From: John B (discwuzit@yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Jul 03 2002 - 05:55:28 MDT
>John B wrote:
>>The newer high-efficiency hybrid cars out there are
a
>>step in the right direction, IMO. However, I do NOT
>>expect them to become a common sight unless there
are
>>significant government subsidies - little cars don't
>>fit into American's self-image as it now exists.
>
>Ja, however hybrid cars need not be small. The first
>commercial hybrids
>available were both compacts, but the tech could be
>adapted to big cars and
>even highway going trucks. I could see a family
>minivan translating well
>into hybrid tech: ten to a dozen standard car
>batteries charged by
>a twin cylinder constant output horizontally opposed
>air cooled engine
>displacing about a half a liter and producing about
25 >kw (~33
>horsepower) at
>constant velocity. Not so well suited for the freeway
>perhaps, but great
>for hauling the soccer team around town, and even
>better for traffic jams
>like those found in the hood here in taxifornia. I
>would expect them to
>average half again the fuel economy of a non-hybrid
>with not much
>performance hit. spike
The current, near-future plans for larger-body
vehicles following the hybrid mold will include a
mid-size truck. Unfortunately, it is expected that the
truck will improve its efficiency some 7% IIRC, as
reported in the popular press (USN&WR, in this case).
If this IS the case (based on both my faulty memory
and the popular press), then pretty much all they're
doing is slapping the 'hybrid' label on to satiate
lawmakers and make the greens who don't look into
details happy.
-John
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