Featured Ford Says a Fully Electric SUV with 300 Miles of Range + Hybrid Mustang/F-150 Are Coming by 2020

In 2011, Toyota planned a Hybrid Tundra, but we never saw it.

Toyota Gives Hybrids Testosterone, Plans Hybrid Tundra Pickup

Apparently, they were to use a system co-developed with Ford for pickups. Does that mean we will eventually see a Hybrid Tundra?

 

it all sounds good, we can only hope. i really like what ford has done to date.

canceling plans for a 1.6 billion dollar plant in mexico? hmm, sounds strangely familiar.

 

I would love to replace my V8 2000 Tundra with a Hybrid.

 

definitely need to see fuel saving tech going into larger vehicles.

 

Sometimes we have to talk technical and this is one. The internal battery architecture has to move to parallel-series strings for the modular assemblies:

• Within the module, there needs to be parallel strings so if one cell fails, that string can be isolated and reduced, peak power until the module can be replaced. The other strings in parallel continue to provide power. In an ideal world, 5-10 strings, so loss of one string of 5 would give 4/5 ~= 80% of peak power.
• During charging, especially with human movable charging cables, ~100 A, these internal strings need to be in parallel to accept the high power and voltages needed for a quick charge. There comes another problem of balanced charging of the cells, another technically challenging problem until you understand how a shunt regular works.

Don't get me wrong, a technical problem seems complex the first time it is solved. Less so the second time and boring the tenth time. Just we have to move beyond thinking battery cells into battery module subsystems.

GOOD LUCK to FORD!

Bob Wilson

 

Since the Tundra has grown I would likely want a Hybrid Tacoma.
In the US the Tacoma replaced the Hi-Lux small pickup truck.

 

everything keeps growing. i have a 4 door dakota, but would like to go down to a small hybrid pick up. actually, the pruck, as seen here on priuschat would be perfect.

 

Guess we have to wait for for real technical details.

That Ford/Toyota partnership fell apart a couple years ago.

Power split hybrids under perform compared to ICE when it comes to towing, which is important for truck sales. Improved transaxle cooling has allowed Toyota to give the new Prius a tow rating in Europe, but it still is less than other ICE cars.

So has Ford gotten around this limitation for the F150 with their current power split architecture, or have they gone with a parallel system?

Considering the model bloat, a hybrid Tundra now what likely just match your 2000's fuel economy.

 

Give me a Hybrid Tacoma then. I am OK with that.

 

And yet, just 2 weeks ago, their marketing arm claims that there is no need to advance development in hybrid and electric vehicles, because of the extremely low demand for such products. You've got to wonder what internal fighting exists within the company. Makes you wonder if these most recent announcements are more for press and domestic auto show news.

 

"By 2020" could imply that neither is at odds.

 

you only need to read dilbert to understand what goes on between marketing and engineering.

 

Elon musk will beat them all.

 

My bad. Not marketing, but Ford's CEO Fields himself.

From GreenCar Reports, Dec 5, 2016
Ford will ask Trump to cut fuel-economy rules, CEO says; 'no demand' for hybrid, electric cars

 

The hybrid and plug in demand is low because fuel is cheap, and it is cheap because Congress doesn't have the balls to raise taxes. CO2 and Global Warming aside, those taxes should have gone up to help cover road work.

 

I hope ford isn't just simply doing a "Bill Gates" ... build a product, give it away for free, just to drive the good product out of business ... just so they can get back to (ice) business as usual ....
probably not ... but the old industry did fight CARB tooth and nail at one time, in order to never have to build plugins. hopefully, times a changin'
.

 

If FORD would make an all electric Mustang it would be my wife's next car.
In any event, more efficient cars, hybrid, electric or otherwise, are always welcome.

Bring it on, let's see what you can do FORD!