My take on the i-FORCE Max Hybrid System

At first glance, the i-FORCE Max is a bit of a head scratcher. Sure it provides additional torque, but there seems to be no real improvement in economy. The standard answer is that it wasn't meant to improve economy, just added torque. This never did seem quite right to me.

Then one day I had a revelation of sorts. The electric motor is built into the transmission. It is located in front of the transfer case. If only the electric motor was used it still drives the transfer case and all the 4WD features are retained.

Now we get to the wimpy 1.87 kWh NiMH battery. This is only good for short duration boosts of torque. Seems odd.

Revelation time.

What if you replaced the current battery with a similar physically sized solid-state battery in the 20 kWh range, and added a charger. Boom. Now you have a PHEV with a full electric range of 50 miles or so. Plug it in during the week and run full electric on your daily commute. And you have the ICE for unlimited range for long trips. The best of both worlds, and a game changer in the mid-sized truck market.

Who do we know that is heavily invested in solid-state battery technology? Toyota.

Feel free to shoot holes in my theory.

 

Good idea and all, but can I fit my 35”s on it?

 

You’re probably right, but if it’s designed for the extra torque and power, a 1.8kwh battery seems completely reasonable. Virtually never does anyone use max power for very long.

 

Huh? The economy numbers haven’t been revealed. And the other vehicles average 27mpg with this powertrain over say 22 without. So it’s actually a big change

 

Refer to the Tundra hybrid.

 

Well, I thought it would take longer than that to blow up my theory.

 

Yep only a 1 MPG Average improvement

 

Completely different engine/truck etc ?

 

I like your theory, however Toyota’s PHEV system in their other platforms is setup differently, the reason why they are efficient. Too much parasitic loss in a conventional drive train is why the current hybrid Tundra or Tacoma will probably never become a PHEV. Would have to be a completely different chassis. Ram has it figured out with the new Ramcharger hybrid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVhKLM_Jrdo

 

14 mpg combined for a 2021 vs 20 combined for the “hybrid” 2023 + models. That’s a huge improvement

 

You’re comparing a 5.7 V8 with a 3.5 TT hybrid. Talk about apples and oranges.

Compare the 3.5TT to the 3.5TT hybrid

 

What other vehicles use this power train?

 

New Land Cruiser, the 27 (hwy) number is assumed but not officially released.

Car & Driver is only getting 17 mpg average out of their long term Hybrid Tundra, so highly doubtful the Hybrid Tacoma will be much different.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a43603508/2023-toyota-tundra-hybrid-reliability-maintenance/

 

I was comparing 2023 Tundra Hybrid and Non-Hybrid, 1 MPG average.

 

@maxmk8

 

Wait, for $3k I can get almost 50 extra hp, >100lb-ft more, and still get better mileage?

I’ve spent way more for way less in the past

 

20 Average for the Hybrid and 19 for the Non-hybrid right from the EPA's site.

 

Toyota has been claiming their solid state batteries are just 2-3 years away for the past decade. Toyota SS batteries are vaporware for investors.

Here’s an article from 7 years ago.
https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/25/t...ttery-could-make-its-way-to-cars-by-2020/amp/

 

The electric motor isn’t strong enough to move the truck on its own.

 

I looked on Fuelly. The hybrid Tundra is beating my 2021 Tacoma on MPG.