Hybrids are a joke. Engineering students (
COLLEGE STUDENTS mind you
) come up with ways to substantially improve the gas mileage of a vehicle every year. The technology exists to get 500 miles to the gallon-if we wanted to.
The only thing hybrids will do for the automobile market is slow down the effort put into solving the real problem-the engine. A Prius can't give you the real world fuel economy that a Honda CRX or Geo Metro did over 15 years ago. But if you want to go the hybrid route, Ford has an upcoming hydraulic hybrid system that is 300% more efficient than Toyota's hybrid technology
. Hydraulic cylinders can store far more energy than a nickel metal hydride battery. Basically, as slated the next F-150 will be capable of the same fuel efficiency as a Toyota Prius (except on long highway stints). It'll definately solidify their dominance in the truck market, but it still isn't an answer to the true problem.
The real thing that will help (with current technology and the industry's lack of drive to apply new technologies) is more effort into diesel and biodiesel. Basically, we'll have to become more like Europe *shudder*.
Hybrids are a joke. Engineering students ([i]COLLEGE STUDENTS[/i] mind you ;) ) come up with ways to substantially improve the gas mileage of a vehicle every year. The technology exists to get 500 miles to the gallon-if we wanted to.
The only thing hybrids will do for the automobile market is slow down the effort put into solving the real problem-the engine. A Prius can't give you the real world fuel economy that a Honda CRX or Geo Metro did over 15 years ago. But if you want to go the hybrid route, Ford has an upcoming hydraulic hybrid system that is 300% more efficient than Toyota's hybrid technology :p . Hydraulic cylinders can store far more energy than a nickel metal hydride battery. Basically, as slated the next F-150 will be capable of the same fuel efficiency as a Toyota Prius (except on long highway stints). It'll definately solidify their dominance in the truck market, but it still isn't an answer to the true problem.
The real thing that will help (with current technology and the industry's lack of drive to apply new technologies) is more effort into diesel and biodiesel. Basically, we'll have to become more like Europe *shudder*.