GM "Hybrid" Truck to be Offered to Fleets

[AvesPKS]

http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/stories/gmctech/three4.html

 

[LordThing]

Definately would be looking into buying one of these if they hit the regular retail market.

 

[TourGuide]

Don't bother.

1. They're going to be OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive is my guess.
2. The 15% increase in milage amounts to 1.8-2.4 mpg MORE than what these vehicles are getting now. In order to really MAKE a difference they'd need to boost milage by 30-40%.
3. The batteries for hybrid vehilces DO eventually fail (they're guaranteed for between 2 and 5 years) and then they will cost like $3000 or more to replace.

I'd personally take a pass on all hybrid vehicles for now. Hyrdogen fuel cells are probably the most promising new technology. It will be interesting to see what develops there.

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: TourGuide
Don't bother.

1. They're going to be OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive is my guess.
2. The 15% increase in milage amounts to 1.8-2.4 mpg MORE than what these vehicles are getting now. In order to really MAKE a difference they'd need to boost milage by 30-40%.
3. The batteries for hybrid vehilces DO eventually fail (they're guaranteed for between 2 and 5 years) and then they will cost like $3000 or more to replace.

I'd personally take a pass on all hybrid vehicles for now. Hyrdogen fuel cells are probably the most promising new technology. It will be interesting to see what develops there.

From what was conveyed to me, it didn't seem like they would be much more expensive; on the order of a few thousand dollars.

 

[TourGuide]

From what was conveyed to me, it didn't seem like they would be much more expensive; on the order of a few thousand dollars.

It would be nice if they were close to standard configurations. I think the total cost of ownership is going to be higher overall, especially when you consider the $3000 dinger you're going to have to incur every so often to replace the batteries. That amounts to ALMOST zero savings when you do the math. $3000 buys about 2000 gallons of gas at today's prices. That equates to 30 MONTHS (on average and being generous here) worth of fuel for a truck. Now if you had to replace those batteries every 3 years say, that means that you're going to be paying DOUBLE to drive that vehicle while you own it. I don't call that a deal from GM. I call that marketing to the tree huggers, and lying to the American public.

 

[Swanny]

Definately a good concept. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

 

[UNCjigga]

I don't see this hybrid so much as a 'green' vehicle, but more of a 'utility' vehicle. That's the impression I got after reading the article, and hopefully GM won't go overboard promoting this as an environmentally-friendly pickup.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
I don't see this hybrid so much as a 'green' vehicle, but more of a 'utility' vehicle. That's the impression I got after reading the article, and hopefully GM won't go overboard promoting this as an environmentally-friendly pickup.

Yeh. I see it as a great weekend runner for campers/outdoorsman and a good choice for people that use trucks as a commuter in the city through the week. I'm guessing that milage gains in highway miles will be negligible while the big gains will be in city stop & go traffic. But what's nice is on the weekends you can go out to family farm or to a campground and just juice up to the truck for electric lanterns/heaters/grills/ect. It'd be nice for outdoorsman as well to power heaters for hunting trips and to recharge trolling motor batteries for fishing and the like.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: TourGuide

From what was conveyed to me, it didn't seem like they would be much more expensive; on the order of a few thousand dollars.

It would be nice if they were close to standard configurations. I think the total cost of ownership is going to be higher overall, especially when you consider the $3000 dinger you're going to have to incur every so often to replace the batteries. That amounts to ALMOST zero savings when you do the math. $3000 buys about 2000 gallons of gas at today's prices. That equates to 30 MONTHS (on average and being generous here) worth of fuel for a truck. Now if you had to replace those batteries every 3 years say, that means that you're going to be paying DOUBLE to drive that vehicle while you own it. I don't call that a deal from GM. I call that marketing to the tree huggers, and lying to the American public.

as a fleet vehicle i'd say its nearer 1 year's worth of gas.

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
I don't see this hybrid so much as a 'green' vehicle, but more of a 'utility' vehicle. That's the impression I got after reading the article, and hopefully GM won't go overboard promoting this as an environmentally-friendly pickup.

But it is being touted as a 'green' vehicle. The government, when it purchases vehicles, has to obtain a certain amount of 'green' vehicles every year, for replacement. CNG, E85, etc. This is just another example where they can get env. credits for purchasing these vehicles (as green).