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Pickups Diesels Diesels in the News
8147 messages, Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 8:22 PM
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Replying to: avalon02wh (May 30, 2009 5:41 am) Hybrids indeed the VAST majority run on RUG, RUG by (their) definition is not an alternative fuel. So for example going on two decades and/or MORE ago, the CA(primarily democratic) legislature forced absolutely stupid (my take) law/s mandating a 3% (plug in) "electric" population. The following quote shows the goals were originally 3.33 x higher !!!!! ...""The original goal of California’s zero-emission mandate, which was enacted in 1990, was to require 10 percent of the nearly 1 million new vehicle sales in the state to be all-electric by 2003"...link title Now I don't know the full ramifications, but Ford/Toyota/GM each offered a plug in electric Ranger, RAV4, (GM offering escapes me at the moment) At the time I was on our municipality's and County's TA transportation boards and was involved in the plug in Ranger's acquisition. To much fanfare and I would assume much incentives, tax credits depreciation etc, etc, they hit the market AND...... everything literally DIED almost immediately..... It approaches impossibility to use alternative fuel/s when those very same folks who say we should use alternative fuel/s make it impossible to use.... ah you guessed it... alternative fuel/s..... So for example biodiesel is BANNED from being stored in underground double walled storage tanks, despite the regulatory own information knowing not only is it less pollutive than RUG to PUG, but it is FAR simplier to clean up when it is spilled. Storing those types of flamable liquids above ground in an urban setting is next to impossible. Even if they could get the "permits" above ground storage where below ground storage exists already is a min of 50,000 dollars. So when you make .10 cents a gal how many gals do you have to sell to just B/E? |
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Replying to: houdini1 (May 30, 2009 10:02 am) http://www.dfwmahindra.com/index.php?x=aboutmahindra As of late I have been thinking about a getting a compact pickup next time around. A small diesel of about 2 liters and a six speed auto in a Tacoma sized truck would fit the bill. The 140 hp & 236 ft-lbs, from the VW 2L TDI motor as an example, would compare favorably to the 159 hp & 180 ft-lbs of the 2.7L four in the Tacoma now. The diesel would be the better motor for the kind of work a person does with a pickup. The MPG would also best the so-so 19/25 MPG of the Tacoma with the 2.7L and auto. Do I think Toyota or Ford will put a diesel in their compact pickups anytime soon - no sad to say.
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Replying to: avalon02wh (May 30, 2009 3:44 pm) |
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Replying to: avalon02wh (May 30, 2009 3:44 pm)
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Replying to: plekto (May 30, 2009 4:11 pm) Yeah, but neither one satisfies the pinheads at CARB (that'd be the California Air Resources Board), otherwise known as the anti-diesel Nazis. |
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This is a car I would buy to replace my TCH Volvo diesel plug-in hybrid - very cool Volvo is looking to get into the plug-in hybrid game, with a model V70 expected in 2012. Along with partner Vattenfall, a Swedish energy supplier, Volvo could have three demonstration vehicles by this summer. The powertrain is a hybrid diesel-electric. A 11.3 kWh (8 kWh to power the car), which is expected to power the vehicle for 30 miles, at which point the diesel engine would take over. The battery can be recharged in five hours from a standard wall socket. There is an associated video from Volvo. Even if Volvo meets the 2012 deadline, it's unclear when Volvo would be go worldwide. Volvo Cars aims to be market leader in plug-in hybrid technology Volvo Cars continues to focus heavily on advanced green technology and is now taking yet another major step forward in keeping with the company's over-riding vision - DRIVe Towards Zero. A unique joint project together with Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall is prompting the production of battery-powered Volvos featuring plug-in hybrid technology as early as 2012. "There is no doubt that the environmental issue is at the very top of Volvo Cars' product development agenda right now," says Stephen Odell, President and CEO of Volvo Cars. "Carbon dioxide emissions from our cars will be drastically reduced by the plan we are now implementing and our aggressive electrification strategy will put us in a leading position when it comes to environmentally optimised passenger transport." Plug-in electrical hybrids in production by 2012 There are many benefits to plug-in electrical hybrids: carbon dioxide emissions are far lower and with an electric motor offering higher power, the car's performance is also far better. Being able to offer a truly attractive car that does not compromise on the other important properties that the customer wants is an absolute precondition for the market to shift towards more environmentally sustainable alternatives that really do make a difference. "In fact, I would go so far as to say that the plug-in electrical hybrid we will launch in 2012 will be a true dream car. With the innovative solution we will offer, the car owner will be able to drive a thoroughly enjoyable car packed with Volvo's renowned high safety and genuine driving pleasure", says Stephen Odell. Stephen Odell says that Volvo Cars' industrial cooperation with Vattenfall opens up entirely new potential for developing future green technologies in a far more efficient way. Working in partnership is something that the company regards as essential in order to generate sustainable development. "DRIVe Towards Zero is our vision and with Vattenfall's expertise and partnership, we are making giant strides towards our targets. With our updated environmental map for the future, we are reinforcing our leading position in the environmental sphere within the premium segment," concludes Stephen Odell. The following section presents Volvo Cars' environmental alternative and its map for the future.
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Replying to: larsb (Jun 02, 2009 4:39 am) In effect that would negate or greatly lessen the cost of government "mandated" miles to/from most folks' places of employment (aka daily commute), with the attending decrease in petro fuel demand. So in our case, for one application, a greater range would save app 15,000 (commute) miles of a yearly 20,000 miles or 75% !!!! Since commutes have a lot of idle and slow times it turns the daily event into a ZERO emissions situation.Cummulatively that is 75%, or 15,000 miles with ZERO emissions. Actually in our case the order of magnitude is even more extreme because we car pool. So commute miles are actually 30,000 miles. Since we import upwards of 60% of our oil...... we are PLUS 15% !!!???? A passenger vehicle fleet like this could turn us into a net EXPORTER of oil !!!!!! Again making/letting the passenger vehicle fleet a minimum of 23% diesel is another KEY to driving down demand ever deeper. (the issue has always been the RATIO of D2 to RUG to PUG in a barrel of oil and of course 20-40% better mileage to name two benefits) This concept was one I was talking about many posts ago. So what really happens (with a greater range) is for how a HUGE majority of folks use their cars, The HUGE distinction: D2 (RUG to PUG for that matter) NOW becomes a BACK UP source of power. There are of course hosts of downstream consequences: intended and unintended. So again a problem that seemed to have apocalyptic proportions has always been conceptually solvable. (between the head sets)
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Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 02, 2009 5:42 am) |
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Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 02, 2009 5:42 am) |
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Replying to: gagrice (May 02, 2009 5:58 am) Now that the new model is available, it's obvious why sales were lower. Demand is strong now... in part due to the impressive efficiency. 55.8 MPG is my average from my first 1,001 miles of driving a 2010 model. .
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