From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Wed Jul 03 2002 - 16:36:59 MDT
John B wrote:
>
> 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.
If true, this merely is a matter of the fact that MOST of the savings
you get from 'green' cars is by cutting corners with structural strength
to save weight (i.e. making a less safe vehicle), which you can't do
with any pickup truck that is to be useful for anything, and being
aerodynamic, which a pickup truck obviously has a hard time being. A
large chunk of the savings you get with hybrid powertrains is consumed
hauling around battery banks.
I will say, though, that the hybrid pickup is likely to be the most cost
effective, since it's likely simply a stock body/frame with a new
powertrain.
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