Following Toyota’s announcement that it will buy a 5.9 percent stake in Isuzu, the companies announced that they will pursue a joint diesel development strategy.

“Our belief is that the demand for diesel engines will increase globally,” said Steven Curtis, media and investor relations national manager for Toyota. That marks a change for the company that has pioneered development of gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains in search of maximum efficiency.

In the Toyota/Isuzu partnership, Isuzu will take the lead in the areas of research and development for diesel engine production and for emissions-control technologies. Toyota, meanwhile, will concentrate on “environmental technologies, including basic engine and other technologies and other technologies related to alternative fuels,” Curtis explained.

If that sounds like Toyota will integrate a diesel engine into its Synergy hybrid drivetrain, you are right, according to Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor North America. “It is too early to tell where the Isuzu relationship will go,” he said, “but eventually we will have hybrids on diesel, biodiesel, ethanol — the whole gamut.”

The modularity of the hybrid system makes it applicable to a range of power plants and fuel sources, he added. “It is the same hybrid system that works with all of those.”

The previously opposed hybrid-versus-diesel camps seem to realize that combining the technologies is the fastest route to fuel-efficient vehicles with existing technologies and fuels. Detroit’s Big Three demonstrated this with their concept cars developed under the Partnership for the Next Generation of Vehicles program under the Clinton administration. All three companies produced diesel-electric hybrids in pursuit of an 80 mpg family sedan. A Prius with a diesel engine would closely resemble those concept vehicles, both in appearance and fuel economy.

At this year’s L.A. Auto Show (Dec. 1-10), Ford is expected to show two eco-friendly SUVs, one of which will be soon available for the public to purchase. Later this week, Ford will unveil a fuel cell-powered Explorer and a second generation Escape Hybrid.

The fuel cell Explorer is said to achieve 350 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. For comparison, a V6-powered 4WD Explorer can travel 337.5 miles/450 miles (city/highway) on a single tank of gasoline and a V8-powered 4WD Explorer can go 315 miles/ 450 miles (city/highway).

Also on display will be Ford’s new 2008 Escape Hybrid. The previous generation compact hybrid SUV has been quite popular due to its attractive price tag and many can be seen zipping through New York City as taxi cabs. With the help of its second generation hybrid drive train, the 2008 Escape Hybrid is sure to improve on the current AWD model’s 33MPG/29MPG (city/highway) figures.

David Hermance, 59, was killed on Saturday off the coast of California when the engine of his Russian Yak airplane apparently failed.  Hermance is credited with overseeing the successful development and launch of the hybrid car and was considered the top American executive for alternative fuel vehicles.  Hermance helped make Toyota’s Prius the market leader, forcing Ford, GM, and Daimler Chrysler to develop hybrid vehicles, as well.

Earlier this month, Hertz has introduced to its Australian rental fleet the new, petrol/electric Hybrid Toyota Prius sedan, which can travel up to 100 kilometres on just 4.4 litres of petrol, and up to 1,000 kilometres on one tank of fuel.  The new Prius emits up to 55% less carbon monoxide than conventionally powered vehicles of similar size and is one of the quietest vehicles currently available; its Continuously Variable Transmission system eliminates the need for gear changes.
“The Toyota Prius is friendly to both its passengers and the environment,” said Wayne Burgoyne, Director of Sales and Marketing for Hertz Australia. “We expect it to appeal to both business and leisure travellers. “The Prius combines lightweight construction with a propulsion system called Hybrid Synergy Drive, which delivers the best of battery and petrol power,” he added.  “When the vehicle is accelerating it is powered by electricity, until it reaches cruise speed, when it automatically switches to petrol. Then, when the car begins to decelerate or brake, it switches back to battery.  This minimizes petrol consumption by automatically selecting either battery or petrol power, whichever is most efficient at the time.”
The Prius maintains the comfort, performance, and safety standards of other vehicles, including the following: seating for up to five passengers, dual front SRS airbags, air conditioning, power-operated windows and mirrors, six-speaker CD /radio, cruise control, and a new Electro Multi Vision (EMD) liquid crystal display with a 7” touch panel to control the sound system, air conditioning, and vehicle information.