Darth Vader

[Msterbeau]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/chicago...ar-class-8-big/

[Rayne]

I can remember my ex would groan everytime he got handed an International.

But all trucks looked relatively the same to me, until my ex came home with a brand new one of these Volvo's:

$95,000 for that truck ... but it was a real nice truck.

I like the design of the new International. I like it a lot.

[Kit Kat P]

ohh that's pretty, I like it Marc

[predaking]

I would love to get my hands on one of those!

[ttogreh]

Did you know there is no fuel economy testing required for heavy duty trucks?

I do now!

However, by consensus, it appears that big rigs have increased in fuel efficiency by about one per cent a year for the last twenty years... which means that a 1988 International is twenty per cent less fuel efficient than a 2008 International.

Roughly.

Moreover, since heavy duty trucks are so bloody big, you can put a gigantic amount of batteries and HUGE electric motors in them to complement the diesel engine.

Good lord, a 2012 international running off of 20 per cent biodiesel with a hybrid powertrain could produce less carbon dioxide than a 2009 Prius.

Holy shit.

[Head Wreck]

will it have the torque required to haul though? if it did, yes plz. Lorries are not the best diesel burners out there. they stink up the place, and this is coming from a diesel devotee

[Msterbeau]

Did you know there is no fuel economy testing required for heavy duty trucks?

I do now!

However, by consensus, it appears that big rigs have increased in fuel efficiency by about one per cent a year for the last twenty years... which means that a 1988 International is twenty per cent less fuel efficient than a 2008 International.

Roughly.

Moreover, since heavy duty trucks are so bloody big, you can put a gigantic amount of batteries and HUGE electric motors in them to complement the diesel engine.

Good lord, a 2012 international running off of 20 per cent biodiesel with a hybrid powertrain could produce less carbon dioxide than a 2009 Prius.

Holy shit.

Hybrid trucks would make sense for in-town delivery and routes that have lot's of stop/go driving - where the regenerative braking and other advantages pay dividends in fuel economy. They're developing buses like this. But for over-the-road trucks that are strictly highway users... I think straight diesels make more sense.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Like trains... have you ever red the milage on trains? it's staggering.

[Msterbeau]

Like trains... have you ever red the milage on trains? it's staggering.

How good? Or bad?

Some neato info here about relative efficiency-- per passeneger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_efficien...ortation#Trains

[creatureofthenyte]

Marc, I hear that NBC is doing a new knight rider show, remember that truck Goliath ? The one that went up against kitt ? Well that truck would be a fitting example if they ever decide to revisit that storyline.