Why isn't there  hybrid semi-trucks?

Robert
1982 Westfalia

---

> But why actually do you disagree with my statements? Because
> you have
> a hybrid civic? I'm not really certain I follow your
> line of argument.
> Lot's of vehicles achieve much higher mpg than a
> vanagon, this doesn't
> mean their powerplants would do the same *in* a vanagon.
> Ever towed
> anything with a prius for instance? You're not supposed
> to for good
> reason, it's so close it's output limits in stock
> form that even
> pulling a light motorcycle overworks it into sending the
> mpg into the
> low 20's.  Try towing with the civic, it might be a
> telling exercise
> as to what the increase in frontal area and drag of the
> vanagon might
> do to overall economy, and why it's not worth it for
> hwy driving.
>
> Jim Akiba
>
> On Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 3:43 PM, Ikard
> <fikard@comcast.net> wrote:
> > I disagree completely with the assessment you gave
> about the benefits of a
> > hybrid for long haul driving. I own a Honda Civic
> Hybrid and get 45 mpg on
> > the freeway at 72 mph. I get about 36 in the city.
> > I have  an 80 Vanagon with a 95 Jetta gas engine in it
> but it is so new that
> > I have not road tested for mileage. Would love to have
> a hybrid system in
> > it.
> >
> > Charlie Ikard
> >
> >
> >

> >
> >
> > Keep in mind that a hybrid will be a total waste of
> time/money  for
> > the vast majority of vanagon owners. Vanagons are
> typically long-haul
> > vehicles, not city drivers, the hybrid's benefits
> will be almost
> > completely lost on long haul driving. not to mention
> that $15k-$25k
> > buys a lot of gas. You *might* be able get 100mpg by
> installing a
> > 200cc engine and driving at 35, but it's a lot
> easier/cheaper to get a
> > motorcycle.  Getting the hybrid into a vanagon it
> totally doable, in
> > fact with a synco front end, you could do an
> easy(relatively speaking)
> > front/rear electric/gas hybrid.. but it isn't, and
> likely will never
> > be worth it.
> >
> > Jim Akiba
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Jun 28, 2008 at 11:27 PM, M'obeechi
> <obeechi@runbox.com> wrote:
> >> I don't want to give up on gasoline completely
> - I'm spending too much on
> > the subaru engine (now the second type, a turbo) to
> walk away... but I think
> > the writing is on the wall for a hybrid approach. Not
> sure if Fuel Cell
> > still stands a change (MBZ hasn't given up on
> them), and then there are
> > electric and gasoline hybrids... I just want to extend
> my mileage in the 100
> > miles per gallon range... but yeah, waiting it out
> makes sense... However, I
> > do want to be among the first 100 vanagon owners who
> take the plunge into
> > doing this. Might be tricky figuring out how to
> squeeze this into the
> > Vanagon.
> >>
> >> From: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Re: Hybrid Vanagon
> >>
> >>> My initial thought on this is that if you want
> to get away from internal
> >>> combustion entirely or even mostly, than you
> might want to wait 3-5
> > years.
> >>> There are a number of technologies or
> approaches that are 'on the cusp',
> > so
> >>> to speak, that should have either failed or
> made a breakthrough by then
> > and
> >>> the practical options should be clearer.
> >>>
> >>> Cya,
> >>> Robert
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: "M'obeechi"
> <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
> >>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >>> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 5:50 PM
> >>> Subject: Hybrid Vanagon
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I was looking up hybrid vehicles. Something in
> Wikipedia was saying
> > better
> >>> to start with a car that has a manual
> transmission, that the AT wastes
> >>> energy. But they were talking about a
> conversion that removes the
> > internal
> >>> combustion engine. I'm interested in maybe
> one day putting in electric
> >>> motors or what-ever-is-good to supplement the
> engine in my vanagon (which
> > is
> >>> Subaru at this point). Thing is, I have an
> Automatic and want don't want
> > to
> >>> consider a manual.
> >>>
> >>> Can someone point me in the right direction.
> Has this been discussed or
> > done
> >>> with a vanagon yet. I'm not really
> thinking propane, I'm in Southern
> >>> California, plus my engine is being switched
> over to a turbo, and since
> >>> propane needs high compression, I don't
> think that would make sense.
> >>>
> >>> The paper today said that jet fuel cost has
> increased 80% this year. I
> > won't
> >>> be surprised if gasoline reaches 25 dollars a
> gallon within the decade.
> >>>
> >>
> >> ----- End Original Message -----
> >>
> >