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#1
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Hybrid Trucks
I've never understood that the buying public doesn't appear to be interested in hybrid trucks. A hybrid truck makes way more sense than a hybrid hatchback or small sedan. Trucks are big, heavy, and expensive. They need lots of torque when used as a truck and they get poor fuel mileage. Adding an electric motor and batteries to a truck would not present the same packaging problems as it does in a passenger car, would not be such a price burden and it solves many of a truck's weak points. So why then are there no hybrid trucks available to the public?
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#2
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You said it, Big & Heavy. Not likely to be popular You couldn't move much very far via electric drive. They do have a hybrid mini van on the way.
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#3
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Actually, electric motors produce gobs of torque. Witness, locomotives. The diesel engine runs at a steady rpm and greatest fuel efficiency to keep the battery charged. The battery provides the power to the electric motor. The electric motor is what drives the train.
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#4
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Yeah, I thought that if the electric motor could help out with standing starts and acceleration at which point the internal combustion engine would take over then a smaller engine could be used. Given that even unloaded trucks are close to 3 tons with people on board the torque of an electric motor would help where it's needed most. And there are so many trucks on the road, imagine if they all got 5 more mpg.
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#5
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And there's plenty of room underneath for one or more electric motors.
However, they are selling huge numbers of trucks, so why change anything? |
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