More hybrid vehicle news

[BaliBabyDoc]

Dude it's an electric generator designed to run power tools . . . not a drivetrain. Hybrid designs are for propulsion. Now I might refine that opinion when Bell Labs develops a paint, glass, metal/plastic panels that collect enough solar energy to run all the electronics in a modern auto (including HVAC). But that's still a case where a non-combustion energy source is being used to reduce the load on the combustion-dependent drivetrain.

I think this truck is certainly novel and has merit . . . but not as a hybrid vehicle for reduced automotive emissions and improved fuel economy. Now if the truck plus generator replaces a truck plus diesel generator . . . that's a reasonable argument . . . for outlawing diesel generators.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Dude it's an electric generator designed to run power tools . . . not a drivetrain. Hybrid designs are for propulsion. Now I might refine that opinion when Bell Labs develops a paint, glass, metal/plastic panels that collect enough solar energy to run all the electronics in a modern auto (including HVAC). But that's still a case where a non-combustion energy source is being used to reduce the load on the combustion-dependent drivetrain.

I think this truck is certainly novel and has merit . . . but not as a hybrid vehicle for reduced automotive emissions and improved fuel economy. Now if the truck plus generator replaces a truck plus diesel generator . . . that's a reasonable argument . . . for outlawing diesel generators.

Well it appears to have regenerative braking, a battery pack and able to turn the engine off instead of idle. I guess i fail to see which part fails to qualify.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Dude, this concept is basically DOD . . . but it will likely produce even less fuel economy savings or emissions reductions. OK, I give . . . this is a nice application of a low tech hybrid.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Dude, this concept is basically DOD . . . but it will likely produce even less fuel economy savings or emissions reductions. OK, I give . . . this is a nice application of a low tech hybrid.

Why do you think that? It is rated to increase MPG by 10-15%.

 

[ZaneNBK]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Sounds good. As long as SUV owners don't migrate to the Buses.

Holy crap, think of how much of the road you could own in a bus!! I'm getting one right now! Screw this Escalade BS!

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: ZaneNBK

Originally posted by: sandorski
Sounds good. As long as SUV owners don't migrate to the Buses.

Holy crap, think of how much of the road you could own in a bus!! I'm getting one right now! Screw this Escalade BS!

Hehe, and think of safety: Bus vs SUV= Bus pwnz jou!

 

[Horsep0wer]

i'll buy a hybrid car when they make them more affordable

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Horsepower . . . are you shopping for a 10yo Kia? Otherwise, the hybrid Civic, Prius, Insight are dirt cheap when you factor in the $2000 deduction (which becomes $1500 next year) and fuel savings.

charrison, most of the GM trucks average low teens or less city and essentially NEVER get out of the high teens highway. In essence, this vehicle will get 1.2-2.4 more mpg . . . which is certainly better than Detroit's line over the past decade . . . no improvement.

Although the comparison isn't quite fair . . . the Lexus RX330 currently gets 50% better fuel economy than most GM trucks (although the Cadillac SRX manages 16/20). The hybrid RX330 due next year will double city mpg. But what's a measley 100% increase when you can get 10-15%. Of course, Ford is claiming the Hybrid Escape will produce mid-high 30s mpg . . . assuming it arrives in late summer 2004.

 

[KenGr]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Horsepower . . . are you shopping for a 10yo Kia? Otherwise, the hybrid Civic, Prius, Insight are dirt cheap when you factor in the $2000 deduction (which becomes $1500 next year) and fuel savings.

OK, I think the hybrid concept has a real future, but it's not quite here yet. I took a look at the Civic hybrid and, at first glance the economics seem to work, but only because of the tax deduction. When the government has to pay you to make it worthwhile, I don't consider it economically viable. To make this comparison, it's logical to look at list prices of the cars and the Civic hybrid is only a little more expensive than the gas version. However, when I looked at actual dealer prices I found the conventional Civic is heavily discounted but very little discount is available on the hybrid. That tells me the factory incentives and hold back is significantly less on the hybrid. Finally, the word of mouth is that the hybrid mileage drops severely in cold weather. Those who live in cold climates will not see the advertised mileage difference.

