Why aren't there more hybrid trucks and buses? High cost!
Transit buses, school buses and local delivery trucks and vans would seem to be a natural application for hybrid drive-train technology, and they are. The short-range, start and stop duty cycle is able to take maximum advantage of the regenerative braking to boost fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. So why is it that the number of hybrid school buses or parcel delivery trucks in the US remains mired in the dozens or low hundreds? Even hybrid transit buses only number in the low thousands.
It all comes down to cost. Aside from the transit buses, most of the other hybrids have been essentially hand built so far, a process that costs a fortune. Even the buses have much lower production volumes than hybrid passenger vehicles. That means little or no economies of scale. Since fleet operators have tight budgets, until the up-front costs come closer to the price of conventional models, the savings in operating costs won't be enough to justify the purchase. Meanwhile manufacturers are reluctant to tool up for mass production unless there is a known market. So we have the chicken and egg conundrum. Without some kind of tax incentives for fleet operators to make the switch, we are unlikely to see a big increase in the numbers of heavy-duty hybrids anytime soon.
[Source: Drive.com.au]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rob 6:52PM (11/13/2007)
Well, except that we ARE going to see them soon, because Wal-Mart has guaranteed to purchase enough hybrid Class-8 trucks to make it worthwhile for International to build them, and this demand pull will create the economies of scale so other businesses will be able to buy them at a reasonable price as well.
'Course, with the article being Australian-sourced, they can be forgiven about not knowing about Wal-Mart's US plans.
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vfx 9:35PM (11/13/2007)
How many cars in a fleet? Are not some of them small enough that they are being hand built anyway?
This is the first place that goverment legislation should come in and mandate future fleets to go green (with incentives).
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Tim 9:26AM (11/14/2007)
Early adapters ALWAYS pay more.
I bought a computer in 1978 with 5-mb (not GB) of memory (on a 15-lb disk) without a monitor so that I could better handle inventory. It used punch cards and cost over $25,000!!!! It was so big and noisy that I had to build a separate room to house the beast.
As volumes increase, technology improves and prices come down. UPS is making so much money that they need the business expense write-offs and they are really enjoying all the free publicity. It’s cheaper and more productive than just buying advertising.
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66coronet 8:20AM (11/15/2007)
UPS & FEDEX have multi hybrids. From plug in hybrid, standard hybrid, hydrogen hybrid sprinter vans to modifing exsisting box vans with the Eaton Corporation system.
http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/OurCompany/NewsandEvents/NewsList/index.htm?category=Environmental
As for Buses. Seattle has them. But the fuel mileage isn't as good as hoped.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/203509_metro13.html
"The New Flyer hybrid articulated buses have gotten worse mileage than the often-maligned 1989 dual-mode Breda buses they are replacing."
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66coronet 1:14AM (11/24/2007)
http://www.theicct.org/documents/SidGooch-1.pdf
FedEx E700 2005 testing 2 Sacramento CA, 6 Brooklyn NY, 4 Staten Island NY, 4 tampa Fl, Washington DC 2.
June 2006 a total of 75 E700 hybrids to be used in the US. 5 in Toronto Canada.
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/10/22/068058.html oct 2007
FedEx is over 100 in service in North American, Asia & Europe.
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66coronet 8:48AM (11/15/2007)
http://www.azuredynamics.com/May152007.htm
FedEx to change Ford E450 to hybrids through Azure dynamics. Starting with 20 made by may 2008.
The parallel hybrid drive system will be implemented on a Ford E-450 chassis, and up to three prototype gasoline hybrids will be demonstrated in the FedEx fleet for one year to characterize the fuel economy and performance of the vehicles. If the hybrid electric vehicle project is successful, FedEx has committed to deploying 20 to 30 gasoline hybrid electric delivery trucks in the South Coast region.
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