Toyota's new engines could even appear in electric vehicles with an extended range extender (EREV)
Toyota is preparing a new family of internal combustion engines that will be able to work in many different types of cars - from electrified to electric, with the internal combustion engine as a generator.
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The Japanese company, while remaining one of the leaders in hybrids, does not see electrification as the inevitable end for the internal combustion engine. According to Andrea Carlucci, vice president of strategy and marketing for Toyota's European division, the new 1.5- and 2.0-litre motors will be more powerful and fuel-efficient than their predecessors, and their design is being developed from the outset with an eye on different applications - in electric cars, hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Rather than adapting the existing internal combustion engine platform for electrification, Toyota wants to create an architecture that prioritises battery electric vehicles and can be used for plug-in and self-charging hybrids as well as extended range vehicles (EREVs) without sacrificing efficiency.
The new engines should give the company flexibility as markets around the world move towards electrification at different rates. This will allow petrol versions, hybrids, EREVs or 100% electric vehicles to be offered depending on the region. In addition, Toyota is not giving up on the idea of switching to hydrogen and synthetic fuels for internal combustion engine models.
The company has not yet disclosed in which models the new internal combustion engines will appear, but one of the promising areas could be pickup trucks. The company has already shown a concept that resembles an electric version of the Tacoma, and is considering more advanced electrified options for the Tundra. Their next generation could include an EREV scheme with a longer range in electric mode.
