The Hino Motors that we know of today is a subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Corporation and a leading manufacturer of buses, trucks, and engines. To understand the steps that Hino took to reach the company that we know, we are going to look at the history of Hino trucks and commercial vehicles.
The Road to Hino
The origins of the Hino Motor Company begin with the Tokyo Gas Industry Company, which started in 1910. As a leader in its industry, the company was able to expand its line of products and eventually built the model TGE A type Truck in 1917. By 1937, this company decided to merge itself with several other Japanese companies to form the Tokyo Automobile Industry Company, which was later renamed the Diesel Motor Industry Company.
Interestingly enough these are the same founding companies that went on to create Isuzu motors, but in 1942 a portion of the company was spun off to create Hino Heavy Industry Company Limited, which marked the beginning of the company as we know it. Its name derived from the company headquarters location of Hino City within Tokyo.
The Growth of Hino
From its beginning, Hino focused on diesel engines, heavy duty trucks, and buses. There is a brief period where they attempt to enter the private car industry through a partnership with Renault, but that is quickly put aside around 1967 when Hino first partners with the Toyota group. By 1984 Hino trucks enters the US market with a medium duty truck designed with the cab over engine. Their first attempt at a practical use for a hybrid vehicle occurs in 1991 with a hybrid diesel and electric engine system to power a bus in Japan.
Today’s Hino Trucks
In 2003 Hino officially becomes a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Company, and its medium duty and heavy duty trucks are re-introduced into the US. That same year Toyota and Hino jointly develop the first hydrogen fuel cell bus service in Japan. Over the next two years Hino introduces hybrid light duty and medium duty trucks to Japan.
This commitment to hybrid and electric technologies places Hino on a path to develop some of the most cutting edge commercial vehicles in the world. Currently, the company is testing a method of hybrid electric bus that does not require a plug for charging. Instead, a wireless system is built into the road to charge the batteries of the bus, so that it can continue to operate without the need for additional fuel.
Today, Hino is 3rd when it comes to the largest truck manufacturers in the world. As the fastest growing medium duty and heavy duty truck manufacturer in the US, and a leader in both diesel and hybrid technologies the Hino brand has a bright future ahead of it.
| FY | Management/Production | Products | Environmental Events and Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | December ■Hino Plant introduced cogeneration equipment | ||
| 1991 | July □Establishment of the Hino Green Fund Foundation | April Release of Hybrid Inverter controlled Motor & Retarder (HIMR) vehicles equipped with hybrid diesel electric engine systems | |
| 1992 | April ■Establishment of the Hamura Clean Center May ■Total elimination of specified chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant (CFC113) used as a mold release agent for forged parts | ◆Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit ◇Establishment of medium-term brake regulations | |
| 1993 | March □Formulation of the Hino Global Environment Charter □Formulation of the Hino Global Environment Action Plan □Establishment of the Hino Environment Committee ■Establishment of the Production Environment Working Group | March Establishment of the Environment Technology Working Group May Issuance of advance assessment implementation guidelines based on the Recycling Law; completion of switch from specified CFCs for air conditioning to CFC substitutes | ◇Enactment of the Basic Environment Law ◇Enforcement of the Law Concerning Special Measures for Total Emission Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides from Automobiles in Specified Areas |
| 1994 | June ■Total elimination of trichloroethane used in cleaning parts December ■Hamura Plant introduced cogeneration equipment #2 | ◇Emission regulations for 1994 | |
| 1995 | February Release of vehicles equipped with common rail fuel injection systems | ||
| 1996 | March □Hino Global Environment Action Plan, 1st revision | ||
| 1997 | March ■Nitta Plant introduced casting sand recycling equipment | ◇The Third Conference of the Parties (COP3) held in Kyoto | |
| 1998 | November ■Elimination of small-size incinerators as a dioxin countermeasure | February Announcement of the voluntary action plan, an end-of-life vehicle recycling initiative | |
| 1999 | March ○Hamura Plant acquired ISO 14001 certification | ◇Emission regulations for 1999 | |
| 2000 | March ○Nitta Plant acquired ISO 14001 certification September □Issuance of an environmental report | February Release of vehicles equipped with Pulse Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems | |
| 2001 | February □Hino Global Environment Charter, 1st revision □Formulation of Hino Motors Environmental Voluntary Plan March ■Achievement of zero emissions at all three plants ○Headquarters and Hino Plant acquired ISO 14001 certification | December Release of first vehicles in Japan equipped with five-cylinder turbo intercooler engine | ◇Noise regulations for 2001 |
