When we wrote about Indian manufacturer Mahindra's plans to sell trucks in the U.S. (July '08), we were told the company wanted to be the first in the U.S. with a diesel/electric hybrid truck. Mahindra came closer to reaching that goal when FEV, a German developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, displayed a Mahindra Scorpio SUV with a diesel/electric powertrain at the SAE World Congress in Detroit this spring. (The photo shows an import-market Scorpio with Mahindra's conventional diesel engine.)
FEV worked with Mahindra on the hybrid driveline as well as the computer software to make it run. The hybrid pairs a 2.2L common-rail I-4 diesel engine (which produces about 114 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque) with a 30kW motor that also makes some 199 lb-ft of peak torque. Like gas/electric hybrids we're familiar with, the diesel/electric Scorpio has start/stop capabilities and regenerative braking to capture energy when decelerating.
There was no word as to when the Scorpio would be available in the U.S.
If you've been itching to buy a Nissan Armada or Infiniti QX56, better act fast. Nissan announced it's going to begin producing light commercial vehicles (LCVs) at its Canton, Mississippi, assembly plant. To make room on the assembly line for the as-yet-unidentified commercial trucks, Nissan is suspending production of the two fullsize SUVs and its Quest minivan at Canton.
Nissan released very little detail about the LCVs, other than to say it had partnered with Cummins to produce engines and with ZF for transmissions. Depending on how "light" these commercial vehicles are, this may also open a window for diesel powertrains for the Titan pickup truck. The first of the three new LCV products will go on sale in 2010.