Geneo-Hybrid is powered by a 2.5l diesel engine, which works in conjunction with an electric motor and uses nickel-metal hydride battery to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by as much as 50 percent, Toyota says. The company says this will not affect the lift truck's performances, as operational performances will be the same with conventional diesel-powered lift trucks.
The lift truck combines a Series Hybrid System for driving and a Parallel Hybrid System for load handling. The first system runs on electric energy from the engine-powered generator and battery. The Parallel Hybrid System receives mechanical energy from the diesel engine and generator,
The nickel hydride battery is recharged by the engine's operation and does not require plug-in recharging. The power efficiency is further enhanced by using regenerated energy recovered when the accelerator is released and during switch back operation.
"Toyota has been a leader in hybrid development for years with the very popular Prius vehicle. We are excited to see hybrid technology entering the mainstream of material handling. This is a huge step forward for our industry," Brett Wood, Toyota Material Handling president said.
For now the lift truck will be available in Japan alone. A market entry in the US is planned, yet Toyota has not decided when that time will come. Toyota lift truck sales in the US are considerable, so Geneo-Hybrid will probably get there in the following months.
Google News