The PTO parallel drive system with the externally mounted electric motor ensures driving capability in the case of a failure, enables flexibility to add model lineups, and establishes reliability by using the existing system. The lithium ion battery has a service life equal to the vehicle and reduces running costs. This is a first for this vehicle category in Japan.

The electric motor is installed on the PTO shaft, which is separated from the engine as shown in Fig. 2;
the Hybrid Unit Box, which integrates the batteries, inverter, and system components, is installed on the side of the frame. Because of this Unit Box, installation of the hybrid system during the vehicle assembly process is easy. The components are installed under the top surface of the frame to enable installation of a body equivalent to a conventional vehicle. The Hybrid Unit Box is compact so that it can be installed on the short and full flat low model.

Fig. 2 Layout of the Vehicle

As shown in the sectional drawing in Fig. 3, the electric motor is connected to the PTO of the Isuzu proprietary Smoother-E Autoshift with the drive shaft. Changeover of power between the engine and electric motor in the hybrid system is controlled existing mechanisms, such as the wet multiple disk clutch in the Smoother system and the dog clutch in the PTO.