Hino Expands 'Built to Go' Range for Hybrid-Electric Trucks

CUSTOMER demand has led to Hino expanding its range of body options available for its hybrid-electric truck models.

The new products under Hino’s ‘Built To Go’ line aim to provide high quality, cost effective and versatile drive-away solutions that the truck-maker said would immediately reduce business operating costs.

Hino Australia’s department manager of product strategy, Daniel Petrovski, said sales of the hybrid-electric truck were soaring as operators looked at solutions to rising fuel prices and increased focus on minimising the environmental impact.

“The introduction of the new Alloy Tray and TradeAce ‘Built to Go’ models to our hybrid-electric range offers customers solutions from day one,” he said.

The 300 Series hybrid-electric was the brand’s headliner at the recent Brisbane Truck Show.

Hino Australia vice president of Brand and Franchise Development, Richard Emery, said that as part of his company’s renewed focus, the hybrid-electric light-duty truck has moved from a niche product 15 years ago to a genuine purchase option for many fleets.

“It is the only hybrid-electric product available in the market. It provides operators with a unique combination of lower operational costs, fuel savings, and emission reductions, while also meeting Euro-6 emissions compliance,” he said.

M Petrovski said: “Not only do our hybrid-electric models meet Euro-6 exhaust emissions standards, but recent real-world trials comparing the proven Hino hybrid-electric truck against a traditional diesel equivalent show a 22 per cent reduction in fuel use and CO2 emissions. Even greater savings are achievable depending on the application of the vehicle and how it is driven.”

Compared with diesel equivalents, hybrid-electric models allow customers to also benefit from lower maintenance costs.

The electric motor replaces the diesel engine’s starter motor and alternator, and the regenerative braking reduces the use of service brakes and increases the life of the brakes, all while charging the hybrid batteries.

“Hino 300 Series Hybrid customers can reduce yearly maintenance costs by up to 16 per cent,” Mr Petrovski said.

“The Hino 300 Series ‘Built to Go’ hybrid-electric TradeAce models are fitted with a Hino genuine aluminium tray, ladder racks and a Hino genuine premium bullbar (Wide Cab) or nudge bar (Standard Cab).”

The 300 Series Alloy Tray range features the same base aluminium tray body specification as the TradeAce models but without the ladder racks and nudge/bull bar.

The 300 Series hybrid-electric ‘Built to Go’ range includes the 616 Standard and Wide Cab 4.5-tonne GVM car-licensed models through to the 716 Wide Cab with a 6.5-tonne GVM.  

Hino said that the hybrid system uses a lightweight power control unit (PCU) that comprises the battery, inverter, engine control unit (ECU) and DC-DC converter. 

The powertrain is a Hino N04C-WR four-cylinder common-rail injected turbo-diesel engine producing 150hp (110kW) and 470Nm of torque, which is delivered in combination with the electric motor, with maximum torque available at a very low 1200rpm.

Hino said that because maximum torque is available at such low engine revs, fuel use is minimised.

It has a six-speed automated transmission with the electric drive motor directly coupled to it which results in quicker gear shifts and smoother take-offs.

“The new hybrid-electric ‘Built to Go’ models will be of particular appeal to tradespeople and small business operators who are seeking a versatile drive-away solution that can reduce operating costs from day one,” said Mr Petrovski.

Like all hybrid-electric models, the new ‘Built to Go’ models will feature Hino SmartSafe, a comprehensive safety package with advanced driver-assist technology.

Hino SmartSafe includes a pre-collision system (PCS) with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection (PD) and lane-departure warning system (LDWS). This is in addition to vehicle stability control (VSC), a reverse camera, dual  airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, a UN ECE R-29 cab-strength certified cab and hill-start assist (easy start).

Hino recently announced its Hino-Connect business intelligence and telematics platform as an option for 300 Series customers starting from July 2023.

“Additionally, we will also be upgrading the standard multimedia unit across all models to a new ultra high-definition 10.1 inch multimedia unit,” Mr Emery said.

Hino already has more than 700 hybrid-electric trucks on the Australian roads and has been supplying low-emission trucks for over 15 years. 

The Hino 300 Series hybrid-electric light-duty range is driven by Toyota Group technology that is proven in millions of hybrid vehicles worldwide, while the range is supported by Hino Advantage, a suite of business solutions that are designed to reduce costs over the life of the vehicle.

This includes a five-year warranty, five years of roadside assist, capped-price servicing, Hino genuine parts, Hino customer support provisions via the Hino customer support centre.

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