| There may be a new "green" truck hitting the | | | | in gas savings opportunities, particularly among |
| market in the future - albeit not the immediate | | | | truck and SUV owners. |
| future - and it's got a new twist to the | | | | One popular option for increased fuel economy |
| economical initiatives we've been seeing from the | | | | has been purchasing a hybrid gas/electric vehicle - |
| auto industry. GM's Bare Necessity Truck concept | | | | and while small hybrid vehicles, and even SUVs, |
| is a pickup truck with the idea of stripping out all | | | | have been around for years now, auto |
| of the unnecessary features that make trucks | | | | manufacturers are now finally producing full-sized |
| inefficient for many uses, but still providing all the | | | | hybrid trucks. Available from GM is the Chevy |
| features that truck owners need. Here's the | | | | Silverado Hybrid and the GMC Sierra Hybrid, and in |
| general idea: It's a smaller truck, with a hybrid gas | | | | 2010 the Dodge Ram Hybrid will hit the market, |
| electric engine (not unlike many other vehicles out | | | | so GM's Bare Necessity concept isn't breaking |
| there). The real difference come in the bed length | | | | new ground in that area. The trouble with hybrid |
| vs. cab room debate - this truck will have a | | | | vehicles is that they while improving fuel economy |
| reversible bulkhead that flips 180 degrees, allowing | | | | up to 25%, the cost of these vehicles can be he |
| a shift of 2 feet of space either to the cab or to | | | | neighborhood $10,000 or more greater than the |
| the bed, depending on the need at the time. | | | | price of a non-hybrid model. This price premium |
| The initial response about this truck has been | | | | generally more than offsets any savings from |
| mostly positive, as most people want to get | | | | decreased fuel costs for many years of owning |
| behind an idea that will be more efficient, | | | | the vehicle. |
| economical and environmentally friendly. But is this | | | | So where do we turn for some fuel savings, if |
| the right truck for enough people to make a | | | | we need a truck and don't want to shell out |
| difference? Some of the questions: What if you | | | | $10,000 extra for a hybrid? Well, a simple answer |
| need bed space and cab space at the same time? | | | | is to get a performance tuner. Your truck's own |
| Will it have enough hauling and towing capacity? | | | | engine can see increased performance and gas |
| How much will it cost? How do I fit a tonneau | | | | savings at the same time, just by programming it |
| cover on it? | | | | to perform in whatever way suits your driving |
| Nationwide, gas prices have increased an average | | | | needs rather than the default factory |
| of $0.16 a gallon over the last two weeks, to | | | | programming. Brands like Hypertech have models, |
| $2.77 for midgrade gas. While this is still | | | | such as the Max Energy E-Con, that can be had |
| considerably lower than the $3.97 average at this | | | | for right around $300. For someone looking to |
| time last year, it has spurred a renewed interest | | | | save a little cash, that's a lot easier to swallow. |