toyota e pallet concept
Rod Chapman10 Jun 2019
NEWS

Toyota HiAce a 'blank slate' for future mobility

But no word yet on hybrid or electrification of Australia's top-selling mid-size van

Toyota Australia says its new HiAce mid-size van is poised to embrace society's rapidly evolving mobility needs, although the company is yet to divulge any information on whether it will offer the all-new platform with either hybrid or purely electric powertrains.

Speaking at the recent national media launch of the HiAce, Toyota Australia's vice president of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, said the new sixth-generation van was perfectly placed to meet looming changes in the mobility and transport sphere.

"These vehicles are arriving at an incredible time," he said.

"We're only seven months away from the start of the 2020s, a decade that will transform our company and, I believe, our industry. But that doesn't faze Toyota at all. We have a proud history of embracing transformation, from looms to cars and now from cars to mobility.

Toyota Australia's vice president of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley

"HiAce is perfectly aligned with where we know the future is heading. With this new generation we've transformed HiAce into a vehicle that is much more than a 'box on wheels'. In the future we see HiAce transforming into a blank slate for a variety of transport needs using the latest technology.

"It will embody the key pillars that make mobility for all possible – connected, autonomous, and with shared mobility on demand."
Autonomous solution

Hanley also referenced Toyota's e-Pallet concept, unveiled at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, as proof of how Toyota is actively embracing change in transport and mobility.

Positioned as a connected and autonomous vehicle within the future transport eco-system, e-Pallet is the result of a partnership between Toyota and corporate heavyweights spanning Uber, DiDi, Amazon, Pizza Hut and Mazda.

Instead of people driving to the shops, Toyota says e-Pallet could allow autonomous mobile showrooms to travel to people, while also serving as an autonomous parcel delivery and ride-sharing service.

The concept is far from a pipe dream – the e-Pallet platform will be used to ferry athletes and guests around the Olympic Village at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Olympics will serve as a global showcase for mobility innovation in other ways, too, with the Olympic flame to be lit in the opening ceremony by a flying Toyota car.

"That is where Toyota sees HiAce is moving – as usage moves, so too does HiAce," said Hanley.

2019 Toyota HiAce SLWB Van with Option Pack.

No HiAce hybrid?

However, amid all this talk of technological innovation, the new HiAce has launched with two 'traditional' internal combustion engines: a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (up to 130kW/450Nm) and a 3.5-litre petrol V6 (207kW/351Nm).

In a platform ripe for electrification, and for a manufacturer at the forefront of automotive hybrid technology in particular, the lack of an alternative power source for the first new HiAce in 15 years is perhaps a little curious.

"Our public announcements that we've made are well known, around the number of electrified models that we'll have by 2030," said Toyota Australia's product planning and pricing senior manager, Bernard Nadal.

"We don't have something [regarding HiAce] at launch but it's something that we'll continue to study. We see an important role [for electrification], especially in the van segment, moving forward."

Toyota recently stepped up its partnership with Japanese firm Panasonic to spearhead the expansion of its pure-electric vehicle program, with the joint venture involving 3500 employees.

2019 Toyota HiAce LWB Van.

Toyota is of course also a staunch protagonist for hybrid powertrains, a field in which it's been active now for 18 years since the Toyota Prius launched in 2001.

Mr Hanley said Toyota wouldn't rule out the possibility of a hybrid or pure-electric power source for HiAce.

"A hybrid powertrain has not been developed for this diesel engine, however Toyota Australia's position on the electrification of our range in the future is quite clear," he said.

"Of course in electrification we include powertrains such as petrol hybrid, full hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles going forward, so our positon on reducing our CO2 footprint is very clearly stated. It's something that we will look at and study for the future."

All options considered

Mr Hanley said Toyota would continue to consider all alternative power sources, including plug-in hybrids.

"We've never ruled out plug-in hybrid at all, so while we don't have plans for that we certainly don't rule it out for the future," he said.

"But I've long believed the most practical solution to electrification today – which may not be the end game, but today – is the hybrid offerings we have in petrol right now. That is no plug-in: it's practical, it serves to reduce our CO2 footprint, it reduces fuel consumption, there's no range anxiety, it's proven technology and you know what? It's affordable.

"So for today I believe that is the way to go, however Toyota has never ruled out plug-in hybrid, hybrid diesel, other hybrid powertrains. We've never ruled out fuel-cell electric vehicles, and of course we've never ruled out battery-electric vehicles going forward.

"We think the market will determine ultimately where that sits. So to put your entire life into one type of powertrain, we think that would be dangerous because the market will ultimately determine [the direction], as they do, and the market rarely gets it wrong."

Share this article
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Looking for a tradie car?Get the latest advice and reviews on tradie car that's right for you.
Explore the Tradie Hub
Tradie
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.

If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.