Toyota is investigating hybrid drivetrains for its upcoming revision of the Tundra pickup truck. While the low-end
power that’s available from a hybrid drivetrain is attractive to truck owners, the temporary duration of this
additional power is not well suited for truck-like tasks such as towing. The company also acknowledges potential
durability concerns with a hybrid drivetrain, although it seems as if that could be mitigated somewhat through the use
of a larger and heavier battery pack than would typically be considered practical for a car. Considering the usage of
most trucks in the half-ton range, along with the fact that most models are far more powerful and not all that more
economical than trucks from 10 or 15 years ago, there does appear to be some room available for performance compromises
by an economy-oriented buyer.
Toyota examining hybrid drivetrain for Tundra
Toyota is investigating hybrid drivetrains for its upcoming revision of the Tundra pickup truck. While the low-end power that’s available from a hybrid drivetrain is attractive to truck owners, the temporary duration of this additional power is not well suited for truck-like tasks such as towing. The company also acknowledges potential durability concerns with a hybrid drivetrain, although it seems as if that could be mitigated somewhat through the use of a larger and heavier battery pack than would typically be considered practical for a car. Considering the usage of most trucks in the half-ton range, along with the fact that most models are far more powerful and not all that more economical than trucks from 10 or 15 years ago, there does appear to be some room available for performance compromises by an economy-oriented buyer.