Hot Topic: After-Market technology gives 41 MPG to a Ford F-150

With "hybrid technology" on the tip of everyone's tongue, many major auto makers remain curious as to whether consumers will actually purchase hybrid trucks.

The concern, of course, is performance, as people who purchase pick-ups genuinely need the power of the trucks for towing, heavy payloads, etc. For instance, the GMC Denali XT hybrid, while it achieves incredible fuel economy, simply cannot offer the same performance as a traditional truck, and has been called "a bit more of a crossover than a pure truck."

However, many people agree that outfitting large vehicles such as trucks and SUVs with hybrid technology simply makes sense. Since these vehicles sport the worst fuel efficiency numbers on the road, converting trucks and SUVs to hybrid technology would make far more of an environmental impact than converting the already fuel efficient smaller class vehicles. And since hybrid technology is expensive, some argue that placing hybrid technology in vehicles that are already fairly low-cost and fuel efficient is almost counter-intuitive, as the sticker price would have to rise accordingly.

So, we know it makes sense to make hybrid trucks and SUVs, but the question still remains - How can we increase fuel efficiency and maintain high performance?

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. thinks it might have the answer. At last weeks Plug-In 2008 Conference and Expedition, HEVT unveiled the world's first plug-in electric hybrid vehicle (PEHV) version of the Ford F-150 pick-up truck.

HEVT's technology allows for vehicles such as pick-ups, SUVs, and vans to be retrofitted with the PEHV system. In the Ford F-150 prototype, HEVT was able to transform the pick-up's gas mileage from 16 mpg to 41 mpg (it appears that the figures were calculated from an average day of city driving). Even more importantly for many pick-up truck owners, the technology allows for the same great performance they expect from Ford trucks, and HEVT claims their system creates even more low-speed torque for better towing.

HEVT also made a video about this technology. Take a look, and let us know what you think! Our "Bottom Line" is after the video.



Bottom Line: We're impressed. If the technology holds up to the claims, it could be a major stepping stone in the marriage between maintaining high performance and increasing fuel efficiency. HEVT is currently making these F-150 conversions available to individuals and organizations on a custom basis. We definitely think this technology has a fighting chance in the crowded world of automobile innovations - while HEVT is currently focusing on everyday vehicles with low fuel efficiency, their ultimate goal is to expand to school busses and transit busses.