Toyota Considering Making Diesel-Electric Hybrid Vehicles

Both are seen as stopgaps before hydrogen-powered vehicles become reality, yet instrumental for growing the green market and

While the world waits for hydrogen-powered vehicles to become a reality, ICE-electric hybrids are here to stay. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

simultaneously acting as rolling test beds for the continued development of environmentally advanced vehicles.

In other words, for the next decade at least, ICE-electric hybrids are here to stay, and in the end the technologies being perfected to make them more efficient, such as the development of lighter, more efficient batteries, will be critical in ensuring a hydrogen highway one day exists.

Toyota is the unequivocal leader in hybrid development, having invested tens of millions in its first and second generation Prius, and the upcoming models it has already announced. As previously mentioned, Toyota's

DaimlerChrysler's Dodge division beat Toyota to the diesel-electric hybrid idea with its pickup truck concept dubbed the Dodge Ram Contractor Special. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

hybrid technology has also been licensed to Ford and Nissan, proving that at least these two automakers feel it's easier to join the world's second-largest and most profitable automaker, making Toyota a partner, than fight it.

Combining diesel and electricity isn't completely new, however, with DaimlerChrysler's Dodge division having previously shown a concept of a diesel-electric hybrid pickup truck dubbed the Dodge Ram Contractor Special, complete with a sliding side panel that opened up to a contractor-type auxiliary power interface. While at its introduction DaimlerChrysler committed to a target production date of calendar year 2004, it still hasn't shown up. No doubt, if they did manage to make it a reality the Contractor's Special would be a popular option.