FLEETDRIVE
But first , how does it drive ?
The test loop took us from Hino ’ s head office in Caringbah out to the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney , via a mix of motorways and heavily congested city roads , to simulate a typical day of delivery duties .
A standout feature on the 300 Series Hybrid Electric is its electric-only acceleration , which silently propels the truck to around 30km / h , before the diesel engine fires into life .
This feature significantly improves fuel efficiency in stop-start traffic as well as enhancing occupant comfort with whisper-quiet take-offs .
Hino Australia ’ s Department Manager for Product Strategy , Daniel Petrovski , explained that the 300 Series Hybrid Electric also offers a reduction in annual maintenance costs of around 16 percent compared to the equivalent diesel truck .
“ In addition to assisting the diesel engine , the electric motor also replaces the starter motor and the alternator , and its regenerative braking preserves brake pads too ,” Mr Petrovski said .
Another fuel-saving feature is a coast function , which disengages the clutch to allow the truck to roll in neutral , before reengaging instantaneously when power is required .
It ’ s in a built-up urban environment that the 300 Series Hybrid Electric excels . It offers a wide torque spread , with the electric motor assisting the diesel to offer seamless power and unmatched efficiency .
The regenerative braking and electric-only takeoff shine in inner-city scenarios too , allowing the 300 Series Hybrid Electric to outperform an equivalent diesel truck across acceleration , braking and all-round comfort too .
How much will I save ?
Across our 150km test loop , the fully-loaded 300 Series Hybrid Electric achieved fuel use of 11.1L / 100km , against the diesel truck ’ s 13.6L / 100km – exceeding our expectations and confirming Hino ’ s claimed 20 percent saving .
Our testing returned a 21.2 percent fuel saving but , given many light-duty trucks travel 300 to 500km per day , the efficiency benefits compound .
To put this into perspective , when factoring in an average of 45,000km of driving each year and an average diesel cost of $ 2 per litre the hybrid offers a $ 2147 fuel bill saving and emits 2877kg less CO2 .
The best news is , Hino has worked with Toyota Finance to level the playing field between its diesel and hybrid 300 Series models . Incredibly , the 300 Series Hybrid Electric is just under $ 150 more , , than its diesel counterpart per month , based on a standard 5 Years / 200,000km operating lease – a figure most operators will offset with fuel savings alone .
While electric trucks are the solution of tomorrow , the Hino 300 Series Hybrid Electric is the electrified solution for today – without any of the shortcomings .
AUSTRALIA ’ S ONLY HYBRID ELECTRIC TRUCK
THAT ’ S ANOTHER HINO
UP TO 20 % * FUEL SAVINGS WITH THE SELF-CHARGING HINO HYBRID ELECTRIC . FIND OUT MORE AT HINO . COM . AU
* Actual results will vary depending on the application of the vehicle and how it is driven .