Comments on: ALTe Promises Extended-Range Electric Conversion for Gas Guzzlers

By: Mark B

Mark B — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:32:13 +0000

This is stupid. A CNG or LNG conversion is much less costly and NG prices are dropping as we’ve discovered a 100 years worth of the fuel within the US. CNG/LNG burns clean, doesn’t require massive changes to vehicles, and has the backing of several very large investors including Shell, Pickens, Chesapeake and others. We don’t need toxic batteries, complicated controllers, and so on. We could virtually solve this problem tomorrow.

By: David

David — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:03:14 +0000

This is a very good and logical idea to provide Fleet Users with an Electric (Series Hybrid) Vehicle which will reduce their operating expenses. However, there is a disconnect between the Cost-Benefit Analysis presented in the article and the real world.
First, any truck that only runs 20,000 miles per year in a fleet will last 6 to 8 years before the engine and/or vehicle needs to be replaced or rebuilt (not 3 as in the example above). Next, a 6 to 8 year old “Fleet” vehicle is going to be torn up! Things are going to fail that will keep it in the shop more often than a newer vehicle, i.e.: electrical system problems; turn signal switches, ignition switches, all the accessories will constantly need repairs; the seats and interior will be worn out/torn up and will need to be repaired/replaced; the Air conditioning will need to be repaired more often, etc. Also, after 8 years parts availability becomes an issue (Just imagine the parts issues a 15 year old vehicle will have [8yrs on new veh + 7 on Electric drive train]. All of these additional repairs will add up to higher costs of operation, lower availability and lost productivity for the company. A more realistic basis for analysis would be a Fleet vehicle that operates 40,000 + miles per year. Based on 40k miles you would need to replace/rebuild the vehicle after 3 years (more or less) and the electric conversion would last for 3 to 4 years (based on the 7 year 20k example). The problem for this (more realistic) example is that you are still running the truck on Gas 85% of the time and only getting 26mpg. The 12mpg increase over the original (New) truck is not enough of an increase to justify spending $26,500 to convert the vehicle. Let’s face it 12mpg at $3.83 per gallon times 34.000 miles barely makes a break-even proposition for the company and you haven’t included the increased cost of repairs or lost productivity of a 4 ++ year old Fleet vehicle as mentioned above. Bottom Line, The Series Hybrid is a winning energy saving/MPG increasing technoligy which has been proven to work. However, this company needs to engineer an Engine/Battery combination that increases the all electric range and improves the Gas MPG beyond the 12 mpg of the original truck. I would strongly suggest they consider a small european Diesel Engine to improve the MPG after the All Electric range is reached.

By: FamilyGuy

FamilyGuy — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:42:15 +0000

Great idea, I hope that it works out for them. If the auto makers aren't going to make the plugin that you want, then someone else will for you. I wish that it didn't cost so much and that they could do it to any vehicle.

Imagine, not waiting for Honda to come out with it's plugin model or not waiting for Mazda to put a plugin system into say the Mazda5 or not waiting for Toyota to come out with a plugin minivan or not waiting for Subaru to develop a plugin Outback. Purchase any vehicle that you want and this company will make it a plugin for you.

If you're the type of driver that holds on to a car for 10-12 years or 150k-200k miles, then the cost of $10k-$15k might be worth it. Obviously, you'd have to run some numbers and use your best guess for the cost of gas over time, so it's a gamble. And you'd probably void your vehicle's warranty....

Interesting. Like I typed earlier, I hope that it works out for them.