Toyota’s newest patent filings may provide an early look at how the automaker intends to solve one of the biggest engineering challenges facing plug-in pickup trucks: battery packaging.
Plug-in pickup trucks are beginning to emerge globally, although options in the United States remain limited. Toyota has recently submitted two patent applications outlining a potential plug-in hybrid pickup configuration, with a primary focus on integrating large battery systems into a traditional body-on-frame platform.
Electrified pickup trucks are gradually gaining traction, but plug-in hybrid variants are still uncommon in the U.S. market. In contrast, other regions have already seen broader adoption of this technology.
Ford has introduced the Ranger PHEV, while Chinese automaker BYD is expanding its Shark plug-in hybrid pickup into markets such as Mexico, Asia, and Australia. Nissan has also launched a plug-in version of the Frontier in select international markets.
Toyota, for its part, has been advancing electrification across its truck lineup primarily outside the U.S., including showcasing a fully electric version of the Hilux. However, the Tacoma, Toyota’s core midsize pickup in America, has yet to receive a plug-in hybrid variant.
That could be changing. Two recently published patent filings outline a plug-in hybrid pickup concept centered on battery placement and overall packaging strategy.
Submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in August 2025 (patent numbers 20260061820 and 20260061819), the applications were officially published in March.
Toyota’s Patent Focuses on Where the Batteries Go
These patents do not confirm the arrival of a new production model. Instead, they address a fundamental design challenge: where to position a large battery pack within a body-on-frame pickup.
Unlike passenger cars, pickup trucks have tightly packed underbody components. The engine, transmission, driveshaft, exhaust system, and suspension all compete for space beneath the floor, leaving limited room for the sizable battery required in a plug-in hybrid system.
One of the patent designs shows a single battery pack positioned beneath the cargo bed floor, located between the rear wheels and above the frame rails. To accommodate this setup, the bed floor is slightly raised, while the cabin floor remains largely unchanged.
A second design takes a different route by dividing the battery system into two separate packs. One is mounted beneath the rear passenger area, and the other sits under the cargo bed. This arrangement helps distribute weight more evenly across the vehicle while still powering the electric motor.
Both configurations aim to preserve the key attributes of a pickup truck. The cargo bed remains functional, the cabin layout stays familiar, and essential drivetrain components continue to fit within the existing frame structure.
Because these patents were filed and published in the United States, it is reasonable to assume Toyota is evaluating solutions for the American market.
This naturally raises the question: could a plug-in hybrid Tacoma be in development? Toyota already offers the Tacoma with its i-Force Max hybrid system, but a plug-in version would enable extended electric-only driving capability. The battery layouts described in these patents could allow for increased capacity without compromising the Tacoma’s off-road performance or cargo usability.
As with all patent filings, there is no guarantee that these concepts will reach production. Automakers routinely explore ideas that never make it to market. Still, these documents provide insight into the direction Toyota engineers are exploring behind the scenes.
The timing is notable, as more electrified pickups continue to enter global markets. Toyota appears to be actively investigating ways to integrate plug-in hybrid technology into its trucks, though whether that ultimately results in a plug-in Tacoma remains uncertain.
