Fresh patent filings in the United States suggest Toyota may be exploring a plug-in hybrid ute that could eventually rival electrified workhorses such as the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV.
Two recently published patents lodged with the United States Patent and Trademark Office outline different ways Toyota could package batteries within a plug-in hybrid pick-up.
While the designs were originally filed in Japan in 2022, the latest filings secure the intellectual property in the US and provide a clearer look at how the company might integrate electrification into its traditional ladder-frame ute architecture.
Illustrations in the documents show a dual-cab ute layout with a longitudinally mounted engine and transmission sitting atop a ladder-frame chassis, a configuration similar to current Toyota pick-ups such as the Toyota HiLux, as well as North American models like the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra.
The accompanying abstracts make direct reference to “a pick-up truck” and “plug-in hybrid electric vehicle”, indicating the designs are specifically aimed at a PHEV ute configuration.
One concept places the battery pack entirely beneath the cargo tub floor and above the chassis rails, keeping the load area intact while lowering the vehicle’s centre of gravity.
The second design splits the battery into two sections, similar to the layout used in Toyota’s existing hybrid pick-ups in North America. In this arrangement, one battery is positioned beneath the rear seats, while another is installed further back near the cargo tub.
Several variations of this split-battery approach are also illustrated. In one scenario the secondary battery sits above the tub floor, potentially reducing cargo capacity, while another places it beneath the tub floor and divides it into sections ahead of and behind the rear axle. A third layout shows a slim battery positioned between the chassis frame rails.
According to the patent description, packaging a battery pack in a ladder-frame ute presents unique challenges.
“A variety of components, including a transmission, a propeller shaft, an exhaust pipe, and a fuel tank, are disposed beneath the floor of a pick-up truck,” the filing states.
Read more – All-electric Toyota HiLux revealed with 240km driving range
“Therefore, when converting a pick-up truck into a PHEV, it may not be possible to allocate space beneath the floor to accommodate a battery.”
While the documents don’t confirm a specific upcoming model, they indicate Toyota is actively investigating ways to integrate plug-in hybrid technology into its traditional ute platform, a move that could see the brand join the growing electrified pick-up segment in the future.
