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Old 03-22-2010, 08:30 AM   #1
XDCX
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Default Dodge drops plans for Hybrid Ram Pickup

Chrysler issued a press release today indicating they've dropped plans to build a two-mode hybrid based on the Ram pickup. The pickup was scheduled to go into production later this year.

While initially I thought this seemed like a poor decision, I was surprised to read GM's only selling about 100 hybrid pickups per month. If the market's really that small, it's smart to walk away and let GM spend the R&D money supporting hybrids. Additionally, I read that GM was not going to license their technology for the next generation hybrid due in 2013 so the Ram would have only had a limited production run.

Here's a link to the report I read from pickuptrucks.com - click here

I guess this decision makes those Hybrid Durangos and Aspens even more rare.
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Old 03-22-2010, 10:20 AM   #2
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To me this is a sign of intelligent life at Chrysler. Back when we had Chevy, we sold a whopping total of 1 hybrid.
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Old 03-22-2010, 10:46 AM   #3
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To me this is a sign of intelligent life at Chrysler. Back when we had Chevy, we sold a whopping total of 1 hybrid.
I was really surprised to read that GM was only selling about 100 hybrid pickups per month - I would have lost money on that bet.

I remember seeing a GM commercial where they compared the fuel economy of one of their hybrid SUVs to a MINI Wagon -it seemed like a great commercial. I assumed the hybrids were selling strong for GM.
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Old 03-22-2010, 11:40 AM   #4
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I just don't think the whole hybrid idea makes sense if your not saving 10-15 MPG over a traditional engine. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Silverado hybrid only improved MPG by a small amount (1 or 2 MPGS).
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Old 03-22-2010, 11:56 AM   #5
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I just don't think the whole hybrid idea makes sense if your not saving 10-15 MPG over a traditional engine. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Silverado hybrid only improved MPG by a small amount (1 or 2 MPGS).
You are correct. The big selling point for our customer was that the bed had regular 120V outlets in the bed. He could pull up to a construction site and plug in his tools while running them off the hybrid battery. He didn't care about the 1mpg better fuel mileage.
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Old 03-22-2010, 12:51 PM   #6
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Oh, I didn't know about the 120V outlets. Still not worth the extra $$$.
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Old 03-22-2010, 01:01 PM   #7
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Putting a hybrid drive system on a big truck actually makes a great deal of sense. You will get the greatest percentage gain in fuel economy. The Prius has such a low cd that I wonder what the mileage numbers for that car would be with a conventional drive train.

The issue is more one of public perception. Toyota has done a good job of making people think a hybrid must be a small, economical car and not a big truck.

The GM hybrids also were not a true hybrid drive system.
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Old 03-22-2010, 05:10 PM   #8
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Putting a hybrid drive system on a big truck actually makes a great deal of sense. You will get the greatest percentage gain in fuel economy.
That makes sense. I remember reading a story in the local Seattle newspaper that GM was working to develop a hybrid system for the City Transit System using the logic that these vehicles burned so much fuel that a 20% improvement would be sizable.

I don't know how it ever turned out, but I remember the early reports were there was almost no fuel economy improvement with the hybrid buses.

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The GM hybrids also were not a true hybrid drive system.
Good point, as memory serves the only part of the powertrain system that was actually different was the transmission.
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Old 03-22-2010, 05:37 PM   #9
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Guess that hybrid training was a waste.
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Old 03-22-2010, 06:26 PM   #10
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Guess that hybrid training was a waste.
Do not forget about those Special Tools!!!
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