Will hybrid trucks springboard hybrid vehicle technology?

Posted Dec 2nd 2009 6:30PM by Joseph Lazzaro
Filed under: Other Issues

Are economies of scale starting to make themselves felt in the hybrid vehicle sector?

Well, they might start, if the hybrid truck trend gains momentum, as expected. The City of New York is testing a series of hybrid garbage trucks -- those big diesel-spewing vehicles that haul away garbage -- with the hope of lowering long-term fuel and maintenance costs, The New York Times reported.

One type of hybrid truck the city is testing, the Mack hybrid, costs $500,000 each, or more than double the $225,000 cost of a conventional diesel garbage truck, but government grants currently cover the difference, The Times reported. Hybrid truck costs would likely drop with mass purchases. The hybrid truck needs to be refueled about once every 10 days. The conventional diesel truck? Twice a week.

Energy Analysis: Other hybrid trucks, such as diesel-hydraulic hybrids, and natural gas-hydraulic hybrids, are also being tested. If the technology and/or a refined technology can be deployed to other types of trucks, such as mid-sized trucks and long-range 18-wheelers, one can see how the technology could substantially reduced diesel consumption.

But let's see how the hybrid garbage trucks fare in their New York City test first. Having driven a car in New York City's traffic for many years, I can attest that if there's anything substandard in their design, New York's streets and traffic will reveal it: the trucks are in for an extreme test, to say the least.

Print this

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-02-2009 @ 8:25PM

william lindblad said...

It's a tech that has been in use in Europe, however as you point out, NYC is a different ballgame.

12-02-2009 @ 10:01PM

dang1067 said...

Why HYBRID when it is cheaper to have 100% Electric. You only deal with one electronic propelling transmission, doing away with the primitive, pron to break conventional internal combustion engine.

With 100% electric, you remove all those extra unnecessary weights, such the internal combustion engine, muffler, axle, water pump, radiator, spark plugs, head cams, cam shafts, alternator, etc,, etc, etc unnecessary and pron to breakage components of the primitive internal combustion engine. Having to do without these components should reduce cost, not increase it!!!!

The only reason they want to enforce these hybrids, is to force everyone to remain using byproducts of that GREED provoker, dirty primitive fossil fuel in the name of Wall Street to profits!!!

12-03-2009 @ 6:09PM

william lindblad said...

Dang:

When a long lasting battery is invented you will have a good point. The ones in use use elect.power for in city and than i.c. to re-charge and get to next point. In that manner lead-acid's can be used which are many times cheaper than the exotic versions.