It took a while but electrification is practically mainstream these days. Be it hybrid or full electric, it's the direction the automotive industry is heading. It's reached a point wherein some manufacturers are setting hard deadlines to shift to nothing but battery-powered vehicles within a decade or two.
On the flipside, there are also those adamant that internal combustion will live on for much longer, happily co-existing with full electric vehicles. One of the automakers vocal about that stance is Toyota.
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There have been some who have been saying that the diesel engine's days are numbered. Of course, leave it to Toyota to say otherwise. The company reckons there are still several decades left in that powertrain. In a report by Australian motoring publication, Drive, The company's Australian sales and marketing boss, Sean Hanley, said “Diesel, despite popular commentary, is not dead.”
Hanely also insists that it remains a credible fuel source, especially for commercial vehicles. While the Hilux will gain an electric version soon, diesel will remain in the powertrain options list for years to come given the brand's commitment. That said, the automaker does admit there will be challenges in keeping that engine around.
The biggest hurdle will be sourcing the fuel. Oil reserves won't last forever, but Toyota is looking at alternatives such as synthetic fuels. An example of that would be Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil or HVO. Should that see widespread useage in the future, one can expect for diesel engines to hang around even longer.
