trucks

Propane conversion kits for cars, trucks and other vehicles have become popular since gasoline is hovering around $4 per gallon and this alt fuel is about half the price, plus it reduces emissions and extends life of the engine as well.

The 16 MPG  F-150 is one of the most ubiquitous vehicles on the road today. What if you could convert them all to get 41 MPG? The Illinois Institute of Technology’s masters program has spun-off a start-up with big plans for our aging fleet of big trucks. The company, called Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology (HEVT), has built a bolt-on module that will convert a standard F-150 into a 41 MPG plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

With gas prices above $4 / gallon, most Americans are shying away from giant gas-guzzling vehicles in favor of smaller fuel efficient models. Starting in December, Ford said it will accelerate production of their new EcoBoost engine technology, double hybrid production and lineup, and downsize vehicles across the board. By 2010, Ford says 2/3 of its spending will be on small cars and crossovers, and it will pull six small European models to the US by 2012.

There are already too many, they're too big and add to deterioration of the nation's highways and bridges.

For years it’s been assumed that, using their superior marketing skills, automakers have the ability to trick consumers into buying SUVs and pickup trucks…when, in reality, the consumers really only wanted to buy compact cars.  While that’s probably quite flattering to the marketing departments, it doesn’t have the important benefit of actually being correct.

Think paying $100,000 for an electric car is obscene? How about $100K for an F-250? The NYTimes reported last week that if you account for total ownership of a full-sized truck, including insurance, interest, repairs, taxes, and gasoline, a big vehicle like Ford’s F-250 will now set you back $100,000 in the first five years of ownership. Five years is the average amount of time an owner keeps one of these trucks.

Goteborg, Sweden - Volvo Trucks is taking an important step towards commercialization of hybrid technology for heavy vehicles by launching two hybrid refuse trucks that will be tested in regular daily operations in Sweden by refuse collection firms.

Allen Schaefer, Executive Director, Diesel Technology Forum, is interviewed on advancements in clean diesel transportation, advantages of clean diesel as a fuel source and the differences between clean diesel and biodiesel.

Jan-Eric Sundgren, Senior VP of Environmental Public Affairs, Volvo Group, describes Volvo's development of seven new models of trucks which run on various forms of alternative fuels.

There are several hydrogen generators for cars and trucks on the market including DIY systems and complete kits that offer increased gas mileage and lower emissions.

Solazyme, Inc., a synthetic biology company unleashing the power of aquatic microbes to create clean and scalable solutions for biofuel, industrial chemical, and health and wellness markets, reveals the first algae-derived biodiesel fuel (Soladiesel) to have undergone road testing by successfully powering a factory-standard automobile for long distances under typical driving conditions. The car and fuel will make their public debuts at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where they are also featured in Fields of Fuel, Josh Tickell's documentary about renewable fuels.

That's what Chrysler, Daimler, and BMW seem to think. They're all using GM's hybrid technology for their new trucks and SUVs...

The Volvo Group announces plans to produce seven demonstration trucks that use varying forms of alternative fuels. Volvo officials say they created the vehicles to help curb European statistics that indicate cargo transportation contributes an estimated 4 to 5 percent of all global carbon-dioxide emissions. The seven Volvo FM trucks, which were unveiled in Stockholm on Aug. 29, are equipped with 9-liter diesel engines.