Toyota, Ford teaming up on hybrid technology
By Christina Williams
Editor, Sustainable Business Oregon
Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corp. announced Monday that the two manufacturers will cooperate on the development of new hybrid technology for light trucks and SUVs.
The announcement, involving two companies that are heavily involved with Oregon's test bed of an electric vehicle market, brings together two automotive giants under a memorandum of understanding that will be formalized sometime next week.
Ford, which announced last year a partnership with Portland General Electric, and Toyota, which selected Portland State University as a testing ground for its plug-in hybrid, will collaborate on a new rear-wheel drive hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs. The two companies will implement the new technology in their own vehicles.
The two companies will also work together on developing advanced telematics — the software that runs car systems and provides services such as navigation and entertainment — for future vehicles.
Over at Greentech Media, Michael Kanellos posits that Ford's work on software that improves fuel efficiency by reacting to your driving habits, may play a role in the Toyota partnership.
The article describes a data-crunching in-car system for hybrids maximizing the use of electrical power within the car and minimize the need for gas.
Ford is working with both Google and Microsoft on in-car telematics, Kanellos reports.
Ford said last year that it was working with Microsoft in adapting its energy-saving home technology Hohm — which Microsoft shelved last month — for use in improving car efficiency.
@SustainableBzOR | christinawilliams@bizjournals.com | 503.219.3438
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