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Originally Posted by PHOEBISIS
Toyota might imply they will have a 30mpg 5000 lb truck,and it might even have EPA numbers close to that,but it won't actually produce those numbers,if the 2004 Prius is an indicator.The Prius is rated 60 city 51 HY,but Motortrend says it delivers 40 overall on their long term test 2004 Prius,and they said"good luck getting 50 mpg hy."Now 40 mpg is spectacular,but it isn't 60.Prius owners are a little pissed about the 40;drop into one of their forums.
Motor Trend,or Car and Driver recent wrote an article and in it auto engineers said a full Hybrid should increase mpg~25%,the same increase you would get with a good Diesel.The Diesel wasn't an option in the USA because it couldn't pass some smog regs that are kicking in soon.They further suggested that a Diesel-Hybrid would give even better numbers,but soon be to in effect regs won't allow with current tech.
I figure a full sized Hybrid truck might get 16-18 mpg city(33 % increase) instead of 12-14 we actually get-pretty good,but not 30.At $3/gal and 12 vs 16 you would save ~$6000/100,000 miles and produce a lot less CO2 etc.Charlie
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Good analysis of the new engine technology soon to be available to us in full size trucks. I know that IF Toyota can produce a full hybrid powered truck by 2005 that offers a 25% increase in fuel mileage, I will have to give it very serious consideration. Nissan has to compete in fuel mileage and they won't be doing it with electric/gas hybrids because they are seriously lacking in that technology. I am hoping they will produce a turbo-diesel powered Titan although they don't seem to be in much of a hurry to do so (a supply of cleaner diesel fuel to N. America is right around the corner). The era of cheap gasoline is over and it won't be coming back. Owning a gas eating monster is not so appealing even if it is the Titan is the best full-size truck currently available.