Toyota's Hybrid Truck System Will Be a Game-Changer. Here's How It Works

Toyota has built hybrids for over a quarter-century now, but only recently started electrifying its trucks. It’s a big deal, because the automakers' trucks have always been defined by their absolute dependability. Consequently, they’ve always lagged behind the market in terms of powertrain technology. For trucks, Toyota likes to stick with what it knows works, rather than coming up with something new for newness sake.

Now, Toyota has two hybrid truck powertrains, one with a twin-turbo V-6 for the Tundra and Sequoia, and one with a single-turbo four-cylinder for the Tacoma, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser. At the first drive for the Land Cruiser and Tacoma hybrid, we took a deep dive into the four-cylinder setup.

“For environmental concerns, America obviously has strict regulations, so for us, to ensure that as many customers as possible can enjoy the vehicle… there was a need for us to take on the challenge to improve the environmental friendliness and also the fuel efficiency,” said Ketia Moritsu, chief engineer for the new 4Runner and Land Cruiser, through an interpreter.

It’s called i-Force Max, and it’s not really like Toyota’s long-running Prius hybrid system. In fact, it’s a lot simpler to understand. Here, you have a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, an eight-speed automatic, and a 48-horsepower electric motor-generator sandwiched in between. The motor is powered by (and charges up) a 1.9-kilowatt-hour Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery mounted under the rear seats. Total system output is 326 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque.

The rolling chassis of the Tacoma TRD Pro. All the hybrid components are highlighted in orange. The motor sits between engine and transmission, while the control electronics are in the foreground, just above the upper control arm.

Photo: Jon Harper for Toyota

“[The motor] is fundamentally designed to really support that part of the torque ramp and power ramp where you know the turbos are coming up to speed,” said Sheldon Brown, chief engineer for the Tacoma. “It helps us with our peak torque and then of course, when our turbo efficiency starts to fall off, it can come back in and assist.”

Because of the small battery, the Tacoma Hybrid doesn’t have