ABI Research asserts that operators need to carefully evaluate the costs and benefits of hybrids...
With daily media coverage and marketing messages from vehicle manufacturers, it is easy to assume hybrids are the solution.
The facts, however, suggest something else: that the return on investment can vary dramatically depending on factors such as the type of hybrid, cost of fuel, and the typical usage cycle.
"...operators should beware of the hype to ensure that fuel economy improvements occur for their typical drive cycles," continues Alexander. "Drivers with the most to gain will be operating on a frequent stop-start cycle, and, depending on the existing powertrain, may benefit from a mild hybrid retrofit.
"The main fuel economy benefit from hybrid technology comes from the capture and reuse of kinetic energy," says David Alexander, ABI Research principal analyst. "Two central forms of storage under development and available at present are hydraulic and electrical. Both require significant investment in additional systems, so realistic evaluations and estimations must be made as regards fuel savings in order to calculate the benefits." read more here
