Toyota announces world's first diesel-electric hybrid forklift
There are some who believe that the Holy Grail of fuel-saving technology could potentially be diesel-electric hybrids, and the idea certainly isn't without merit. After all, diesel engines are inherently more efficient than their gasoline-swilling siblings, so there's the potential for even higher fuel economy than with traditional gas-electric hybrids like the Toyota Prius hatchback. Further, diesel-electric locomotives have proven the technology viable for certain applications.
For this reason, we were keenly interested when we heard that Toyota had developed the World's First Diesel-Electric Hybrid. Except, well, it's not a car at all, it's a forklift. No matter, it's cool. Powered by a 2.5-liter diesel engine mated up with a 26 kW electric motor and nickel metal hydride battery pack, the Geneo-Hybrid forklift is capable of lifting 3.5 tons and reportedly uses 50-percent less fuel with an equal reduction in carbon emissions.
Toyota plans to begin trials of the Geneo-Hybrid forklift October 12, though only for its home market of Japan.
[Source: Carscoop, Nikkei]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gary 11:10AM (5/27/2009)
If there are hybrid shoes, hybrid bicycles, and hybrid luggage, I guess this had to happen eventually.
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Swede 11:38AM (5/27/2009)
Needs a closed cab, AC and a stereo and you got yourself a very nice forklift. With blue forks. They'll probably stay blue for about a month.
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downtoearth 12:16PM (5/27/2009)
Jeremy Korzeniewski:
> After all, diesel engines are inherently more
> efficient than their gasoline-swilling siblings
This is not really true.
It has established as "a common truth" mostly because majority of diesels are turbocharged, have antilag systems (variable vanes) and direct injection while majority of gasoline engines have no such things. And all of them boost fuel efficiency.
When gasoline engines become equipped with them, things start to look bleak for diesels.
Fuel economy, as we know, is measured as volume of fuel consumed to calculate costs easily. Fuel EFFICIENCY is calculated by measuring mass of fuel consumed (virtually the same energy densities per unit of mass for diesel fuel and gasoline) but CO2 emissions can serve as measure too cause both diesel fuel and gasoline have the same ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms.
What happens when we plot modern gasoline cars against diesels?
VW Touran 1.4 TSI 140HP 6b: 166 g CO2/km
VW Touran 2.0 TDI-PD 140HP 6b: 159 g CO2/km (diesel only 4.4% more efficient)
VW Golf 6 1.4 TSI 160HP 6b: 145 g CO2/km
VW Golf 6 2.0 TDI-CR 170HP 6b: 139 g CO2/km (diesel only 4.3% more efficient)
In both cases cars have nearly equal performance (gasoline versions are a little bit faster, 8.0 sec vs 8.1 sec in case of the Golf, 9.6 sec vs 10.2 sec in case of the Touran), both engines feature direct injection, turbochargers and antilag systems (variable vanes in diesels, a small supercharger in gassers).
Sources:
http://www.volkswagen.de/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/de3/modelle/touran/zahlen___fakten/technische_daten.detail.1.7.html
http://www.volkswagen.de/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/de3/modelle/golf/golf/zahlen___fakten/daten.detail.1.8.html
> so there's the potential for even higher fuel economy
> than with traditional gas-electric hybrids like the Toyota Prius
> hatchback.
Fuel economy - yes. Fuel efficiency - no. Atkinson engines on current hybrids are even more efficient than TSI/TFSI engines with turbochargers, direct injection and antilag systems.
> Further, diesel-electric locomotives have proven
> the technology viable for certain applications.
This is an another story. Locomotives are series hybrids cause traditional mesh gearboxes capable of handling that much troque are too expensive to build and too inconvenient to install on a locomotive.
> For this reason, we were keenly interested when
> we heard that Toyota had developed the World's
> First Diesel-Electric Hybrid. Except, well, it's not a car
> at all, it's a forklift.
I bet they made it only because forklifts engines sustain very variable loads. They run full throttle when lifting and nearly idle when moving the forklift itself. Diesels don't like such load patterns as it pushes them out of their peak thermal efficiency areas frequently.
A hybrid system with a temporary energy buffer (battery, capacitors) could allow the diesel engine to work in its area of peak thermal efficiency most of the time while very varying power output required by the forklift operator would be handled by the elastic battery/capacitors.
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Joe 12:32PM (5/27/2009)
Hopefully this can be set to run in all electric mode. That way when you are out in the yard, you can run as a full hybrid, but you can still bring it inside a warehouse emissions-free.
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brn 12:34PM (5/27/2009)
Maybe, someday, they'll develop a forklift that is a pure EV. Wouldn't that be something?
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guyledouche 12:49PM (5/27/2009)
"Maybe, someday, they'll develop a forklift that is a pure EV. Wouldn't that be something?"