My conclusion was that, even with the tax break, the Civic hybrid makes sense for those who drive close to 30,000 miles per year and intend to keep the car for well over 100,000 miles.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Your government subsidy argument makes little sense . . . b/c our government currently has massive subsidies encouraging people to buy large SUVs/trucks. Then of course there's the expense to our economy/society that evolves from protecting despots/dictators sitting on crude . . . not to mention the expense of deposing those dictators and despots.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Horsepower . . . are you shopping for a 10yo Kia? Otherwise, the hybrid Civic, Prius, Insight are dirt cheap when you factor in the $2000 deduction (which becomes $1500 next year) and fuel savings.

charrison, most of the GM trucks average low teens or less city and essentially NEVER get out of the high teens highway. In essence, this vehicle will get 1.2-2.4 more mpg . . . which is certainly better than Detroit's line over the past decade . . . no improvement.

Although the comparison isn't quite fair . . . the Lexus RX330 currently gets 50% better fuel economy than most GM trucks (although the Cadillac SRX manages 16/20). The hybrid RX330 due next year will double city mpg. But what's a measley 100% increase when you can get 10-15%. Of course, Ford is claiming the Hybrid Escape will produce mid-high 30s mpg . . . assuming it arrives in late summer 2004.

My guess is you are comparing apples to oranges. I doubt the rx330 or the caddy has much in the advertised towing capacity. Not everything lives within the same design requirements.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

I imagine Nippon Inc is waiting to see if Americans will yield to jingoist tendencies. If America is willing to buy Toyota/Nissan (and possibly future Honda) trucks, Toyota/Nissan will beat all the domestics in providing a full-size hybrid truck that matters. Don't forget those electric motors provide peak torque at low rpms. But GM deserves props for doing something about their abyssmal mileage.

And as I clearly stated in my post . . .

Although the comparison isn't quite fair . . . the Lexus RX330 currently gets 50% better fuel economy than most GM trucks (although the Cadillac SRX manages 16/20).

Future advances will likely be a function of current R&D. The domestics are playing catch up when it comes to hybrid drivetrains. The jury is still out as to whether Nippon Inc can build (and sell) a pickup truck to Americans . . . regardless of drivetrain.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
I imagine Nippon Inc is waiting to see if Americans will yield to jingoist tendencies. If America is willing to buy Toyota/Nissan (and possibly future Honda) trucks, Toyota/Nissan will beat all the domestics in providing a full-size hybrid truck that matters. Don't forget those electric motors provide peak torque at low rpms. But GM deserves props for doing something about their abyssmal mileage.

And as I clearly stated in my post . . .

Although the comparison isn't quite fair . . . the Lexus RX330 currently gets 50% better fuel economy than most GM trucks (although the Cadillac SRX manages 16/20).

Future advances will likely be a function of current R&D. The domestics are playing catch up when it comes to hybrid drivetrains. The jury is still out as to whether Nippon Inc can build (and sell) a pickup truck to Americans . . . regardless of drivetrain.

RIght now, the only serious contendor in the truck market is the Titan and it is not on the showroom floors yet. But this would be for a different thread

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

True, true . . . but that's a fine lookin' truck . . . if you like chrome.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
True, true . . . but that's a fine lookin' truck . . . if you like chrome.

The titan has an impressive feature set and i have no doubt the folks at ford are sweating right now.

 

[chess9]

Sandorski:

Nah, just because Congress recently passed a law defining buses as trucks doesn't mean a thing. ,

-Robert

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: chess9
Sandorski:

Nah, just because Congress recently passed a law defining buses as trucks doesn't mean a thing. ,

-Robert