Geneva 2008: No diesel hybrids for Toyota says Watanabe

The Geneva Motor Show this week was riddled with diesel hybrid concepts from several manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen. All of those systems seem destined for production in the next couple of years, particularly the VW Golf TDI hybrid. One company that won't be joining that party is Toyota. Speaking to Automotive News at the Geneva Motor Show this week, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe said the hybrid pioneer had no plans to introduce any diesel hybrids.

At the Detroit Auto Show, Watanabe announced that Toyota would offer a diesel engine in the Sequoia and Tundra in 2010. Toyota already offers a variety of diesels in the European market. However, according to Watanabe, the combination of diesel and hybrid doesn't yield enough of an incremental improvement in efficiency to justify the combined cost premium of both. At this point, the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system is not suitable for use in the big trucks, which is why Toyota is following just the diesel path for now. Toyota USA VP Bob Carter told AutoblogGreen in Chicago that diesel hybrids are technically feasible and they are being developed (along with many other things as part of Toyota's $1million/hour in R&D spending), but Carter also said that the combination is not possible at a marketable cost.

One big difference between what was shown in Geneva and what Toyota currently has available is that the German hybrids were largely less expensive mild hybrids. These systems primarily provide start-stop capability and some electrical power boost. They also reduce parasitic losses by using regenerative braking energy to drive electrical accessories. One other thing should be kept in mind. Toyota Communications VP Irv Miller recently told us, "Flexibility is one of the beauties of Toyota."

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd ]

Wired: TMC President Katsuaki Watanabe Says No Diesel Hybrid Powertrain for Tundra Pickup

Wired Magazine is quoting Toyota Motor Corporation President Katsuaki Watanabe as saying the company will not offer a diesel hybrid version of the Tundra full-size pickup because the cost of pairing a diesel engine with electric motors would make the truck "prohibitively expensive".

These comments echo an earlier statement from General Motors' Gary White, vice president and vehicle line executive for GM full-size trucks.

Mr. White told PickupTruck.com in October 2007 that hybrids and diesels are independently expensive powertrains to produce. Combining the two would likely not yield high enough fuel economy improvements to make it economically worthwhile to offer a diesel-electric hybrid truck.

Interestingly, Toyota's and GM's comments are contradicted by India's Mahindra & Mahindra, which intends to sell a diesel hybrid version of its upcoming Appalachian mid-size pickup in the United States by 2010.

Diesel engine costs rose last year as new federal 'Tier 2 Bin 5' regulations required the addition of diesel particulate filters to reduce soot emissions by 90% from 2006 levels. 2008 model year Ford F-Series Super Duty pickups saw their diesel hardware costs rise by $1,500. Prices are expected to climb again in 2010 as Ford and GM add new equipment to scrub nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Chrysler's Cummins diesel powered Dodge Ram already meets 2010 NOx levels.

Hybrid costs can be attributed to expensive battery packs and electric motors that need to be integrated with internal combustion engines.

In January 2008, during the Detroit Auto Show, Watanabe-san said the Tundra would add a diesel engine option by 2010. We're expecting it will be a US version of the 4.5-liter D-4D Hino diesel already offered overseas in the new Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Tundra's body-on-frame platform.

Toyota USA VP Bob Carter told AutoblogGreen in Chicago that diesel hybrids are technically feasible and they are being developed (along with many other things as part of Toyota's $1million/hour in R&D spending), but Carter also said that the combination is not possible at a marketable cost.