[Doghouse]

I try to focus on world hunger, global peace, and how to keep from spilling my cereal while I drive, it often takes much of my time when I think of the homeless people and orphaned children, and wonder to myself?????? :?
(((pauses a moment before mind veers off into the gutter again)))
I wonder how a woman would look covered in whipped cream??...............
even if she is homeless.

[person]

[quote="allan5oh"]The best thing to do right now is get a pre 2003 truck that gets 8+ mpg, and hold on to it in 10-15 years. [quote]

Exactly. And your total truck expenses keeping it on the road would not be a nickel more than any other way and cheaper than many ways.

[allan5oh]

Sorry guys, got pretty excited about this. I thought about this idea about 2 years ago. I never knew someone was actually thinking it out.

What's incredible about this, is how it can be mated to a hybrid drivetrain.

Also, it claims a 15% increase in horsepower, for free.

Imagine going up a hill with 15% more horsepower, and knowing you're not using a drop more of fuel.[/i]

[brian]

my old long hood gets better mileage then most if not all the new aero trucks out there anyways, and my kw isn`t gonna fall apart either.

[Doghouse]

Allan,
Now you have me excited (not horny), I like to see new technology and it would be nice if there was a viable way to improve our mileage.
Soon enough they will probably have some type of hybrid system for class 8 trucks. But the system would probably weigh 2 to 3 thousand lbs.
It makes the most sense in trucks to assist on hills and starting up from a stand still (short bursts of stored electrical energy) and can you imagine the regenerative braking capabilities of an 80,000lb vehicle,...the new engine brake!
I'll be watching this technology to see where it goes.
I drove a prius from Flagstaff to Sedona down through Oak Creek Canyon, and never touched the brakes once, the batteries were low when I started and fully charged by the time I reached level ground.

[allan5oh]

Unfortunately that type of hybrid system isn't very viable for a big truck.

The reason is simple, we drive mostly steady state on flat surfaces.

Batteries couldn't store enough energy to absorb momentum like you did in the prius.

However, where it would be very good is when it's coupled with a system like this. Now steady state you increase MPG considerably.

You wouldn't need substantial batteries.

You could get away with a 9-10 litre engine.

Now here's the most incredible part, you could do away with the transmission and go with a series hybrid system like the prius. That alone would save 600+ lbs.

http://www.cleangreencar.co.nz/page/prius-transmission

As you can see, the transmission is nothing but a "power split device", a sun-planetary gear setup. Extremely strong. Essentially a CVT.

Now there will be those that say there will be losses between MG1 and MG2(MG1 controls how much the engine is allowed to rev) but what you can do is get some type of "lock up" device for steady state cruise. Much less losses then our traditional twin-countershaft transmission.