Ford Will Use Toyota Hybrid Tech Under License - MSNBC

[hatrack]

TOKYO - "Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday that Ford Motor Co. would use some of its hybrid engine technology, in a pact that underlines the Japanese auto giant’s strong lead in eco-friendly gasoline-electric systems.

Toyota, which recently overtook Ford to become the world’s second-largest automaker, is keen to see the overall market for hybrids grow while promoting its technology and expanding its hybrid lineup. It has said it might supply hybrids to other auto makers as part of its goal to produce 300,000 of the eco-friendly vehicles a year by the middle of the decade.

Under the agreement, Toyota’s patents on gasoline-electric hybrid engine system control and emission purification have been licensed for use in Ford’s own hybrid system, which is under development.

EDIT

Purists have long questioned the U.S. auto maker’s hybrid engine prowess after Ford reached an agreement in 2001 with Aisin AW, a Toyota-affiliated car parts maker, to supply Ford with key components for the Escape hybrid, which was first planned for 2003. Toyota plans to roll out at least two new gasoline-engine hybrids in the U.S. market this year, including the world’s first luxury hybrid, the RX400h sports utility vehicle. It is also considering a hybrid version of a new pickup truck."

EDIT

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4485998/

[TlalocW]

1. Damn it...

What's taking them so long to make a small hybrid pick-up truck? I don't need a freakin' gigantic Ram or whatever... I would think that this would be one of their priorities.

TlalocW

[happyslug]

3. Trucks?

When I first heard that the Japanese were looking into hybrids was about 10-15 years ago and than the thinking was to use it in large trucks in urban areas to reduce air pollution.

The thinking at the time was that if the Japanese Government demanded reduction in pollution from large trucks Hybrids were the only way to reduce such truck pollution. I did not hear anything about hybrids until Toyota said it was going to produce a Hybrid car some years later. It sounds like the Japanese Government backed out of reducing pollution do to trucks (for now) and will wait till see how far the Hybrid car goes before requiring Trucks to use the same technology.

I see it being required in Japan within 2-3 years, for such hybrid trucks would get better fuel economy AND reduce pollution. If the Japanese government requires its all trucks to be hybrids than the conversion to hybrids will take place. Sound like Toyota is planing on this thus the extension to a SUV next year. That is the first step to install them in small delivery vans and than into large trucks in urban areas.

[cprise]

2. "We give up"

:)