Shiotsu Autotrade Japan – President’s Blog

Hino plans to make light duty Hybrid Trucks

Hino Motors Ltd is developing a new hybrid system for light-duty trucks and is currently carrying out field tests with some of its bigger users.  Sagawa Express Co Ltd, Ito En Ltd, Seino Transportation Co Ltd, Japan Post Service Co Ltd, Sohgo Security Services Co Ltd and Yamato Transport Co Ltd are participating in the field test for testing Hino light duty hybrid trucks.  Hino plans to calculate the hybrid system’s fuel consumption on the basis of actual usages and make use of this information for improving the fuel efficiency.  Hino aims to commercialize this new system for hybrid pickup trucks next year.

This new hybrid system by Hino has efficient power electronics and an improved control system.  Hino’s new hybrid system has a clutch between its motor and engine which offers an all-electric drive mode for the truck.  With this system truck uses the electric motor and as it does not run the engine which helps to collect regenerative electric power when a truck slows down.  In the internal testing done by Hino, it was found that about 50% fuel can be saved with use of this system, when compared to a diesel truck of similar capacity.  Hino will evaluate the reduction in fuel consumption of the real world parameters and optimize this system before commercializing the system in 2011.

Apart from improving fuel economy, Hino reduced the weights and sizes of the major components of the hybrid system.  It uses a nickel-metal-hydride rechargeable battery pack which was used in Toyota’s hybrid sedan-Lexus GS450h.

Hino Motors also made some changes in the engine and transmission of this hybrid system like drive in the ‘power’, ‘normal’ and ‘eco’ modes, lamp which indicates the “eco” driving position, allows stopping engine idle position in the D range etc.

Toyota has dominated the modern hybrid vehicle industry for last few years, however so far its focus was mainly the car and SUV segment.  Two mode hybrid systems were used successfully for several years by GM and Chrysler for their SUVs and full-sized trucks.; however, theV8-based hybrid systems developed by Chrysler, GM, BMW and Daimler capable of powering large light-duty trucks, have many flaws.  Toyota, therefore wants to capture this sensitive hybrid light duty truck market.

Hino, the Toyota Group company deals with buses and medium- duty as well as heavy-duty trucks.   Hino also manufactures vehicles with Toyota badge on commission which includes Dyna trucks, the Land Cruiser Prado SUV, the FJ Cruiserand Toyoace commercial vehicles.  Toyota plans to target the market for hybrid pickups by developing this new hybrid system. If this new drivetrain by Hino proves successful for light duty trucks what Toyota hybrid sytems did for cars, things could become interesting!

Hino Trucks received the highest rankings in the conventional medium duty truck segment, in the 2010 Medium-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.  Hino Trucks have ranked at the top for the third consecutive year in the medium duty truck category.

The J.D. Power and Associates award is considered as the ultimate recognition as it represents the customer’s voice of about their on-road experience they with various trucks.  The J.D. Power and Associates has been conducting this study for the last 18 years, with a purpose to provide auto makers with a objective and comprehensive measure of buyer satisfaction with products, parts, and dealer service in the Class 5, 6 and 7 commercial vehicle category.   Six factors are measured to determine universal truck engine satisfaction.  They are – engine warranty, engine quality, cost of operation, ride/handling/braking, cab and body, and engine and transmission performance.

Based on the 2009 year model, Hino Trucks received highest ratings for all the 6 factors used to decide the overall satisfaction.  The study was conducted in June to July, 2010 and was based on a survey done with 1,200 primary users of 2009 year model Class 5-7 conventional medium duty trucks
.
According to the study, Hino truck engines continue to perform well in all areas, especially with reference to quality.  Hino engines also have very low cost of ownership because of their high fuel efficiency – this is also a favorable factor to the business owners who are trying to minimize their costs in this tight economy.  Overall, Hino Trucks engines tend to have less downtime and fewer engine problems, compared to the average engines available in this market.

This award received by Hino demonstrates the auto maker’s dedication to deliver the most cost effective, reliable and durable trucks possible to their customers.

Hino Trucks is making use of SCR Technology in their trucks to satisfy the EPA emissions requirement for 2010 study.  As a matter of fact, Hino happens to be the lone medium duty truck to satisfy the EPA emissions requirement for 2010.  Looking ahead, Hino Trucks has plans for new models and technologies that would meet and exceed customer demands as well as environmental needs.   Hino, recognized for its lead in the commercial hybrid truck technology, plans to introduce its proprietary next generation hybrid system in 2011, in a new class 4 and 5 truck particularly designed to satisfy the needs of the American market.