| 2002 | January ○Oume Parts Center and Hidaka Delivery Center acquired ISO 14001 certification □Establishment of the Recycling Working Group □Establishment of the Dealer Environment Working Group July □Issuance of Dealer Environmental Guidelines September □Issuance of Environmental Procurement Guidelines | February Receipt of the Director-General's Award, the Natural Resources and Energy Agency, the Energy Conservation Award for new model HIMR system route buses | ◇Enforcement of the revised Law Concerning Special Measures for Total Emission Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides and Particulate Matters from Automobiles in Specified Areas ◆Johannesburg Earth Summit |
| 2003 | April ○Tamachi Office acquired ISO 14001 certification January | August Release of ultra-low PM certified four-star medium- and heavy-duty trucks October Release of ultra-low PM certified four-star light-duty trucks | ◇Emission regulations for 2003 |
| 2004 | August ■Hino Plant introduced frame deodorizing equipment September ■Nitta Plant introduced cogeneration equipment | April Release of newly developed medium-duty hybrid trucks August Release of ultra-low PM certified four-star small size buses | ◇Emission regulations for 2004 |
| 2005 | April ■Nitta Plant reinforced waste water treatment facilities | May Release of medium-duty trucks compatible with 2005 emission regulations August Release of large-size touring coaches compatible with 2005 emission regulations | ◇Enforcement of Law for the Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles ◇Validation of the Kyoto Protocol ◇Emission regulations for 2005 ◇Exposition of Global Harmony |
| 2006 | September ■Shutdown of the Hamura Clean Center ■Issuance of the Hino Green Purchasing Guidelines | February Release of heavy-duty trucks compatible with 2005 emission regulations September Release of light-duty trucks compatible with 2005 emission regulations November Release of medium-duty trucks compatible with low-emission heavy-duty vehicle standards | ◇Enactment of the revised Energy Conservation Law |
| 2007 | March ■Hino Plant renovated cogeneration equipment August ■Hamura Plant completed new painting facility construction September ■Commencement of demonstration runs along city-operated routes using latest model hybrid buses fueled by second generation bio diesel November ■Recipient at the 4th Eco-Products Awards (Committee Chairperson's Award in the Eco-Products Category) for its "External Power Supply Type Idling-Stop Air-Conditioning System" | January Release of large-sized touring coaches compatible with low-emission heavy-duty vehicle standards February Practical application of second-generation biodiesel; implementation of collaborative projects Release of large-sized route buses compatible with 2005 emission regulations December Addition of the medium-duty truck "Hino Ranger" to the list of heavy-duty trucks compliant with fuel economy standards; Implementation of on-road fleet trial using synthetic liquid Fischer-Tropsch Diesel (FTD) fuel; Addition of the light-duty truck "Hino Dutro" to the list of heavy-duty trucks compliant with fuel economy standards January 2008 Release of the medium-duty truck "Hino Ranger Hybrid" compatible with New Long-Term Emission Regulations | ◇Eco Car World 2007 held ◆Issuance of the fourth assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) ◆Agreement to the COP13 "the Bali Road Map" ◆Commencement of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ◆G20 meeting held, a gathering of cabinet ministers from 20 leading nations to discuss the issue of global warming |
| 2008 | April ■Established a truck sales joint-venture company as a part of efforts to enter the Russian market ■Newly introduced a light-duty truck to the Vietnamese market August ■Groundbreaking ceremony held by the Company's local Mexican subsidiary commemorating the planned construction of a new plant ■Established a truck sales joint-venture company as a part of efforts to enter the Indian market December ■Line-off ceremony held by the Company's local Columbian subsidiary to mark the start of production ○Shanghai Hino Engine Co., Ltd. acquires ISO 14001 certification January 2009 □Hino Motors participates in the Dakar Rally for the 18th successive year February 2009 □Hamura Plant receives an award from Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in recognition of its efforts to promote energy conservation activities | May Release of the large Hino Selega Hybrid tour bus following a full model change September Introduced in the line of "Hino Ranger" medium-duty trucks a model equipped with "Pro Shift 6" December Steps completed to reinforce the fuel efficiency capabilities offered by Hino Compass | ◆The Great Sichuan Earthquake ◇The Hokkaido Toyako Summit established a CO2 reduction target of 50% for 2050 ◇Enforcement of the Basic Act on Biological Diversity 2009 ◆Inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States |
HINO BUSES
Hino Motors, Ltd. to provide shuttle buses for the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit
Hino Motors, Ltd. (“Hino”) will provide the following vehicles as shuttle buses for the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit that will be held in July 2008: two different versions of a large-sized hybrid touring coach called the “Hino S’elega Hybrid” and a single hybrid bus equipped with Inductive Power Transfer1.
