Mack Class 8 Hybrid Trucks

[ATeam]

On May 4, 2004 I wondered aloud how long it might be before we started seeing class 8 hybrid trucks on the road. That inquiry was prompted by an EO news article about some expermintal hybrid package trucks FedEx was then putting on the road. The news article is at:

http://www.expeditersonline.com/artman/publish/article_457.html

The Open Forum discussion is at:

http://www.expeditersonline.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=298&forum=DCForumID16

The consensus reply then was, "Not in our lifetime." That view may deserve reconsideration. Mack Truck is now developing class 8 hybrids that will be seen on the road in the near future.

What does this mean for expediters? Not much, at least not directly. Hybrids work most effectively in start/stop traffic. Expediters use their brakes relatively little compared to garbage trucks and other city vehicles.

Also of interest is talk today about fuel cell technology that might work in auxilary power units (generators) on expediter trucks.

 

[RobA]

I don't usually try to outweigh the wisdom of "A"Team.
The likelyhood of any trucking at all will end during our lifetimes (provided we live to about 2030.)
There just isn't enough oil out there.
The day of reckoning will come sooner than most of us think.
There might be lots of oil left but it will be very expensive to extract.
Tar Sands; deep seabed etc.
Fuel around 2.00 per gallon will seem cheap.

 

[Weave]

I don't usually try to outweigh the wisdom of "A"Team.

Why not? How wise in this business can a team who has driven for a couple of fleet owners over the past year or so and ordered their own truck be? Those tasks are something thousands of others have done thousands of times long before the A-Team entered expediting. Don't let a superficial cloud of smoke (fancy writings, life stories, preachings, etc.) concern you. Feel free to speak your mind, chances are it will flog that of the self proclaimed immortal A-Team if you give it a try.
-Weave-

Mr. A-Team will turn on his user rating.. the day he grows a pair of 00's.

 

[RichM]

I recently road tested a hybrid car. Not too bad as they actually get better mileage in city driving vs the road. However based on the price of the vehicle comapred to a similar gasoling powered vehicle I would have to go about 333,000 miles to break even. I am sure if we ever go the Hydrogen route there will be the sea water huggies that will say we can't deplete our oceans.

 

[Weave]

Because this topic had to be brought back up (for whatever reason I don't know) I will say on my own behalf and on that of the A-Team that I am well aware that truck manufacturers are developing class 8 hybrids, and have been for many years. Matter of fact Orion Busses of Oriskany, NY, (A Diamler Chrysler subsidary) has had hybrid busses in NYC service for a number of years now. Main reason there is emissions, not fuel efficiency. These busses are VERY expensive, and for heavy repairs must be trucked to and from Orion in Oriskany. (Say that 5 times

For bigger vehicles where HP is a necessity, such as a highay truck as opposed to a car, the hybrids are not as efficient. If a load requires 500 HP to be moved, 500 HP is 500 HP, regardless how the machine develops it. What does a truck have now? An engine, a tranny, driveshafts and axles to get power to the ground. With a hybrid truck, you still need a powerful engine, a generator, large batteries, drive motor or motors, and the axles. The engine will still have exhaust emissions, and the truck won't be that much more efficient than a conventional one, and costs, at least initially, will put them out of the league of your average truck buyer. The A-Team might be able to put in an advance order, but I think I'll wait until hybrids become the only choice. I'm hoping retirement comes first
-Weave-