Designed for improved fuel efficiency and reduced exhaust emissions, the all-new 700 Series reinforces a strong environmental commitment from Hino at an Australian and global level.
Designed for improved fuel efficiency and reduced exhaust emissions, the all-new 700 Series reinforces a strong environmental commitment from Hino at an Australian and global level, as do a series of new global joint ventures and collaborations aimed at creating next-generation vehicles.
“The all-new 700 Series will be the cleanest Hino heavy-duty truck yet, while also being designed for improved fuel efficiency,” said Daniel Petrovski, Manager of Product Strategy for Hino Australia.
“At a global and Australian level, Hino is involved in a number of joint ventures, partnerships, and collaborations aimed at reducing emissions and waste to support the Hino Environmental Challenge 2050, which is a set of long-term goals adopted by Hino to help create a sustainable society for the future.
“Hino is continuing to develop ways of creating a sustainable future and is keenly pursuing technologies that enhance environmental preservation and benefit our customer’s businesses. With the improved fuel efficiency of our next generation vehicles, customers can directly benefit from improved operational efficiency whilst reducing their environmental impact,” said Mr Petrovski.
Cleanest Hino ever
“Like the 500 Series Standard Cab and 300 Series Hybrid, the all-new Hino 700 Series meets Euro 6 exhaust emission standards (or equivalent) before they are legislated in Australia,” said Mr Petrovski.
To comply with the Euro 6 exhaust emissions standards, the all-new 700 Series uses a combination of the Hino Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and the ever-reliable Hino Diesel Particulate Active Reduction Filter (DPR).
“This means Hino is the only Japanese truck manufacturer to offer a Euro 6 (or equivalent) emissions compliant option from a car licenced light-duty through to the medium and heavy-duty segments,” continued Mr Petrovski.
“500 Series Standard Cab customers are reporting a positive impact on their operational efficiency, due in part to the improved fuel efficiency of the pPNLT (Euro 6 equivalent) engine.”
Hino targets a 90% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
As part of the global Hino Environmental Challenge 2050, Hino aims to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of its vehicles by 90%, which includes the development of next-generation vehicles such as plug-in hybrids, battery and fuel cell electric vehicles.
“The development of these technologies by Hino has been underway for decades and has accelerated over the past 10 years with numerous Hino and Toyota Group next-generation vehicle projects revealed, as well as the formation of market specific joint ventures, partnerships, and collaborations which aim to accelerate the movement towards the goals of the Hino 2050 Challenge,” said Mr Petrovski.
Examples of Hino projects currently underway:
Heavy-duty Hino Profia (700 Series) Hybrid was launched to the Japanese market in 2019 and is the world’s first diesel electric hybrid system equipped with AI (Artificial Intelligence).
Hino Dutro Z EV - Scheduled to be released in Japan in mid-2022, the Hino Dutro Z EV is Hino Motors, Ltd’s first full-scale electric vehicle (EV) and is designed for the ‘last mile deliveries’. This variation of the Dutro (known in Australia as the 300 Series) is a walk-through van style, battery electric vehicle with an ultra-low floor. It follows trials with Japanese delivery companies.
Heavy-duty fuel cell truck – which Hino and Toyota have agreed to jointly develop, the cruising range of which will be set at 600km.
Toyota SORA fuel cell bus. Commissioned by Toyota to develop the SORA, Hino was mainly responsible for the design of the bus body and both interior and exterior design. Fuel cell buses operate on hydrogen as a fuel source and have a high environmental performance of zero CO2 emissions during operation.
The Hino Melpha Plug-in hybrid (PHV) bus can run as an electric only or diesel electric hybrid vehicle. It can supply electricity externally for relatively long periods of time from power generated by its diesel engine, making it useful for supplying electricity to evacuation centres and other facilities in times of disaster.
Hino Motors small-sized Poncho electric buses have begun service on fixed routes as community buses on a number of fixed routes across Japan.
