Hino Partners with Israeli EV Startup
Toyota’s truck division is set to make great leaps forward in electric vehicle technology with the FlatFormer concept.
Hino, Toyota’s heavy truck division, is partnering with an Israeli tech startup to work on electric trucks. The company, REE, has developed a system in which all of a vehicle’s electric drive components are contained in the wheels.
That ingenious configuration would allow Hino to build flat chassis trucks, maximizing volume for cargo. In a possible autonomous future, a flat floor design without the need for a cab or hood could increase cargo volume exponentially.
Hino is calling their new flat chassis electric concept the FlatFormer. It was unveiled to the public that the 46th Annual Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday, October 23.
If you’re not familiar with Hino, pay closer attention the grille badge on the truck that delivers your next washer and dryer. It might be a Hino.
Founded in 1942, Hino started out building military vehicles, converting production to buses, trucks, and even passenger cars after the war. After joining the Toyota group in 1967, car production stopped to focus on trucks.
Calcalist Tech reports that REE was founded in secret by Daniel Barel and Ahishay Sardes, who previously founded SoftWheel Ltd., a similar company in Tel Aviv, Israel. REE had been working on this technology for quite a while before going public with their developments earlier this year.
Inside EVs recently published an article shedding more light on the REE technology and how it’s used on the Hino FlatFormer truck chassis. Contained within each wheel is an electric motor and control unit. It looks like the motor is connected directly to a brake disc, with a knuckle in the center.
The knuckle connects to a compact suspension and arm at each corner. This configuration optimizes the use of space, allowing for a truck that is almost completely flat, and low to the ground. While it sits much lower than most heavy trucks we’re used to seeing, it still appears to have plenty of clearance and travel for delivery duty.
A lower truck means better aerodynamics – which means more miles in between charges. Combined with the incredible torque of electric motors and the incredible amount of space on board, Hino’s FlatFormer concept could change the world of heavy trucks forever.
Photos: Calcalist Tech, Inside EVs
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