I apologize to everyone for not posting on the board very often, I mostly just read. I have seen people ask for help on this board before, so I figured I give it a try. There are many people on this site who are very knowledgeable about the automotive industry. I am attempting to conduct research on the feasibly of a rental car company to add Alternatively powered vehicles to their fleet. Additionally, I am also trying to find out how expensive these vehicles are to maintain in comparison to regular gasoline powered means of transportation. Can anyone point me in the right direction to research this data? I have tried goggle but the information was general and I need specific information. Any help in pointing to a website would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance
Posted by Cavy Dan (Member # 1352) on :
GM has some good info on their website. Also look at Honda as well and Toyota since they already have vehicles out. Last Semester i did a 15 page paper on a Socail Audit of General Motors and I did add some info in there on alternative fuel vehicles. I"ll attach the link where you can download it for your reading pleasure, and maybe that coudl be a start. Look int eh Appendix of it as well as the Works Cited for Links to sites i used. I'm sure some of that will help!
P.S. Stop by and post more often here! Even if its just in the daily Good Morning Post
[ 22. March 2004, 09:53 AM: Message edited by: Cavy Dan ]
Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
I think you'll find it hard to track down maintence info on hybrid and alternative technology vehicles... they are just too new. I don't know where you would find info on the imports but GM is just starting to build its hybrid full size truck. It will be avilable first to fleets etc. before its offered to the public later this summer... I do believe that GM has identified that the hybrid truck will need less maintence but I can't remember where I read it... I think it was in some internal message... possibly sent to dealers. I do know that the GM trucks with the hybrid technology will carry an approxmately $2,500 dollar premium over a regular truck. This compares with what Honda and Toyota charge customers for a hybrid powertrain. Hope that helps....
[ 22. March 2004, 09:10 AM: Message edited by: MM ]
Posted by Cavy Dan (Member # 1352) on :
I beelvie the Saturn Vue will have the optional hybrid in it soon as well. Dont forget...there are some tax breaks for owning one of those vehicles!
Posted by FireChicken (Member # 2067) on :
MM is right about one thing: you will not find a lot of information about long term maintainence for hybrids, simply because its new technology. however, I would expect that since it is a new, developing technology, the next few years will reveal a lot of unexpected problems with battery and generator life, also electronic control problems, in addition to the mechanical problems inherent with any internal combustion engine.
Since rental cars undergo what can be considered "heavy duty cycles" by most people (abuse, hard driving, hard braking), its probably a good bet that any vehicle put into a rental environment will probably experience accelerated wear and tear. If a rental business was going to invest in hybrids, the best choice would be to wait a few years to find out about reliability, otherwise lower resell costs, and higher maintainence costs would seriously depreciate profits.
JMHO
Posted by Bill Mason (Member # 1807) on :
As others have said, it will be difficult to find information on maintenance since this is a new technology/product.
One appproach to consider is to identify the various systems on the vehicles and do an assessment of the maintenace or repair/breakage issues associated with each system.
You could also look at some of the parts costs for the parts/systems that may be needed to be replaced. Also, if you have access to flat rate manuals for these vehicles you could get an idea of expected labour (opps...labor) costs.
I suspect that some of the repair costs are going to be EXPENSIVE....like battery disposal and replacement. Might be intersting to see what the elctric motors and/or controllers will cost to replace.
My two cents (CDN!!)
Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
quote:Originally posted by Cavy Dan: I beelvie the Saturn Vue will have the optional hybrid in it soon as well. Dont forget...there are some tax breaks for owning one of those vehicles!
Yeah that and the malibu and the equinox...(but those programs are a ways off) but the GMT 800 hybrid will be the first GM. Its cool it has an electrical outlet in the bed... definately a selling point to industrial users.... I think the goverment did away with the hefty tax loop-hole... if not already they are talking about it...
Posted by jeff02ss8457 (Member # 2044) on :
I just want to thank everyone of your input. I appreciate everybody taking the time to respond. Thanks again.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)