PROVO, Utah (ABC 4 News) - How does this sound, an SUV or full-sized pick-up truck that gets over 100 miles per gallon? The first electric hybrid for larger vehicles is also designed to achieve near zero emissions and it’s a Utah County company making this street wise technology possible.
Could a Hummer be greener than a Prius? Raser Technologies in Provo says yes. “We took the challenge and here it is,” states David West Vice President of Marketing for Raser Technologies.
The company has invented a power train for SUV’s and full-sized pick-up trucks that combine an electric motor with a generator so the batteries can recharge on the road.
“The average driver starts off with a full charged battery with a 40 mile battery range. 75-percent of consumers live within that range and drive less than 40 a miles a day. So most people will never hear the gas engine come on,” explains West.
No gas is used up to 40 miles. At 50 miles a day, the vehicle would still get 185 miles to the gallon. For 60 it’s 100 miles per gallon and over 200 miles the miles per gallon goes down to 33.
Raser Technologies has received several prestigious awards for innovation and it is especially proud of this current achievement. “It's a sense of accomplishment to see your vehicle out there running,” expresses Jim Spellman, Vice President of Business Development for Raser Technologies and the driving force behind the new engine.
And now something that's only been available in smaller cars will target a larger audience. “We've tackled larger vehicles for this motor train cause SUV’s are the number one selling class of cars in America and they need the technology more than anyone,” states West.
Raser Technologies is unveiling the vehicle next week at the auto show in Detroit.
And you're probably wondering, how much will it cost? Right now the projection is not much more then the current price of an SUV or truck. It would be purchased like an option package similar to a navigation system or towing package.
But don't forget about the money saved on gas and the $7,500 tax credit for this sort of vehicle.
The company hopes to have the technology tested and ready to put into mass-production fleet vehicles by 2011. Then they hope to make it more widely available soon after that.
