Daimler and its Japanese affiliate Mitsubishi Fuso have opened a new global hybrid truck development center in Kawasaki, Japan. The center will be the world wide center for developing hybrid systems for commercial vehicles. Engineering teams at various regional centers around the world will coordinate their efforts through the new center. Mr. Fumio Akikawa, who is currently Director of Powertrain Development for Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, will head up the hybrid center. Mitsubishi Fuso has been working on hybrid trucks for a decade and already has several hybrid trucks on the market in Japan. The Daimler press release is after the jump.

[Source: Daimler]

Take a look at Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation's (MFTBC) new concept for the future of light-duty dump trucks. This concept vehicle sports a hybrid diesel and electric drivetrain in a parallel configuration, meaning that both the 3.0 liter diesel engine, the 35 kW electric motor or a combination of the two can power the vehicle at any time. Expect the electric motor to shoulder the load at low speeds. One innovative feature of this concept is that the electric motor, not the diesel engine, powers the dumping mechanism. That means that when the vehicle is stationary and being used solely for loading and unloading, no internal combustion engine is necessary for operation. The necessary electric power for the system is stored in a lithium ion battery back.

MFTBC already offers a similar hybrid system in the Canter Eco Hybrid light-duty truck. That truck has been on the market since July of 2006. The Canter Eco-D concept was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

[Source: MFTBC via Gizmag]