Joint ventures and collaborations underway
Further supporting the goals of the 2050 Challenge, Hino Motors, Ltd. has announced a joint venture with Chinese battery company BYD on commercial development of battery electric vehicles (BEV).
The new BYD venture is scheduled to be established within China in 2021, with BYD and Hino each making a 50% capital investment to set up a new company for commercial battery electric vehicles (BEV) development.
Another joint venture in place is between Hino Motors, Ltd. and Volkswagen subsidiary TRATON for e-Mobility in order to plan and provide e-mobility products.
TRATON and Hino will combine their unique strengths to develop electric vehicles including BEV, fuel cell vehicles (FCV) and relevant components as well as creating common EV platforms including software and interfaces.
Most recently, Hino Motors, Ltd. announced a new partnership in commercial vehicles with Isuzu Motors Limited and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota). The three companies will combine Toyota’s CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric) technologies with the commercial vehicle foundations cultivated by Hino and Isuzu.
In October 2020, Hino USA announced Project Z, the company's development path to Zero emissions vehicles, ranging from class 4 to class 8.
Hino USA’s holistic approach to working with technology leaders like Toyota, Hexagon Purus and XOS will result in a sustainable, low cost product line-up that will meet the needs of their customers as the industry moves forward to zero emission vehicles.
For customers ready to move in that direction now, the SEA Electric SEA-Drive 120a paired with a Hino M Series chassis is commercially available today.
In Australia, Hino has also collaborated with Melbourne-based SEA Electric on their localised solutions and supplies Hino Semi Knocked Down (SKD) Glider kits for use in two SEA Electric models.
Based on the 300 Series and 500 Series model chassis and cab, these trucks provide a solution for customers seeking a zero emission electric truck solution now.
Most recently, in April 2021 Hino Motors, Ltd. and REE Automotive Ltd. (REE), an innovator in e-mobility, announced a strategic business alliance agreement to realise their shared vision of "providing new value to society through next-generation commercial mobility".
The next-generation commercial mobility solution jointly developed by Hino and REE will comprise of a modular platform (powered by REE) that will carry customised Mobility Service Module on top.
Eliminating carbon dioxide emissions in the vehicle manufacturing process
Another goal of the Hino Environmental Challenge 2050 is to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions in the vehicle manufacturing process.
In its 2019 financial year, globally Hino reduced emissions per unit by 34% when compared to 2008.
Like the 500 Series Standard Cab, the 700 Series rolls off the production line at the Koga Plant where cutting edge technology reduces energy and water consumption.
Examples include subterranean heat collection using geothermal heat, rainwater collection for toilet flushing, use of natural lighting and limiting air conditioning and heating to a height of two metres.
“These are just some of the measures that are expected to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of Koga by 25% and use 65% less water when compared with previous Hino production plants,” said Mr Petrovski.
Australia’s only hybrid electric-diesel truck
The Hino 300 Series Hybrid is Australia’s only hybrid electric-diesel truck, and, with the launch of the new 300 Series in 2020, it became the first Japanese-manufactured light-duty truck in Australia to meet Euro 6 exhaust emissions standards.
The Hino hybrid models were first introduced in 2007 and the 2020 Hino 300 Series Hybrid featured a series of changes to the hybrid system aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.
“The updated Hino Hybrid delivers an even cleaner, more efficient transport solution for customers,” said Mr Petrovski.
“The extensive model line-up is a direct reflection of our customers’ changing needs – our Australian customers are increasingly demanding environmentally friendly options, and the Hino 300 Series Hybrid is an excellent solution that reduces fuel consumption and their carbon footprint.”
Hybrid models are available in four variants from the 616 Standard and Wide Cab car-licenced models through to the 716 Wide Cab and the 916 Wide Cab, which has a maximum Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 8.5 tonne.
The all-new Hino 700 Series is available at Hino dealerships nationwide, with further information also available at https://www.hino.com.au/700/.