Toyota has another hybrid -- a fuel cell/battery hybrid from Toyota Material Handling U.S.A. First displayed at the 2007 ProMat show in Chicago, the prototype hybrid uses a battery to handle the peaks while the fuel cell carries the continuous base load.
Toyota is emphasizing fuel cell development and plans to bring fuel cell lift trucks to market in the next few years.
"It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when," says Martin Boyd, national product planning manager. He says cost and performance factors will help determine the timing.
Martin Boyd of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A.
Other trends include greater user interest in automated guided vehicles (Toyota introduced an AGV at the ProMat Show) and in going fork-free through the greater use of towing tractors, adds Boyd. Both Toyota Industries Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. collaborated in designing the hybrid prototype.
