Hino Australia has expanded its Built to Go range with the launch of a Hybrid Electric version of the popular 300 Series Tipper Pro.
The new model is aimed at trades, councils, contractors and infrastructure operators looking to reduce fuel use and operating costs without changing existing refuelling arrangements or installing charging infrastructure.
Available in Wide Cab configuration, the Hybrid Electric Tipper Pro will initially be offered with 6.5-tonne and 8-tonne gross vehicle mass ratings.
Hybrid power for a popular work truck
The diesel-powered Tipper Pro has become the most popular tipper in Hino Australia’s Built to Go range since its introduction in 2021.
Hino expects the new Hybrid Electric equivalent to appeal to operators that need a practical, ready-to-work truck while also seeking lower fuel consumption and emissions.
“With a proven Kyokuto Kaihatsu Tipper body and a reliable Hybrid Electric drivetrain that has no range or recharging limitations, the new Built to Go Tipper Pro will provide customers with a high quality, cost effective and versatile drive-away solution that can reduce business operating costs from day one,” said Daniel Petrovski, Manager – Product Strategy at Hino Australia.
The tipper body has been developed for Australian operating requirements and includes a three-way barn-door-style tailgate, body lock and rope rails.
Hino says the configuration is well suited to trade businesses, local government fleets, road maintenance operations and infrastructure projects.
Fuel savings without charging
The Hybrid Electric Tipper Pro combines Hino’s N04C-WR four-cylinder common-rail turbo-diesel engine with an electric motor.
The diesel engine produces 110kW and 470Nm, with maximum torque available from 1200rpm.
The electric motor is directly coupled to the six-speed automated transmission, helping deliver smoother take-offs and faster gear changes, particularly in stop-start urban and worksite operations.
Unlike a battery-electric truck, the Hino Hybrid Electric does not need to be plugged in. The vehicle can be refuelled and operated in the same way as a conventional diesel truck, reducing the operational changes required when introducing lower-emission vehicles into a fleet.
Hino says its 300 Series Hybrid Electric Wide Cab models can reduce fuel costs by as much as 24 per cent compared with an equivalent diesel model, depending on the application and operating conditions.
Positive response from operators
A prototype of the Hybrid Electric Tipper Pro was displayed at the Brisbane Truck Show, where Hino says it received strong interest from customers.
“After we displayed the Hybrid Electric Built to Go Tipper Pro prototype at the Brisbane Truck Show, the response from our customers was overwhelmingly positive, and it is now on sale in Hino dealerships nationwide,” Petrovski said.
The launch broadens Hino’s range of factory-backed, ready-to-work Hybrid Electric trucks, which already includes tray and other Built to Go configurations.
Euro 6 emissions and standard safety technology
The Hybrid Electric Tipper Pro meets Euro 6 emissions standards and includes Hino SmartSafe as standard.
The safety package includes a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, pedestrian detection and lane departure warning.
Additional standard safety equipment includes vehicle stability control, a reversing camera, dual SRS airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, hill-start assistance and a cab certified to UN ECE R29 strength requirements.
These features provide an important consideration for fleet operators assessing vehicles for urban works, roadside maintenance and environments where trucks regularly operate around pedestrians and other road users.
Hino-Connect added across the hybrid range
Hino has also announced that Hino-Connect is now standard across the entire 300 Series Hybrid Electric range from June.
The Australian-designed telematics platform provides access to real-time vehicle and driver information, fuel-use reporting, maintenance tracking, fleet security alerts and dedicated case management.
“Hino-Connect is also standard on our heavy-duty 700 Series and medium-duty 500 Series, assisting customers to optimise the performance of their fleets,” Petrovski said.
For fleet operators, the addition of standard telematics can help measure whether the expected fuel savings are being achieved while also supporting maintenance planning, driver management and vehicle utilisation.
Hino-Connect forms part of the Hino Advantage suite of business services, which is designed to reduce operating costs over the life of the vehicle.
