Toyota Develops Diesel-Electric Hybrid... Fork Lift

Diesel-electric hybrid powertrains may not be readily available for passenger cars yet, but they are making their appearance on specialty vehicles such as Toyota's new Geneo-Hybrid forklift that will be released in Japan this December. The firm's pallet loader mates a 2.5-liter diesel engine to a 26kW electric motor and a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack. According to the Japanese firm, the diesel-electric hybrid forklift uses 50 percent less fuel and emits half as much CO2 than a conventionally-powered forklift with the same maximum load capacity of 3.5 tons.