My i-Force Max has an.... Alternator???

[Ron]

It's a step backwards to add the alternator. Hard to imagine what has the engineers baffled enough to go that route.

Maybe they wanted to tweak the hybrid system to keep more juice in the battery when parked but that would have reduced their mpg below govt standards.

Sloppy engineering and (over)regulation. They could not stop the real problem so they slapped in a quick fix from the previous century.

Sponsored

 

[TacoFreak]

In our 2024 hybrids the 12 v battery is charged by the traction motor when it is regenning, which is just part of the time. That regen power is also being used to charge the traction battery, so the 12v charge rate is pretty low. The alternator would charge the 12v anytime the ICE is running, which is most of the time. That would give the hybrids the same 12v charge profile as the non hybrids and end the discharge issues. Since the only purpose of an alternator is to supply 12v power and charge the battery, I don't see any other reason Toyota would add one.

There have been a number of complaints about Tacoma dead 12v batteries after just a few days off the road, and I bet they were on hybrids.

 

[trailhunger]

Please no thread jacking.

Any comments on the alternator being present?

bcuz if your NiMH shits the bed you can still drive it like a regular iForce taco.

Clutch for dudes like Independence Overland who intend to submerge their THs in deep crossings. Nothing's hermetically sealed, there's no water jacket on any of the hybrid system. Redundancy is OK, I sure as hell paid for it.

 

[Billy K]

Redundancy is OK, I sure as hell paid for it.

I've been wondering how to jump start something from these Hybrids. Do you have to remove the rear seat or is there some point under the hood you attach jumper cables? I have read most of the Owner's Manual and have not seen this information yet.

 

[Tom Sellick]

I've been wondering how to jump start something from these Hybrids. Do you have to remove the rear seat or is there some point under the hood you attach jumper cables? I have read most of the Owner's Manual and have not seen this information yet.

Yes under the hood.

 

[Cordoc]

I think this is quite silly.
I have a trailhunter and can not go out and take a look since I am out of town BUT, no alternator no charging.
It has to have one Dude.
I left mine 2 months in storage and it started in 2 seconds when I returned.

 

[Brian2011]

I think this is quite silly.
I have a trailhunter and can not go out and take a look since I am out of town BUT, no alternator no charging.
It has to have one Dude.
I left mine 2 months in storage and it started in 2 seconds when I returned.

The 24 TH does not at least early builds do not have an alternator.

 

[StreeTaco]

24 TH- No Alternator

ignition ON- 11.8v

after starting- 14.1v

few minutes later- 12.5~12.9v

readings taken from 12v outlet volt meter.. would need to read voltage from battery to be accurate.

 

[Billy K]

Apparently the 2024 Hybrids charge the 12 volt battery from the "traction motor" (motor /generator) and the 2025's charge it from an alternator. The big question is why Toy added an alternator for 2025. I can only assume the 2024's were not keeping the 12 V battery charged properly. Reading the 2025 User Manual there are some concerning cautions about that 12 V battery. As in if you let it discharge or disconnect it / change batteries, the truck may not start and you need to tow it to a dealer.

 

[Billy K]

Thank you Tom Sellick (different spelling, great actor) for the where to jump start information. I will suppose this point could also be used for a trickle charger / maintainer to keep the 12 V battery "ready" if you leave the truck in storage for a few weeks. The manual gives the impression that you never want to let this 12 V battery get low. Some other thread also mentioned the Toy app may be running down the 12 V bat due to "ET calling home" very often. My dealer signed me up for the free trial. My truck keeps telling my phone that the doors are unlocked. The truck is in a locked / alarmed garage. While this is my daily driver right now, I have a few other vehicles and routinely charge the batteries if not driving them regularly. Every one of them "recovers" just fine if the 12 V bat went too low / dead.

 

[stan23]

I have a '25 (Feb 2025 build) Sport Hybrid. No alternator.

 

[TacoFreak]

I have a '25 (Feb 2025 build) Sport Hybrid. No alternator.

That is even stranger. Why would some 2025 hybrids have an alternator and some not? Toyota production standards have gotten very loose and very weird these days.

 

[WKTJR1]

Perhaps they should give us free lifetime access to the app in case we need to start the truck remotely to keep the battery charged.

 

[TacoFreak]

Perhaps they should give us free lifetime access to the app in case we need to start the truck remotely to keep the battery charged.

In my wife's Lexus BEV it is the app that causes the battery to discharge. If she remains logged into the app the vehicle's status updates to the app server runs down the car's battery. I am guessing that is why they put the alternator on 2025 hybrids.

 

[SnowmanJPS]

I find this kind of hilarious, but I wish I knew the reasoning as to why some do have it and some don’t

Sponsored