One thing they did with the Hybrid was to lighten several areas of the truck to offset the additional weight of the batteries and other components. I think they could have done the weight reduction of other parts of the truck, left the conventional powertrain and increased the mileage in both city and highway driving rather than helping only the city portion.
you really can't change the highway mileage. the electric motor helps it get moving, but once you get up to speed it is all gas engine. that is why it helps with the city, but not the highway.
Many companies come out with a new product while already having an advancement in the wings.
Ex: Gillette introduced Mach 3 Razors, but they already had battery powered one ready, etc. etc.
My point is I hope Ford isnt rolling out th '09 F150 just to sell a bunch and then put a hydraulic hybrid or a better gas mileage version on the market to make all those buyers come back.
Put the technology out there if it is ready and the market will respond accordingly, and buy it.
you really can't change the highway mileage. the electric motor helps it get moving, but once you get up to speed it is all gas engine. that is why it helps with the city, but not the highway.
Not quite true. The electric motors assist at any speed, not just low speeds. The kick in to help pass, climb hills, etc. Not as much improvement on the highway (versus city or rural) but it is still an improvement.
you really can't change the highway mileage. the electric motor helps it get moving, but once you get up to speed it is all gas engine. that is why it helps with the city, but not the highway.
My contention is that if they had done all of the weight saving things they did to the hybrid and left the rest of the truck alone, then the highway mileage would be improved because they took off several hundred pounds to compensate for the hybrid batteries and other things.
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2004 XLT Regular Cab, Short Bed, 4X4 with 5.4 and 3.73.
Weight only really matters on the highway if its an up-grade. If its flat, weight means nothing in terms of mileage, except for maybe a bit more rolling resistance, which can be fixed with higher tire inflation pressure
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- Ian
1987 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 2.9
Needs a lot of work, including some rot on the body, but shes getting there.
Weight only really matters on the highway if its an up-grade. If its flat, weight means nothing in terms of mileage, except for maybe a bit more rolling resistance, which can be fixed with higher tire inflation pressure
It makes a lot of difference. You contention says that a loaded truck would be as economical as an empty truck on level ground. Trucking companies sure wish that was true.
I can check the mileage on my car with me alone in it, then take the exact same route with 3 passengers and there is a couple of MPG drop in the mileage. That is in a Towncar and it is far greater with a smaller car with a smaller engine. Weight is by far the biggest difference in fuel mileage between vehicles.
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2004 XLT Regular Cab, Short Bed, 4X4 with 5.4 and 3.73.
Weight matters mostly with acceleration, not constant speed driving. How else would a tractor trailer pull off 7-8 MPG, while the new 08 Super Duties manage 9-10 towing? Yes, increase weight will increase rolling resistance, but not nearly as much as aerodynamics do.
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- Ian
1987 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 2.9
Needs a lot of work, including some rot on the body, but shes getting there.
You think Ford has perfected the hybrid technology in the Escape? Thats laughable. Have you driven one? Not enough power to get off the toilet!!! Hybrid technology will not be truely succesful till they make it affordable, powerful and reliable. Lexus has 2 out of 3.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitramjr
Ford has pretty much already perfected the technology in the Escape hybrid. Now all they have to do is scale the Escape drivetrain up to where it could power the F150 without greatly reducing performance - including payload capacity. It could be done if the desire was there.
I agree that a diesel would be a nice addition. At a buck a gallon more than unleaded in my area though, the payback period would be long.
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Max W
06 F-350 4X4 6.0 PSD NORTH POLE, ALASKA
Mobil-1 5-40 turbo diesel truck oil from day #1
98 gallon transfer flow tank
Leer topper insulated
MBRP SS409 turbo back Off-Road duel exhaust-CAT IS GONE
AstroStart 2-way Auto start
Go Rhino pushbar/brushguard,4-9" Lite-Force moose lites
You think Ford has perfected the hybrid technology in the Escape? Thats laughable. Have you driven one? Not enough power to get off the toilet!!! Hybrid technology will not be truely succesful till they make it affordable, powerful and reliable. Lexus has 2 out of 3.
Laughable is your ignorance of the vehicle. Have YOU ever driven one? Owned one?
I have two of the hybrid Escapes, both with over 30k problem free miles on them, both with lifetime average fuel economy of between 32 and 34 mpg and both have power and performance almost equal to the V6 version of the Escape. I paid just several thousand dollars more for the FEH as I would have for an identical gas only Escape. With gas approaching four bucks a gallon, my recapture time on the upcharge isn't that far away. After that it is money in my pocket.
So, maybe the Escape isn't a hotrod, but it isn't supposed to be. It meets all of my needs. The hybrid Lexus, on the other hand, is overpowered, get's crappy mileage and costs a fortune. I'd say the FEH is one hell of a lot closer to the perfect vehicle for me than the Lexus.
I'm not gonna lie, if I had to buy a Hybrid, it'd probably be an Escape. I think those upscale hybrids (Lexus) are nothing more than a joke. Same with their Hybrid sedan that costs an arm, a leg, and even the right juevo. I read on the internet that there's like a $30K upcharge on the hybrid over the regular. It doesn't get better gas mileage, it has a ****ter suspension (too much weight) and it's barely faster. Talk about a "status symbol."
-rockstate
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2007 Toyota Tundra 5.7, 4x4
Rhino Liner, Borla Exhaust,
Ranch Hand Grille Guard,
BFG AT KO 285/65/r18
My contention is that if they had done all of the weight saving things they did to the hybrid and left the rest of the truck alone, then the highway mileage would be improved because they took off several hundred pounds to compensate for the hybrid batteries and other things.
Your point was noted in the Car & Driver test of the Tahoe. GM lightened the vehicle enough to avoid any weight gain with the hybrid apparatus. However, they used the 6.0 engine. If they had lightened the vehicle and used the 4.3, what would the results be? Certainly several thou$and less on the sticker.
well what if there was a switch put in. on with no payload reg driving{which most of us are in anyway} then a switch to turn it off when under load?
The engine/system control computer switches on/off, and never forgets about what mode it's in. A manual switch would result in 98% casualties of the electric system within the first 60 days.
This is an old article, that I want to know what happened to this technology with the hybrids. The hydraulic system appears more efficient and green than the electric hybrid models out there currently. I just hope they made an aftermarket kit for my 2006 f150
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