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Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Who can compete with Toyota/Lexus Hybrids? 
126 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2003 at 11:50 PM
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| I think the problem expressed in both can be summed up this way. Even if they get into the game soon, the domestics and Europeans are going to end up benchmarking old technology for their designs. | |
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| i think diesel is still dirtier than regular petrol, low sulfur or not.... | |
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As Sin-Sai of this here forum, let me keep the pot from reeking by keeping us focused. 1. Who are the real players in the hybrid game currently (by model year 2005)? Ford Escape? I've been hearing about this for a while, but will the RX400H beat it to market? 2. Is GM gonna have a hybrid at all within the next 5 years? 3. What about Benz, VW, and BMW? Do they have an answer for a 400+ HP RX400H with 35MPG? Or is this the "Royal Flush" of SUV's? Looks, Power, Quality, Luxury, and Mega-Value! |
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The hybrid VUE is set for launch sometime late next year. There is also talk of a hybrid Malibu. GM's primary focus is fuel cell vehicles. |
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Lexus WILL beat the hybrid Escape to market with the RX400H. Ford has had a million problems in bringing that truck to market. They still can't get the batteries right, apparently. I don't get that: they are using the THS from the first Prius right? Won't most of the components of the system be similar? The last I read of GM was that VUE hybrid was delayed, and the first GM hybrids to market would be the "mild hybrid" trucks in 2005....so that has been updated? When will VUE arrive with a hybrid powertrain? I do not remember any of the Germans having significantly concrete plans for hybrids...perhaps I missed some news tho...they are much more heavily invested in diesel, which still is their best bet for the European market, and will be a really good bet here too when the low-sulfur diesel goes nationwide in the latter part of the decade. I do think they are working on fuel cells however. And on topic too, Honda will remain a very important competitor in hybrids for Toyota. Good too, will keep them on their toes, and the technology moving forward. I look forward to the day someone brings a 100 mpg hybrid diesel to the market. What do you think... a decade or less? |
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The last I heard, Ford was having trouble venting the batteries in the Escape HEV. The battery packs are fine. Of course, that news tidbit is about 5-6 months old. Who knows if that's still the problem. "I look forward to the day someone brings a 100 mpg hybrid diesel to the market." I believe Honda's IMAS Concept is estimated at 94 mpg, but it's not a diesel. It's also not on the market, but hey it's something! |
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piece in the Chicago Tribune today reports GM has a contract with Seattle to fit 235 buses with hybrid diesel systems. One done, this will be the mileage saved equivalent of 8,000 hybrid cars. GM is also working on similar deals with cities such as Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Portland, Ore, Austin, Orange County and Houston. |
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> mileage saved Yes, that is a genuine benefit. But the primary purpose of HSD (the hybrid system Toyota uses) is to significantly REDUCE EMISSIONS, not save fuel. How much cleaner are those buses? Or are they actually dirtier in terms of SMOG related emissions? JOHN |
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a prop? Bus use in general is better than cars. 60 people on a bus versus sixty people in 60 cars is bad for the atmosphere how? In any event, GM's new diesel engines use the same modern filtering equipment as other diesels. No doubt emissions are very low. And when divided by 60, even lower. |
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Hi John1701a: ___Not only does a bus carry vast amounts of commuters, it also doesn’t congest our cities nearly as bad as 60 automobiles nor does it have to park in our chosen professions parking lot! 750,000 gallons of diesel fuel is a huge amount of greenhouse gasses (CO2) not being released into the atmosphere. Let alone a diesel is ~ 20% more efficient in regards to greenhouse gases/mile vs. a std. ICE. Even an Atkinson based ICE is a larger polluter in this regard  Add a more efficient overall process and the Buses diesel won’t be polluting nearly as much/mile as its forbearer either. ___As for the article, I just got home an hour or so ago myself and read it. Here it is in its entirety ... General Motors has reached agreement to equip 235 buses for Seattle with hybrid diesel/electric power that the automaker says could save the city 750,000 gallons of fuel each year. The annual fuel savings for Seattle’s bus fleet would be equal to replacing more than 8,000 internal combustion gas engine cars with hybrids. GM has pilot hybrid bus fleets in Philadelphia; Minneapolis; Portland, Ore; Austin, Texas; Salt Lake City; Hartford; Conn.; Orange County, Calif.; Houston; and Newark, N.J. ___Remember, this is just one city. Lets say ~ the same amount of buses were converted in all 10 cities. That is the equivalent of 80,000 Hybrid’s. I wonder what Chicago, New York, and L.A. are waiting for? Keep adding it up with the inclusion of commuters transported and lower emissions. How many Prius’ have been sold over the last 3 years? Now all we have to do is hope it’s cost effective or it won’t be continued in quantity ... ___Good Luck ___Wayne R. Gerdes ___Waynegerdes  earthlink.net |
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