Although hybrid truck technology took center stage at the European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam, green forms of transportation took a backseat to different kind of green. Money (what did you think I was going to say?) is the primary roadblock standing in the way of a more eco-friendly trucking industry.Because hybrid trucks require a lot of extra mechanization (a 2nd drive train), they are significantly more expensive and heavier (less freight capacity) than their conventional diesel counterparts. Not to mention they have no real track record as far as maintenance goes.
There is hope however, as some small fleets are investing in the new technology. Fedex leads the pack with 95 hybrid trucks in its fleet, and other delivery companies could benefit from a more efficient vehicle for their "stop and go" type of work, where they would see the greatest gains.
As for long haul vehicles, its a different story. With many skeptics claiming that hybrids won't get significantly better highway mileage, don't expect to see hybrid trucks gassing up at the local truck stop anytime soon.
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