Finally comes a increase in efficiency from a forward thinking company who proves results in the real world and not just in the lab. Too bad Ford didn't get Volvo trucks with the car company. But Hey! they would probably have screwed that all up too just like they are "fordalizing" Volvo cars.

Why can't this idea be installed in cars right away? I believe I read that in major traffic an engine stop/start system could save 6% or better. That would certainly help with the oil problems.

Lad:

It is a big question who can buy who. Volvo Trucks is huge and successful company, which could buy Ford, but they are wise not to do it. They bought US Mack Truck instead.

Em El:

Big trucks are universally powered by diesel engines optimized for efficiency, and ARE incredibly efficient already. In addition, diesel engine consumes very little fuel at idle, unlike gasoline one, and hybridization will not yield much. Hybrid components, especially battery, should be very big and hence expensive, so big trucks are probably the last to go hybrid from all other vehicles.

As for stop-and-go applications, like buses, refuse trucks, city delivery vehicles, etc., practically all big companies and dozens of small companies are actively developing and commercializing hybrid drivetrains. Clear leaders are GM and Mercedes. Just google “hybrid bus” “hybrid truck” or dig into GCC news notes and there is plenty of information about it.

Lad, since I have an adaptive brain so my car does not need hybrid features. I see no reason to stop on the gas, just so I can stomp on the break. This has the additional benefits of reducing stress, avoiding accidents, and saving money at the gas station and repair shop.

However, having observed how garbage trucks and buses are driven; hybrids might be a very practical idea.

Great idea. The Swedes already run refuse trucks on zero carbon bio-gas....by adding a hybrid, they can go 30% further on the same gas....great idea....

Big Rigs and other specialty vehicles do "work" most of the time. Real work. The 'work' or real return back into the community space in exchange for the inefficiencies is, by comparison to the footprint of many consumables and commodities including that 'sunday drive, there and back', a ski holiday or just about any other personal indulgence. I liken it to why we never ask about the footprint/carbon miles of our Ipod, plasma screen or our laptop. A 35tonne semi, stacked with ipods, screens and laptops adds very little carbon contingency per item. For vehicles working in the civic arena the 'social capital' pay off, especially in the built environment is in the design rethink; reducing particulate emmisions, urban noise and (probably) enhanced services and systems durability. The impetus for and subsequent downshift in fuel consumption is the economic bonus, the leverage for change.

To replace the global heavy vehicle fleet in a short period of time would, itself ask of the Earth a very heavy carbon hit. Inventory replacement incurs a liablity such that not a gram of carbon is saved until the 'update' payback occurs. Using biofuels in legacy vehicles is in the short term the most pragmatic (and precautionary) solution but more notably the benchmark against which replacement will have to occur.

what is the mode of entry of hybrid vehicles in the philippines??