Japan's Hino Motors Adds AI to Hybrid Trucks as Rivals Go All-Electric

It plans to launch a system in Japan in mid-2019 using GPS and gyro sensors, which sense rotational motion, to assess the best way to manage the power system of its Profia trucks - its largest diesel-hybrid models, marketed abroad as the 700 series. Along with existing automatic cruise-control technology, the system calculates ways to limit the impact of tailgating and other driving habits which can reduce mileage, improving fuel economy by 15 percent over diesel-only counterparts. "Fuel efficiency in large commercial trucks varies significantly given driving habits," Executive Vice President Shin Endo told reporters at Hino's research and development center on the outskirts of Tokyo. "With this system, the vehicle can achieve better mileage regardless of the skill of the driver." Hino plans to sell all-battery commercial trucks from around 2020, though its lineup initially will likely be limited to smaller models due to batteries' cost and weight considerations.