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COPYRIGHT 2007 Cygnus Business Media
Energy Efficiency Gets More Gas
By John Dyslin, editor
Auto manufacturers are on the move to create vans and trucks that use less--and cleaner--fuel.
Gas and diesel prices remain high and will likely remain that way, especially as oil nears $100 per barrel. Meanwhile, cleaner fuels and energy continue to take center stage.
After employee costs, the vehicle fleet is the second highest expense for contractors. Because of a combination of factors--customer demand, environmental regulations, and government mandates--manufacturers are beginning to roll out trucks and vans that operate on less, cleaner and alternative fuels.
Currently, Chrysler is testing a plug-in hybrid of its Dodge Sprinter line with the New York Times.
Ford offers a 6.8-liter V10 Triton and the 6.4-liter Power Stroke Diesel engine, which delivers 350 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 650 pounds per foot of torque. This engine utilizes Ford Clean Diesel Technology. Ford also offers the 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine on F-150 models that run on E-85 fuel, which is 85 percent ethanol. Later in 2008, Ford will offer a clean-diesel engine for its F-150 pickup trucks.
Not to be outdone, Chevrolet offers the Duramax Diesel 6.6-liter V8 Turbo engine. This engine meets the U.S. EPA's clean air requirements.
"We are working on a variety of alternative fuels and technologies," says Wes Sherwood III, manager, truck communications, Ford Motor Co. "They include hybrids, bio-diesels and hydrogen-powered vehicles."
Clean and efficient
While there are some hybrids on the road or vehicles using alternative fuels such as E-85, the total number of such vehicles is still relatively low--though growing. Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, are popular and more consumers are searching for hybrid cars to help counter high gas prices. In the truck and van market, though, hybrid vehicles are rare. However, Chevrolet will offer a 2009 hybrid edition of its Silverado, which boasts a 40 percent greater city fuel economy and a 25 percent improvement in overall fuel economy.
However, most manufacturers are still in the testing and research phase. Furthermore, there has to be access for fuels such as E-85 or bio-diesel. Few gas stations in the U.S. carry alternative fuels, though an increasing number of gas stations offer E-85 pumps.
It also comes down to what...
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