The G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit has been dubbed the “Environment Summit” and environmental concerns are planned to be a major focus. Hino recognizes the importance of such an intention so has decided to provide shuttle buses for the summit.
Hino will continue to work to actively prevent global warming and provide trucks and buses that are useful for our customers.
Hino will continue to work to actively prevent global warming and provide trucks and buses that are useful for our customers.
Outline of the new “Hino S’elega Hybrid”
The “Hino S’elega Hybrid” is a large-sized high-output hybrid touring coach that is designed to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. The new model introduces an “A09C-1M” type power unit with a total piston displacement of 8.9 L. This is a combination of a new lightweight, high-output engine and Hino’s special hybrid system2. With this power unit, the new model has succeeded in reducing emission gases and improving fuel efficiency.
This has enabled the Hino S’elega Hybrid to meet the 2005 (new long-term) emission regulations and earn it “NOx & PM 10% Reduction Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle” certification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
With regard to PM emissions, the new model has succeeded in a 50% reduction beyond the values stipulated by regulations and has achieved the fuel efficiency standards for FY2015.
This has enabled the Hino S’elega Hybrid to meet the 2005 (new long-term) emission regulations and earn it “NOx & PM 10% Reduction Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle” certification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
With regard to PM emissions, the new model has succeeded in a 50% reduction beyond the values stipulated by regulations and has achieved the fuel efficiency standards for FY2015.
Fig.1: Exterior of the “Hino S’elega Hybrid” (artist’s impression)
About the inductive power transfer hybrid bus
This hybrid bus runs on electricity normally to reduce emission gas and CO2 as much as possible while it’s running. It is environmentally-friendly and has succeeded in suppressing internal noise for passengers. In areas where there are no electrical power feeding centers, this model can also run as a normal hybrid bus.
Fig.2: Structure of a hybrid bus equipped with inductive power transfer
Notes:
1: A low-floor hybrid large-sized route bus developed under the “Initiative for the Promotion of Development and Practical Application of Next-generation Low-pollution Vehicles.” Since 2002, this initiative has been promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as an Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Group whose research body is the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory.
In this model, a great amount of electricity is quickly fed from a primary coil built into the road to a secondary coil equipped beneath the floor. The electricity is then stored in batteries built into its roof. The bus can then run on electricity stored in these rooftop batteries.
In areas where there are no electrical power feeding centers, this model can also run as a hybrid bus. The touring coach was demonstrated in an operational service at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) in February 2008.
1: A low-floor hybrid large-sized route bus developed under the “Initiative for the Promotion of Development and Practical Application of Next-generation Low-pollution Vehicles.” Since 2002, this initiative has been promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as an Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Group whose research body is the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory.
In this model, a great amount of electricity is quickly fed from a primary coil built into the road to a secondary coil equipped beneath the floor. The electricity is then stored in batteries built into its roof. The bus can then run on electricity stored in these rooftop batteries.
In areas where there are no electrical power feeding centers, this model can also run as a hybrid bus. The touring coach was demonstrated in an operational service at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) in February 2008.
2: Introducing Hino’s own parallel hybrid system, which is powered by a normal engine in combination with an electric motor. During normal operation, the Hino S’elega Hybrid is powered only by the engine. When starting to move or accelerating, the electric motor assists the engine. This enables the Hino S’elega Hybrid to improve fuel efficiency and to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.
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nice post yar this is really nice truck
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