Hybrid Trucks Get Stuck in Neutral

Hybrid truck sales are sputtering because the technology is too expensive, and companies ordering vehicle fleets won’t pay extra for environmental benefits alone. But without bulk orders, economies of scale aren’t kicking in. One truck company president says government tax breaks or subsidies are needed to boost hybrid sales, Reuters reports.

Hybrids convert braking into electric power, so urban delivery trucks save more fuel than long-distance haulers. FedEx, which says its 95-truck hybrid fleet is the world’s largest, says hybrid trucks would be affordable if they sold for 25% more than regular models—just as hybrid cars do. "Manufacturers will be able to sell as many as they can make," said an exec. (More auto industry stories.)