Will hybrids help?
In the last few months, Ford introduced and began an advertising campaign for its 2008 vehicle models, including the revamped 2008 Ford Escape SUV hybrid. The auto manufacturer boasts that next year’s model is “the most fuel efficient SUV on the planet,” with an estimated 34 miles per gallon.
But, what the new SUV models might make up for in fuel efficiency and environmental standards, they lack in power and towing capacity.
According to Cars.com, the new four-cylinder Escape hybrid tows a limit of 1,000 pounds, compared to its big brother, the 3,500-pound towing capacity, non-hybrid V-6 Escape.
RV manufacturer’s have just begun to tap into mini-van and SUV towing capabilities, but a hybrid Escape can’t tow too much more than the Aliner Alite, with a weight of 400 pounds.
With ever-growing concerns of fuel efficiency along with truck and SUV CAFÉ standards still debated, Chevrolet has also introduced its own version of a hybrid SUV.
The 2008 Chevy Tahoe might not have the same MPG standards as the Escape, but what it lacks in more fuel efficiency, it makes up for in more power.
With rave reviews, Edmunds.com voted the Tahoe one of the best hybrid vehicles for 2008. Cars.com also explains that the Tahoe still fits the description and criteria of a full-sized SUV, making it more suitable for outdoor enthusiasts versus commuters. One of the unique features being the V-8 engine, that when say, traveling on the highway, will deactivate four of the eight cylinders to preserve power. It’s also able to run solely on electric power.
Limited to a rated maximum of 22 mpg, the Tahoe can still tow much more than the Escape– a little over 6,000 pounds.
Hybrid sport utility vehicles will run consumers anywhere between $3,000-10,000 more, compared to their gasoline-only counterparts. Will they buy it?
And, will hybrid SUVs stick around, or will they still leave avid RVers scraping for more power and towing capacity (or even lighter trailers)?
May 26th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
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December 29th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
I bought a 2003 Ford Super Duty Diesel to pull a 10K lb fifth wheel.I have plenty of power and without pulling it gets 20-21 mpg and 10-11 mpg pulling. At the time I did what I thought was the best thing to do. Good power, good mileage. Now I hear they are making refined jet and diesel fuel that burns cleaner than refined oil with coal. And they do it for $40 a barrel. Will this ever be passed down to the RV’ers or will the industry continue to suffer and eventually die due to the increased costs of fuel which should be cheaper than gas in the first place? I know I’m reaching a point where I can’t afford to RV much longer if this continues.
Thanks, Earl
December 21st, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Hybrid electric ranks right up there with ethanol as a viable alternative fuel. Essentially, it’s designed to give the appearance of progress, with nothing really gained. A few Hollywood types will drive them around to show how green they are, but that’s about it. Real alternative fuel sources are out there, but the time to develop the technology tends to run beyond the terms of the current congress, so they have to make a good showing with psuedo technology. Can anyone here tell I’m in the Detroit area? We get a little tired of the government trying to force what a free market will take care of on its own.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
I have been here before as well remembering 1979. The year I went into the RV business! It was a time of no gas and not just price. The hybrid, me thinks, will evolve into a two passenger go to work and shopping vehicle for every day driving and will replace all those suvs you see on the interstate every morning with one person going to work! Those suv’s however will sit in the garage awaiting their turn to pull the family boat or travel trailer and use when a family outing is taking place. Same for pick up trucks. They will guzzle as well but we will still have them but for limitted use. What will change is what we drive EVERY DAY to and from.
To think of a hybrid that will tow or power a motorhome is just silly…you’d laugh if someone told you they had a hybrid semi. Better gas mileage is on the way but nothing revolutionary. Remember the old saying…anything that does a lot of things does not do any of them well…we may be expecting too much from a hybrid! We will have a “driver” that gets a lot of gas mileage AND our trucks, motorhomes and suvs for FUN and RECREATION.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Thank you Erica for finally bringing this subject to the Forum. I feel that it is time to have a discussion about the role of hybrid technology and its place in the RV Industry.
While I am not an ultimate expert in the field of hybrid powered vehicles, I do have a lot of first hand experience in the field. So to cut to the chase regarding the question “Can Hybrids do the job?”, the answer is a big YES.
You might wish to check out this Web Site for some background on high-powered hybrids. It has lots of good information.
http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_Shadow,,00.html
Hybrids vehicles that have the capability to pull or drive large RVs are not new. However, the movement of Hybrid technology into the commercial marketplace is fairly new and is becoming an accepted high-end vehicle for the automotive marketplace.
Being in the Technology business, I know from experience that Technology development cost a great deal of money. Yet, there is no limiting technology in the development of high-powered hybrid vehicles except for the desire and will to spend the up-front dollars required to bring those vehicles into existence. Both Ford and GM have successfully demonstated Hybrid vehicles, including state-of-the-art Fuel Cell powered vehicles. There is no doubt in my mind that Ford could put a Hybrid powered RV chassis on the road in less than 5 years. All that is needed is for one of the Motorhome manufacturers to step up and place an order.
When I polish up my crystal ball, I would be willing to forecast that a Ford or GM powered Hybrid RV Chassis could show up on the floor at Louisville in the next few years.
RVers like new technologies. Given the availability of a Hybrid powered RV, my guess is that it will sell.
Gene
December 18th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Don’t forget the new Hybrid 2008 Durango coming out. It has quite a large towing capacity comparably. That’s not to say I personally am a Dodge guy, but those are the facts.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Some of us have been down this road before. In 1973 people were trading in their big gas guzzling cars and opting for what were then called “compact cars”. The car dealerships were full of used Cadillacs, and Lincolns. The love affair with the small car lasted about a year or so and then all of these “compacts” were traded back in for the big cars again. We are a strange breed we Americans we are not going to give up our luxuries without a fight. I don’t see us changing our recreation habits because chicken little (Al Gore) said “the sky is falling”. Patience is all we need. This too shall pass and we’ll find another way to keep doing what we’re doing.