Good idea but what about American Hybrids, Ford Escape or Saturn VUE?


http://www.nbc5.com/news/14104551/de...=headlineclick

 

FYI Jim, the Ford Escape uses Toyota licensed tech from the Prius, and so do a few others.

 

What's even more significant than that is Daley is going to require Taxi services to replace their fleets with hybrids as the old cars are retired. Since the existing crown vics probably get ~6mpg in the city and hybrids are at their best when stuck in traffic (let's be conservative and say 30mpg), this will be a SIGNIFICANT improvement in both fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions.

 

Its about time Daley got something right

 

this is good news imho. with detroit being so close and they still choose toyota, man, that says a lot

 

Great for Toyota. I'm sure Toyota is working on the next generation Prius that will even get more miles to the gallon. Go Toyota...

 

See alot of hybrid cars on campus (Penn State). Most common is the Camry hybrid followed by the Ford Escape hybrid. University owned vehicles and buses are mostly all powered by either hydrogen or natural gas. Its nice.

 

That's my point why not just buy the Escape this way an American car company can get the biz.

 

thats a lousy way of doing a major purchase such as 300 vehicles, sorry you dont go out and buy 300 cars just be nice nice to a company, you buy it because the specs and price are what fits your application

 

Not too mention that Highlander Hybrid is bigger than an Escape.

Waiting for the Fusion hybrid still.

 

I think eventually all public transportation and company cars like taxi's, security patrol cars, delivery vehicles, etc should move to hybrids or get huge incentives to use hybrids, this would greatly help with our oil consumption. Imagine if all the taxis in NYC were switched to fuel efficient hybrids. Good choice on the city of Chicago.

 

You assume you know everyhing about the decision making process. Here in Chicago its about favors and political promises kept.

 

I guess you didn't hear that all of the Taxi cabs in NYC have to be hybrids by 2011 and starting 2008 you can't buy any new non hybrid taxis. Its expected to cut pollution by 33%. The Crown Vic also has an average of 14 mpg vs. Prius and Escape which are slated to take over. And according to my sister in law who does all city driving, her Prius gets 63 mpg in all the stop and go that she does.

 

And imagine all the regenerative braking that you will get in a Taxi Hybrid!

 

Too bad they're choosing electric technology instead of hydraulic. Truck manufacturers are looking at hydraulic systems to store the energy much the same as the battery powered systems with a lot less complex control systems and much lighter implementations. All the benefits, none of the negatives - except the accumulator is an energy source and just like the battery, presents it's own safety concerns. Still, it's a far better solution for garbage trucks, city buses, and other heavy short trip delivery vehicles making frequent stops.

Sadly, Popular Science had articles about hybrids (both hydraulic and electric) in the 70's, but no one figured they were worth the effort then.