Mitsubishi Triton Hybrid coming soon with real 4WD to avoid BYD Shark 6 flaws

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Mitsubishi is preparing to release a hybrid version of the Triton ute in the next couple of years, and hands-on testing has seen engineers lock in their preference for a mechanical 4WD system rather than electrified AWD.

Strict CO2 emissions laws in various markets in which Mitsubishi sells the Triton, including Australia, has hastened development of a hybrid version, which will initially be a ‘plugless’ hybrid—though a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is expected to come later.

While Mitsubishi engineers are very interested by the precise electric motor control offered by a dual-motor AWD system, electrified AWD has been ruled out as perceived engineering challenges will take too long to overcome.

Triton hybrid to launch “as soon as we can” says Mitsubishi

“We have to launch [the Triton hybrid] as soon as we can,” Mitsubishi Motors engineering fellow Kaoru Sawase told media including Chasing Cars.

“From the viewpoint of needing to quickly launch the vehicle, we will have no choice but to go for the P2 hybrid play like Land Rover and [Toyota] Land Cruiser,” said Sawase.

A P2 hybrid system places the electric motor between the internal combustion engine and the transmission and four-wheel drive system, meaning that either or both the combustion engine and/or electric motor can send power downstream.

Opting for this simpler hybrid setup means that Mitsubishi will be able to launch the Triton hybrid “in the next couple of years,” according to senior engineer Sawase.

Mitsubishi extensively evaluated the BYD Shark 6 as a benchmark hybrid ute, but Sawase said this testing revealed flaws in the Shark 6’s electric AWD system that Mitsubishi believes it could not overcome fast enough.

Triton hybrid to place electric motor between engine and mechanical 4WD system

Sawase said that the challenge for off-road hybrids with dual-motor electric AWD (rather than mechanical 4WD in a P2 hybrid setup) was to “have a big output of driving power…that needs to last for a long time.”

Via benchmarking of the BYD Shark 6 and the Outlander PHEV, Mitsubishi said that thermal challenges with dual-motor AWD meant it was “difficult to [produce] strong torque for a long time.”

“In order to overcome the challenges with the electric driving [off-road], we use the engine as an insurance for the driving power,” said Sawase.

The precise nature of that underlying engine is not yet known though it is likely to be a petrol engine, possibly with a turbocharger.

A Triton hybrid would sit alongside the existing 150kW/470Nm 2.4-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder in the Australian market.

Sawase confirmed that he had driven the BYD Shark 6 on Mitsubishi’s Hokkaido proving ground. While he was impressed with the Shark he said that the BYD’s “off-road capability is not so high.”

Still, the Mitsubishi engineer said that he felt that until the Shark 6’s thermal protections kick in, its off-road performance and electric motor control was “quite good.”

Electric AWD has potential but Mitsubishi says it is five years off

Mitsubishi plans to eventually overcome the thermal issues it believes are a roadblock to using electric AWD for a Triton or Pajero off roader, but Sawase predicts that “for the next five years…for pure off-road we should go for mechanical 4WD.”

“After five years, there is a good potential that [an] EV can also do pure 4WD [as a] pure off-road vehicle. We are watching how the technologies develop.”

That timing could align well for the delayed launch of a planned fully electric Triton.

“In the past, we have announced to launch a BEV, or battery electric vehicle, Triton, but now that direction has shifted a little bit,” said Sawase.