[Starvid]

Hybrid Utility Trucks Shows 40%–60% Drop in Fuel Consumption
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')nitial independent test results of prototype hybrid utility trucks being used in the WestStart’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) pilot program have shown a decrease in fuel consumption of 40%–60% measured against driving and work cycles typical of the utility industry. The target requirement for the hybrids was a 50% reduction in fuel consumption.

[FireJack]

Garbage trucks, school buses, and city buses could greatly benifit from hybrid engines becasue of the constant stop and go. It would also greatly reduce the number of repairs needed.

Of course it would take 10-12 years to replace the majority of such vehicles. Too little too late. hybrids can't save us now.

[rs]

All these companies are very quick to point out the potential fuel economy savings on these type of vehicles, but how much extra oil will it cost to manufacture one? Will the extra cancel out the saving ?

[FoxV]

and lets not forget price.

hard to upgrade your fleet when your economy is crumbling. However all those cities that bought natural gas busses (mine included), may be looking for new busses soon

[whereagles]

Trucks use diesel engines and I thought those engines have a problem with stop-and-go (very massive pistons, start-up energy consuming).

Does the hybrid diesel engine uses stop-and-go or is it constantly running and charging batteries?

[kmann]

hybrid buses used in downtown Denver

Another place hybrids are being used.

[backstop]

Beside the issue of a 10 to 15 year replacement period for such vehicle just within the US, a number of other issues seem relevant.

First, this option fails to utilize viable extant vehicles with retro-fit designs, thus wasting energy in their replacement.

Second, it fails to encourage the advance of non-fossil fuel transportation, implying a dead end down the road.

Third, until we've agreed a global treaty on the capping & (tradable) allocation of fossil energy emission rights,
every drop of oil saved in one sector in one country will be burned elsewhere as energy demand strives to continue growth.

So, nice numbers and good engineering, but surely little relevance to getting beyond fossil fuel dependence ?

regards,

Backstop

[Frank]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rs', 'h')ow much extra oil will it cost to manufacture one? Will the extra cancel out the saving ?

[turmoil]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Frank', 'N')ot all energy comes from oil - most factories use more electricity than anything which isn't derived from oil

[Starvid]

Coal miner3: No, diesel has become expensive, let's use an electric train instead.

[turmoil]

Coal miner4: Only makes a difference if the E-train uses much less energy than the coal that the train contains. Oh and we have to have enough E-trains (plus e-infrastructure) in the first place to maintain production (if it's worth it).

I wonder how much electricity the shears would need too? And we need to get to the mines to run the shears, don't we? I guess we could bike to work.

[Aedo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('whereagles', 'T')rucks use diesel engines and I thought those engines have a problem with stop-and-go (very massive pistons, start-up energy consuming).

[iisthatwhichiis]

Hi All,

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ') Aedo quotes:
whereagles wrote:
Trucks use diesel engines and I thought those engines have a problem with stop-and-go (very massive pistons, start-up energy consuming).

then writes:
No longer - modern diesels are very easy to start and stop

[gg3]

Chorus Motors' website looks like many I've seen that are for entrepreneurial startups seeking capital to develop technology. This means they may or may not have anything that actually works at this point.

Hybrid powered refuse collection vehicles: Geesink (Holland) already makes them. Geesink is a subsidiary of Oshkosh Trucks USA, which in turn also owns McNelius, which is one of the largest makers of refuse vehicles in the US. So there is a chance that these hybrids may become available here. The logical way to do hybrid power for a refuse vehicle is to have a diesel running at constant speed, charging a battery set, which in turn supplies power to the wheels and the loading mechanism. The power consumption levels of these machines consist of intermittent cycles of heavy power usage: stop, start, stop, load, compress, start, stop, etc. etc., so the hybrid powertrain is perfectly suited to the job.

Meanwhile, Berkeley California runs theirs on biodiesel. Right now.

[Starvid]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('stupid_monkeys', 'C')oal miner4: Only makes a difference if the E-train uses much less energy than the coal that the train contains. Oh and we have to have enough E-trains (plus e-infrastructure) in the first place to maintain production (if it's worth it).

[turmoil]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Starvid', 'W')hat are "shears"? In the dictionary it says they are the blades on a garden scissor?

[small_steps]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('backstop', 'B')eside the issue of a 10 to 15 year replacement period for such vehicle just within the US, a number of other issues seem relevant.

First, this option fails to utilize viable extant vehicles with retro-fit designs, thus wasting energy in their replacement.

Second, it fails to encourage the advance of non-fossil fuel transportation, implying a dead end down the road.

Third, until we've agreed a global treaty on the capping & (tradable) allocation of fossil energy emission rights,
every drop of oil saved in one sector in one country will be burned elsewhere as energy demand strives to continue growth.

So, nice numbers and good engineering, but surely little relevance to getting beyond fossil fuel dependence ?

regards,

Backstop

[small_steps]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gg3', 'C')horus Motors' website looks like many I've seen that are for entrepreneurial startups seeking capital to develop technology. This means they may or may not have anything that actually works at this point.

Hybrid powered refuse collection vehicles: Geesink (Holland) already makes them. Geesink is a subsidiary of Oshkosh Trucks USA, which in turn also owns McNelius, which is one of the largest makers of refuse vehicles in the US. So there is a chance that these hybrids may become available here. The logical way to do hybrid power for a refuse vehicle is to have a diesel running at constant speed, charging a battery set, which in turn supplies power to the wheels and the loading mechanism. The power consumption levels of these machines consist of intermittent cycles of heavy power usage: stop, start, stop, load, compress, start, stop, etc. etc., so the hybrid powertrain is perfectly suited to the job.

Meanwhile, Berkeley California runs theirs on biodiesel. Right now.

[jsb1969]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060502/ap_ ... zspotlight

[emersonbiggins]

Quite a paradox: "saving" the earth while destroying little bits and pieces of it.