Mhlnews 1528 Toyotahybridweb
Mhlnews 1528 Toyotahybridweb
Mhlnews 1528 Toyotahybridweb
Mhlnews 1528 Toyotahybridweb
Mhlnews 1528 Toyotahybridweb

Toyota Hybrid Lift Truck

June 16, 2009
Toyota Industries Corp. is launching what it calls the world’s first internal combustion (IC) hybrid lift truck.

Toyota diesel hybrid lift trucks will hit the Japanese market this December.
The Geneo-Hybrid 8,000-pound, counterbalanced lift truck has a 2.5-liter diesel engine, electric motor and nickel-metal hydride battery. These features reduce fuel consumption and carbon-dioxide emissions by 50%, according to Toyota.

The lift truck has a series hybrid system in which the drive motor runs on electric energy from the engine-powered generator and battery. Load-handling functions are powered by a parallel hybrid system with a hydraulic pump that receives mechanical energy from the diesel engine and generator and electric energy from the battery. The nickel hydride battery is recharged by the engine’s operation and does not require plug-in recharging. The truck also uses regenerative energy from the release of the accelerator and during switch-back operation.

The company adds that the lift truck offers improved environmental performance and economic benefits due to lower fuel costs.

Toyota Material Handling U.S.A. Inc. (TMHU) is the U.S. distributor for Toyota material handling products. “Toyota has been a leader in hybrid development for years with the very popular Prius vehicle,” says Brett Wood, president of TMHU. “We are excited to see hybrid technology entering the mainstream of material handling. This is a huge step forward for our industry.”
The timeline for launching the hybrid lift truck in the U.S. has not yet been determined.

For more information, visit www.toyotaforklift.com.