Ambulances and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) vehicles belong to an important specialty vehicle market.  These EMS vehicles have to meet stringent quality requirements.  Recently,  Hino Trucks has launched an ambulance chassis in response to the overwhelming demand from manufacturers and customers  in the ambulance market.  Hino trucks made a grand debut with their ambulance chassis in Indianapolis at the Conference of the Fire Department Instructors (FDIC) held there.

The Hino 2011 truck model on display at the Conference attracted a lot of attention as it is the only conventional truck of medium duty meeting the strict 2010 EPA Emissions Regulation in the United States.  It is also equipped with Hino Trucks’ 2010 compliant SCR system.  The truck with the Hino JO8E Series 8-liter diesel engine generates a horsepower of 220 with torque of 520 lb-ft.

The design of the Hino ambulance chassis and cab are optimized for highest maneuverability and to give utmost performance with its tremendous power for the most demanding of tasks in the emergency rescue and operations market.  The new Hendrickson suspension featured in the ambulance allows for an elevated height of 28” in the frame – a requirement for ambulances.

It has been Hino’s continued efforts in new applications development that has led to its progress in the production of the ambulance and emergency vehicles.  The demand and expansion of its market has taken its natural course.  The new ambulance from Hino is expected to create a big impression with its spacious cab, bump-free ride and advanced reliability.  It is a boon to the Emergency Medical Service sector.

Emergency ambulances are the transport vehicles used to provide first aid and care for patients with an injury or acute illness.  Ambulance manufacturers primarily are light trucks or full-body van makers like Nissan, Hino and Toyota.   And, there are second level of manufacturers who buy the vehicle, usually incomplete without the body, and fit it out with the bodywork, equipment for emergencies and interiors.  They then build the coach and modify the vehicle  to suit requirements of patients in an emergency or fit it out with pre-built modular box containing all the emergency equipment.

Very often the EMS personnel live in a dangerous and daunting task environment combined with a moving vehicle where they have to nurse patients in emergencies and provide life-sustaining and life-saving medical care.  Hino ambulance is geared to take on crashes with a solid exterior and prevent injury to the patients and EMS personnel because it is crashworthy and protects its occupants.  In the United States market, the Hino will make inroads testing for safety and crashworthiness.

If you are looking for new or used ambulances, emergency medical service vehicles or other specialty vehicles for patient movement – from Japan, please get in touch with your requirements; and we will find a suitable vehicle that matches your requirements.

Technorati Tags: EMS vehicles, Hino Trucks, Hino ambulance, Japan

As per a recent Hino Motors press release, Hino Motors will launch improved low pollution versions of their heavy duty truck Hino Profia and medium duty truck Hino Ranger to meet Japan’s new emission standard.  These fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly trucks would comply with JP09 – which is currently the world’s most stringent emissions standard.

Hino’s new Profia featuring an improved engine and a device that employs urea to break down nitrogen oxides in the exhaust, will hit the market in July, 2010.  Hino has significantly improved the safety performance, driver and overall performance of these heavy and medium duty trucks to be competitive in the market.  These new Japanese trucks boast more than 5% higher fuel economy.

Hino Profia covers 25 ton class trucks, whereas Hino Ranger covers 14 ton class trucks.  The domestic annual target for Hino Profia is 7,000 units whereas that for Hino Ranger is 2,000 units.  Price for the improved Hino Ranger will start from 8.8 million yen, whereas the improved Hino Profia will be priced from 17.38 million yen.  Hino employs proprietary ‘Air Loop’ technology in these trucks for cycling NOx, CO2 and PM, thus reducing fuel consumption, reducing emissions and improving profits by reducing running costs.

The new low pollution Hino Profia employs enhanced EGR system with high pressure fuel injection and Urea-SCR to reduce NOx and improve fuel economy.  The engine improvement along with new 12-shift automatic transmission leads to fuel efficient driving. It also employs new eco-run control computers which automatically suppress accelerator pedal consuming too much fuel.  The driver is informed of various parameters in a full color LCD panel to help fuel efficient driving.  The new Hino Profia also has improved vehicle stability control system to reduce damage in case of collision.  It can detect an oncoming vehicle in case of a head-on collision, give warning to the driver and apply brakes to minimize the damage. Vertical stability control reduces the risk of vehicle rollover. The interior also has a navigation monitor with rear camera and left-side view camera.

Environmental performance of the new Hino Ranger truck is improved significantly by implementing EGR system enhancements, which includes high pressure fuel injection in the engine resulting in low fuel consumption reduction of NOx.  Urea-free after treatment of NOx eliminates the need for conventional urea water tank, at the same time meeting the new emission standards.  The new eco-run control of the computer, automatically suppress fuel operation in case of rough handling of the accelerator pedal, thus enabling more fuel efficient driving.  Safety of the vehicle is improved by improving the wheel mounting system.

Technorati Tags: Japanese trucks, Hino Profia, Hino Ranger, Hino