Hybrid trucks have come a long way—and no one understands that better than Stewart Scoon, Sales Manager at Adtrans Hino. Based at the Marrickville dealership in inner Sydney, Stewart has seen firsthand how Hino’s latest Hybrid Electric 300 Series is reshaping customer perceptions and driving new levels of interest.
“We’re sort of hybrid converted,” Stewart joked, but behind the light-hearted tone is a serious commitment to promoting a truck that delivers real-world benefits. “We believe in it wholeheartedly.”
From Stock Solution to Sales Strategy
Stock shortages have played a surprising role in accelerating the shift to hybrid. “We promote it like there’s a stock issue,” Stewart explained. “Unfortunately, at the moment we don’t have much of the normal diesel stock anyway. Our guys will say, ‘Listen, have you considered hybrid?’”
By turning the lack of diesel models into an opening for conversation, the team is getting more customers behind the wheel of Hino’s hybrid electric trucks. A new demo vehicle—complete with accessories and signage—sits downstairs in Marrickville to help sell the vision. “I’ve just said to the guys, you need to sit them in the truck,” Stewart said. “There’s proof that there are savings in it.”
That proof includes real-world testing that demonstrate fuel savings of up to 24% in Wide Cab variants and 22% in Standard Cab. “You go onto our website and you can see the testing they just did at Bathurst. There’s a really good video that shows the savings.”
Perfect for the Tradie Upgrade
Adtrans Hino Marrickville caters to a market of builders, plumbers and small business owners who are moving up from utes to trucks. The 300 Series Hybrid Electric offers the extra payload and safety they need, without compromising on the familiar driving experience.
That’s where the hybrid really makes sense. It offers the ease of a car with the capability of a truck, while also ticking boxes for emissions reduction, safety, and running costs. “We’ve just gone and put one on display downstairs,” he said. “It’s dressed up, ready to go. The more they see it, the more they ask.”
Hybrid Electric Built to Go Options Now Expanding
Hino’s Built-to-Go range, including TradeAce and Alloy Tray body options, is also available with the Hybrid Electric powertrain. “The TradeAce is our bread and butter here,” Stewart said. “We’ve just got some in and people are just waiting, waiting, waiting.”
The introduction of more body options, including a prototype Hybrid Electric tipper displayed at the Brisbane Truck Show, is helping bridge the gap for tradies and fleet operators who want a ready-to-work solution with fuel savings.
Driving the Message Home
The shift to hybrid isn’t just happening in the showroom—it’s being driven by changes in customer attitudes and better education among dealership staff. “The customers are starting to tell you they know the benefits,” Stewart said.
With hybrid stock available, a strong belief in the product, and the tools to demonstrate value, Stewart’s team is selling more than just trucks—they’re helping customers take the next step in transport.
“You’ve got stock. You can sell it. You can be in it straight away. And it’s got real savings now,” Stewart said. “We’re all on board.”
Note for Fleet Managers
The Hino 300 Series Hybrid continues to be one of the few hybrid truck options in the Australian market that’s readily available, fully supported by the OEM, and configured for urban and light commercial applications. For fleets looking to reduce emissions without transitioning directly to full battery-electric vehicles, it presents a compelling intermediate step—especially with the Built-to-Go range and support from dealerships like Adtrans Hino.
