Top Diesel Hybrid Trucks

There are also diesel hybrid trucks that are used commercially.  Here is some information on the leading diesel hybrid trucks, their uses, and their features.

Diesel Hybrid Trucks: What They Offer

Diesel hybrid trucks are vehicles that use a battery powered motor combined with an engine that operates off of diesel fuel.  In these vehicles, an engine that is powered by diesel fuel, will in turn, power the vehicle’s front wheels while an electric motor powered by a lithium ion battery will simultaneously power the vehicle’s rear wheels.  The diesel hybrid trucks that have a parallel construction can be offered with all wheel drive, rear wheel drive, or front wheel drive.  Those diesel hybrid trucks that have a series construction are considered a full hybrid; these vehicles offer a motor powered by battery that is in operation during moments of acceleration and during the vehicle’s start up.

In diesel hybrid trucks one will find regenerative brake inclusions.  This means that the brakes generate energy which is sent to the battery for latter use in order to continuously power the vehicle.  Any energy that would be otherwise depleted and unused in a traditional truck is converted into useable energy via the process of converting it to torque.

Diesel hybrid trucks have a power source that automatically converts to the diesel engine when the driver requires more speed and on the road power.  These trucks can readily operate on bio-fuel sources.  Since diesel engines are durable and long lasting, the diesel hybrid truck would maintain its value over time, even more so than a gas operated truck.  Maintaining and repairing a diesel hybrid truck is a bit easier since these motors are absent of spark plugs.  The downside is finding a mechanic that is skilled in dealing with diesel hybrid truck engines.

Diesel Hybrid Trucks: Additional Considerations

Diesel hybrid trucks offer a good deal of horsepower and enough power to make them comparable to a traditional gas operated truck.  A hybrid truck can even sometimes offer improvements over the acceleration process.  The fuel efficiency of these trucks is amazing too since they offer a 40 percent greater fuel efficiency that gas operated vehicles.

There is a downside associated with diesel hybrid trucks that car makers are working hard to overcome.  For one thing, a diesel operated truck, whether a hybrid or not, has more air polluting properties than a gas operated truck.  If concerned about the environment and greenhouse gases, then diesel hybrid trucks may not be a suitable option at this time.  There are some diesel hybrid trucks that offer reduced emissions however.

Since diesel is not a standard fuel used in all vehicles, in some cases it can be difficult to locate a fueling station offering diesel fuels.  Anyone driving one of the diesel hybrid trucks on offer should plot their travels and search for stations offering diesel fuel.  What’s more, diesel trucks have to be recharged and this means more stops on longer trips.

Top Diesel Hybrid Trucks for 2011

Isuzu Elf Diesel Hybrid

The Isuzu Elf Diesel Hybrid was introduced to the Japanese commercial market in 2005.  This vehicle houses a permanent magnet synchronous engine.  The vehicle is a parallel diesel hybrid offering that is now part of the company’s low pollution line.  It was first offered in the summer of 2005 and the company sold the vehicle to selected fleets.  At the time of its creation Isuzu had planned on selling up to 600 units of these diesel hybrid trucks annually.  It houses a 4.8 Liter 4HL1. 95 kW, 127 horsepower engine coupled with a 25.5 kW electric motor and a hybrid power train.  It offers a fuel efficiency that is thirty-five percent greater than its predecessors.  It also reduces PM emissions by as much as 85 percent.  It comes with start stop features and regenerative brakes.  It also houses a rechargeable lithium ion 346 Volt battery; a first in any Japanese created truck.  This diesel hybrid is sometimes identified as the N-series.  If you are interested in investing in one of these vehicles, you can do so by having the vehicle exported.  You can visit a site like Export Japanese Car.com to find the ELF at http://exportjapanesecar.com/used-cars-list.php?M=ISUZU&MDL=ELF.

Navistar – International Truck and Engine

Navistar has developed a line of commercial diesel hybrid trucks identified as the DuraStar Hybrid™.  These vehicles are medium duty offerings.  This vehicle has been designed so that it is better for the environment.  It offers minimized fuel emissions, fuel efficiency, and it has better braking and acceleration than its predecessors.  This commercial truck is great for utility tasks, emergency vehicle use, and delivery truck use.  Users of the vehicle can save as much as $5000.00 annually in terms of the long term costs of operating the vehicle.  This vehicle can operate off of diesel or bio-diesel fuel.  It offers a 58 percent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions, a 65 percent reduction in hydrocarbon emissions, and a 41 percent reduction in the emission of nitrogen oxide.  It offers sixty percent greater fuel efficiency than conventional commercial trucks operating on diesel fuel.  It even has noise reduction features to diminish noise pollution.

DuraStar Hybrid™ hybrid diesel trucks can achieve zero to 60 in 9 second’s faster time than last year’s offerings.  They have regenerative brakes so that the vehicle offers better stopping power.  These trucks sport a parallel system so the power train is always functioning.  The interior of the trucks have ergonomically designed components to ensure comfort.  It has two high back, comfortable seats with headrests, a spacious interior, an overhead console, and more.  For full details on what these hybrid trucks can offer you can visit the company’s website.  A downloadable spec sheet is offered in a pdf file.  For more details visit http://www.internationaltrucks.com/portal/.