In 1991, Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino) launched the world's first hybrid city buses in the market. Thereafter, Hino has improved its hybrid vehicle technology and applied it to various commercial vehicles including city buses, sightseeing buses, medium-duty trucks and light-duty trucks. Recently, Hino has developed light-duty hybrid trucks, whose fuel efficiency has improved by 50% relative to its Diesel trucks. The significant improvement in fuel efficiency is achieved by four improvements in hybrid trucks. First, the hybrid system is improved: the change in the drive train layout, the relocation of a clutch, makes it possible to recoup the regenerative energy more efficiently. Second, the vehicle is also improved by the new hybrid engine, the reduction of the rotation speed of the engine during idling, and the improvement in the differential gear ratio. Third, new hybrid system controls are developed to bring benefits of the hybrid system to all drivers. Forth, low-cost but efficient units are developed to make fuel efficient hybrid vehicles prevail in the market. This paper discusses new Hino hybrid vehicle technologies developed for the light-duty trucks.
