Not that long ago, buying a hybrid car was easy. However, today, you need a glossary just to read the badge on the back. HEV, MHEV, PHEV, REEV, and whatnot
Unless you’re the person who lives and breathes cars, it’s enough to make anyone stop and squint at the spec sheet.
There are just so many types of hybrids, and Toyota, the world’s leading hybrid car manufacturer, wants to ensure that it’s not misleading its customers between a hybrid and a mild-hybrid.
In an interview with an Australian magazine, Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s Sales and Marketing head, stated that the company does not consider a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to be an actual hybrid setup.
💡Key Insight:
A mild-hybrid system is a regular car engine helped by a small electric motor and battery. The motor can’t drive the car alone, but it gives the engine a little boost and saves fuel, much like a helpful push when starting or accelerating.
He said:
“We don’t count 48-volt as a HEV [hybrid electric vehicle], just to put it on the record,” Hanley said.
For reference, Toyota, in Australia, uses a 48-volt mild-hybrid system in models such as the Prado and HiLux.
“I want to make it clear that when you buy a Toyota 48-volt-assisted [powertrain] that currently exists in HiLux and Prado (Australian market), you are not buying a hybrid system.
He explained, “They’re not hybrids, not remotely, so we definitely want to separate these three conditions on this technology.”
Hanley added that Toyota intends to draw a clear distinction for customers between its efficiency-focused complete hybrid systems and the new 48-volt “assist” technology, which he said should not be marketed under the same label.
The Irony of Toyota
There’s an ironic twist to Toyota’s statement in Australia. In other markets, particularly Europe, the very same 48-volt setup is linked to the brand’s hybrid and electrified lineup.
Just a few months ago, Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser 48V and HiLux 48V in Europe, and in its own press release, referred to them as an “electrified powertrain.”
In Toyota’s own words, these vehicles use an electric motor-generator in place of a traditional alternator to assist the engine and improve efficiency, the same basic mild-hybrid technology that Hanley insists is “not hybrid.”
While Toyota Australia is distancing its 48-volt systems from the hybrid label, Toyota Europe is marketing the identical technology as part of its electrified future. It’s a reminder that, depending on where you live, the same drivetrain can tell two very different stories.
Are there any advantages of a mild hybrid vehicle?
Mild hybrids are simpler and cheaper than full hybrids. Because the electric parts are smaller, they typically cost less to purchase and repair.
They save some fuel in city driving. The motor helps the engine when starting and stopping, so you burn a little less petrol and make a little less CO₂.
They feel smoother to drive. Starts are gentler, gear changes are calmer, and stop-start systems work more smoothly. However, unlike full hybrids, mild hybrids can’t drive the vehicle on electric power alone; the engine is always needed to keep the tyres moving.
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