Sounds like bull to me. Atr least for anytime soon.

saw this about 2 or 3 years ago when it was announced I'm still waiting. It will save them if they can do it.

Again....another notice of "wow we just invested this", like it happened yesterday. Now that the tide has turned everyone no longer fears dusting it off and unboxing this stuff.

Oh wait, OK so it looks like this was first announced around 2002, and UPS has test trucks using the technology. The link article states these will be out in 2 months, but others say introduced at the 2009 Detroit Auto show in January.

I hope this is true, because it would be big news and improvement for heavy duty delivery trucks, school buses, etc.

This technology works for heavyduty vehicles making tons of stops ... think delivery trucks and garbage trucks. Locating the accumulator(s) for hydraulic fluid storage can be tricky if there's not a lot of room (crashworthiness and safety concerns).

yawn

Electric storage right now is extremely inefficient. I've seen quotes of something like %30 efficiency in energy recovery by the Prius regenerative braking system. If Ford's hydraulic system can recover %90 of the energy then it could be 3X as efficient as a Prius. I'd assume that this kind of a system would be too big and heavy for a passenger car, but for larger trucks it may be the right thing. Hopefully it comes to market soon and works as advertised. It's a big step in the right direction.

Of course, most of the MPG improvements come at low speed stop and go driving. On the highway the truck's mass and lack of aerodynamics will still kill the MPG.

i also call bS..

Too bad Ford still makes Fords.

There are plans to store energy with pneumatics though.

They plan to pump compressed air into abandoned salt mines. The air is then released in a high pressure stream to run a generator.

Interesting idea.

I doubt the Ford company has harnessed salt mines to put in their cars though.

And I hear the base model upon which these are built upon:
Old, rusty and deteriorating forklifts.

ZC1

While I seriously doubt you'll be seeing any in August, this technology aparently works. The research was funded by the EPA. Here's is a pdf file from the EPA website that describes it. There are other references to it on the EPA website. It's apparently been around for a while, the pdf is from 2004.

Hydraulic Hybrid Technology - A Proven Approach, EPA420F-04-024

Yeah its always possible
1) Weight & Size reduction (2 seater & construct with space shuttle alloy)
2) Current Hybrid technology + plug-in + Solar Panel
3) HAA (Human Assist Accelration = Flintstone's techonology)....just kidding

Yeah, and I heard there is a switch under the steering whell that when it is engaged wings come out of the truck bed and make the truck 10X more efficient than most small airplanes!

I shall also call your BS and raise you a crap.

well I'd have to call BS as well, but if it weren't for competition like this Toyota would be selling their current gen prius for 30+ grand and not worrying about better tech for keeping the crown...so Ford bring it on!

I'm a bit less cynical than some regarding this. There's generally the attitude of, "well, it's a Ford... and well, it's not a Toyota, and well, Ford sucks, etc". If they can pull it off, GREAT! Really, are we Toyota customers first, and only drive a Prius because we think Toyota is superior? Or are we trying to get a better, more fuel efficient (and better for the earth) product? I for one am the latter.

This is the technology we were waiting for two years ago when the EPA announced the NYC test with two trucks. I think it will really happen, but not this August and not in 2008.

The problem with current NiMH batteries ( I think) is that they cannot store energy fast enough from the braking system. The charging system from the ICE is much better. I bet in the next gen Prius Toyota will use it's supercapacititor system to recover braking energy AS WELL AS providing emergency braking power. Supercaps can handle very high current charging..

Nothing personal but I call BS too and there is absolutely no way by August anyway. Put your hip waders on if you plan to come in here folks.

Wildkow

p.s. I'll see Pat's crap and raise One popcorn fart.

Is that similar to a flux capacitor? :tinfoil3: