Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. have decided to work together on a gas-electric hybrid engine to power pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. The companies signed a deal Monday to share development costs, saying they want to make the technology more affordable for customers and bring it to market faster. Both companies now sell hybrid cars, but trucks need a different system with power to tow and haul heavy loads. Hybrid trucks would help automakers meet stricter government fuel economy and pollution standards in the US and other countries. In the US, the fleet of new cars and trucks will have to average 56.5 miles per gallon (24 kilometers per liter) by 2025, although trucks will have lower mileage targets.
