Archive for the ‘Hybrids’ Category

So we have a hybrid commuter cars, buses, trains, toilets, and everything in between, but what about the commercial vehicles that move goods and deliver services across the country? 

Peterbilt annouced back in 2007 about their new line of hybrid commercial trucks. Walmart has decided to start introducing these trucks into their fleet. Which for those who enjoy a little bit of trivia, is the second largest privately owned truck fleet in the nation. What I don’t get is this: I’m glad that Peterbilt decided to start greening up, but do these trucks really offer any real environmental savings?

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Well here is quite an intelligent statement made by one of the most powerful men in the automobile industry. According to a DMagazine article, Lutz sat down for a closed-door session with several journalists. During the time his topics ranged from blasting Toyota’s Prius, to stomping on the global warming debate.

“It makes no economic sense”, he said, speaking of the hybrids coming from Toyota, specifically the Prius. He says that the price will never come down making it more available. Well Mr. Lutz, I don’t believe the Prius was meant to be as much of an economic success as it was an environmental success. Its hard to argue about a hybrid platform that has been tested and lasted as long as the Prius. We all knew going into the Prius that it wasnt the cheapest car on the block, but it was more about the doors it opened for technology and the environment.

But with that said, I digress to Bob’s next memorable quote, Read the rest of this entry »

Detroit over the past few years has been on a Jurassic Park style mission to revive the late 60′s. Ford has reinvented the Mustang, Dodge has the Challenger, so it is only right that Chevy bring back the Camaro.

Since its departure a few years ago many have thought there was a hole missing from Chevrolet’s line-up. Sure they still had the Corvette, but the Camaro was just as iconic. With Chevy playing Dr. Frankenstein, the Camaro is getting a new shot at life.

There are slated to be a couple of engine choices. There will be a 6 cyl version to act as an entry level option and of course a high output V8 for those baby boomers with a little extra disposable income. BUT WAIT, could it be? News has floated around that Chevy may include a version of its two-mode hybrid motor currently found in the new Tahoe and Escalade hybrids.

Why not? Ford and Dodge seem stuck in the 60′s and this would be a huge leap for the Big 3 of Detroit. We are in the 21st century and engineers at Chevy realize that the new Camaro fits the profile of a vehicle who could use their new hybrid drive-train. Also accorinding to GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, Jr., they plan on releasing a new hybrid every three months for the next 4 years. WIth new techonologies such as their hybrid system, ethanol, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, GM is positioning itself to be the worlds leading producer of gasoline-electric hybrid vehilces by 2012.

Could the new Camaro be a step forward for Detroit or will the Big 3 sluff it off and slowly become the next passenger pidgeon?