring labor cost.
But is it that way today with modern diesels? My brother had a 1994 +/- F250 that had the same issues you mentioned and costs a fortune with those injectors ….
Surely today’s diesels aren’t like that anymore? All road tests I have read about today’s diesels say they are great .. no cold starting issues, clacking noises, etc.
the 10,000 dollar diesel is in the f250and larger cost to much even when my dad payed for his diesel 12 year a go it cost almost 5,000 add in inflation, more tech, more power, better fuel economy, better power curves and you get to 10,000 dollars. fords hybrid cars and suv cost 3,500 dollars more to build. do not caompare the model S fusion to the hybrid yes there is over 5,500 dollar price tag different but the hybrid comes with over 2,000 dollars worth of stander features over the model S fusion.
if the built a hybrid truck it would cost 4,000-4,500 to ford because its lager hybrid system and pass that that to the consumer at a 5-6,000.
Ford is better at hybrids then GM compare chevy volt (37MPG) to c-max/fusion energi (47MPG)
Ford could get 27-30mpg with the base 3.7l v6 tow around 5,000lbs and for large towing of 10,000lbs with the 3.5l ecoboost engine 25-27mpg
compared to 20/23 in a 6.0l engine that can only tow 6,000lbs
Two of the worlds smartest companies join forces!! Wow expect big things!!
A diesel engine & an electric air conditioner. Ready difficult to figure this out Ford & Toyota.
I can’t imagine this working out. Ford will try to get it so it matches, pound for pound of towing and payload as the standard truck, and Toyota is going to try to get the best mpg when not hauling anything. They should follow GM’s move and put out SUV’s with the powertrain first, then work them in the trucks.
they just need to make diesel engines for the f150 and tundra. that’s all
Diesel-hybrid should be THE conversation, yet diesel isn’t even mentioned?
Yawn.
Diesel hybrid is full European technology, that’s where either Ford or Toyota aren’t from, so don’t expect they’ve got a project related to Diesel hybrid on their appointment.
i can’t imagine Ford and Toyota would share a platform as the article suggests, more then likely it will just be fuel economy technology like the GM/Chrysler/BMW/Benz Two-Mode Hybrid collaboration that brought us the Hybrid Silverado/Suburban et all
whynot? if they used the same platform it would almost likely be a Ford design, Toyota would finaly have a worthy Tundra