Once again, I come across more stuff we need in our NEWS about Toyota Trucks. This article comes from mid January of this year. It is about the Toyota A-BAT Hybrid pickup that is being developed for the American market. It may not be available for a few years to come, and will probably end up looking quite different, but it looks to have some potential as a hybrid truck. Who knows what it will end up as. The Toyota FTX concept from a few years back pretty much became the new full size Tundra I-Force minus the gas/electric hybrid part, haha.
"The concept vehicle called A-BAT even has solar panels on the dash which capture energy from the sun to assist in the charging of the navigation unit, portable power pack and backlit information displays. It’s also got lots of lightweight materials inside including carbon fibre and aluminium.
It’s got a portable power pack which is said to offer both AC and DC for a wide variety of applications including “powering tools, electrical gear while camping, a laptop computer, small appliances or assisting a vehicle jump start.”
Big stuff in the cab can stick through the roof, and the pick up bed can be extended in a range of ways, all ideal for Americans going shopping or camping.
"Driving from beyond the suburbs to the city is a way of life for many people," said Kevin Hunter, president, Calty Design Research, Inc. "We've taken Toyota's truck heritage to a different level by envisioning a vehicle capable of maneuvering the suburbs as well as dirt roads. This compact truck is as comfortable for long commutes as it is for road trips. It can accommodate outdoor toys and home improvement supplies. Plus, customers benefit from the hybrid powertrain's low emissions and fuel economy."
Don’t expect to see this vehicle in the UK in the near future, the concept seems to be designed purely for the American market. As well as the Prius providing the engine, it’s also supposed to have influenced the design. Oh, as well as a NATO all-terrain military truck. A strange experiment in cross-breeding then."
A simple Google search of A-BAT for both web and images will reveal much more info and pics