SERIOUSLY? I don't know if you are kidding or not but if you are serious I have a news flash for you-- Electric fork lifts have been around for decades. They are widely used and loved by almost all who use them. We have 3 of them in our warehouse and the guys back there always prefer them over the other two propane trucks we have.
GoodCheer 1:15PM (5/27/2009)
"I don't know if you are kidding or not"
Sorry man, everyone else here knows.
Sebastian 1:06PM (5/27/2009)
Would be really great if this forklift recharges its batteries when it brings things down ! This energy could then be used to lift things
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Swede 7:10PM (5/28/2009)
But as you're just opening a valve, you'll not be able to recycle much energy. Yes, it would be neat, but it would be a minute contribution at best.
kylethill 8:37AM (8/27/2009)
They do have regenerative braking on electric units.
Kalle 1:09PM (5/27/2009)
Yeah EV lifts are common in confined warehouses to minimize health concerns for the workers. But in case a EV lift topples over the manager will ask "damage on the batteries" before asking about the person who drove it. =)
The batteries are expensive, to say the least...
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Ernie 2:21PM (5/27/2009)
They are? Lead acid batteries are cheap, and give the forklift a low center of gravity, which it really, really needs.
I highly doubt that there are any forklifts with lithium ion batteries. there's really not much of a need for them.
guyledouche 2:55PM (5/27/2009)
Hey GoodCheer,
Thanks dick! FYI- A lot of people do not know that electric forklifts exist. I thaught that dood was for real when he asked that, which is why I premised my response as I did.
BTW, can you introduce me to EVERYBODY? you seem like the man to know for the "peoples word" around here
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nottoosmart 6:17PM (5/27/2009)
Hey guyledouche,
You're name isn't quite right. You should add bag to the end of it.
"FYI- A lot of people do not know that electric forklifts exist."
A lot of people don't know that highway speed electric cars exist either, but you won't find them here. So try using that grey matter between your ears before spouting off.
Oh, there is a little known concept called humour. You might understand it when you mature. Then you won't take yourself so seriously and go around insulting people.
guyledouche 6:53PM (5/27/2009)
Nottoosmart,
Your name says it all my friend.
I did have bag at the end of it but I took it off in fear of upsetting pillow biters like yourself.
Why so salty anyway? I love the E-muscles btw. You wouldnt of said any of that to my face, I assure you.
Is good cheer your other name on here? I'de be willing to bet all of my grey matter it is.
keep up the good work mate!
nottoosmart 9:57PM (5/27/2009)
Glad you like the name. And no, I'm not GoodCheer.
I thought your response brn was foolish and your attack on GoodCheer uncalled for. The lame excuse you used was just plain stupid. I hate stupidity, hence the criticism. Looking more carefully at your comments I think I was wrong about your intellect. I apologize for insulting your intelligence, but I do think there is something seriously wrong with you.
The three people I've met, who behaved in your manner were not stupid, but they did and said some dumb things. brn sarcastic comment an opportunity for dominance. GoodCheer correcting you by stating fact, questioned that dominance, therefore the aggressive attack with name calling and feeble excuse. My criticism provoked a challenge response with anger (understandable, but not the childish insults), paranoia (thinking I'm GoodCheer and flexing my E-muscles) and finally the veiled physical threat. Two of these people were on steroids and the other one had serious mental problems. All three were extremely aggressive at the slightest provocation.
So which one are you?
guyledouche 7:19AM (5/28/2009)
Dr Phil,
Please spare me and the rest of the ABG readers your meandering nonsense psychological review. I am here for the cars and the technology not to go back and forth with insecure pricks like you.
Please, go get laid or something. Your incessant badgering and hypocritical nature are becoming quite tiresome.
I.E.- MOVE ON!
Bioguy 5:49PM (5/27/2009)
I hope that a propane/electric hybrid is also in the works, I would certainly not want to be inside a warehouse full of diesel fumes. At work we use electric lift trucks during the day when customers are present, and both electric and propane trucks at night. The propane forklifts have a ~2 ton counterweight at the back, which could be replaced with a lead acid battery and associated electronics.
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Chris M 7:05PM (5/27/2009)
Diesel and gas powered forklifts are for outdoor use only. But as another poster pointed out, it would be possible to have a hybrid forklift run on diesel outdoors and on batteries indoors.
guyledouche 7:35PM (5/27/2009)
I agree with BIOGUY 100%. although I think a better alternative would be a CNG/electric hybrid fork truck. Not all but many warehouses have access to NG and therefor could refuel their trucks in house instead of dealing with propane delivery and handling tanks. For the rest of the warehouses though that do not have nat gas available, propane/electric hybrid would definitely be the answer.
I wonder why Toyota or Clark have not made a propane/electric hybrid yet??? seems like a very lucrative market could emerge for such a fork lift.