As we noted recently, use of hybrid engine technology in commercial trucks remains very much in its infancy. Expect that infancy to last a while, even with diesel prices soaring. A hybrid big rig costs 50% more than a conventional one, too rich a premium for most consumers. The federal government, while interested in promoting more efficient trucks, isn't a likely savior here.
All this was up for discussion at a Tuesday Capitol Hill hearing, held by the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment. "The truck industry is due for a major technological shift, said Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas), the subcommittee's chair, "but advances in this sector don't come easily."
Full story at Forbes.com
