Franny K

I pull out what I think is the key section

This morning (Article date july27) Ford called the Wall Street Journal's suggestions "premature." The company said it is looking at many ways to reach the 54.4 mpg target by 2025 and that a fully aluminum pickup truck is likely to have many things working against it.

That really doesn't say a lot fully aluminum not likely. Do the super duty "3/4 ton etc count in this fleet average 54.4? I find it hard to imagine piston engines to reach that. A fuel cell should have a lot better chance from what I understand of thermodynamics. And then of course the details of how you count electric powered miles. Maybe next time I will have to get a 12,500 gvw cab and chasis some of which currently weigh empty/no bed pretty close to an F150 I believe.

LaBalaDePlata

iTrader: (3)

54.4 mpg? it better not be electric, just because obama wants to drive a chevy volt doesnt mean we all do too. not trying to stir a politics debate, but its my opinion.

_Flea_

I wouldn't be opposed to electric. Think about... No torque curve. Maximum torque all the time. THAT would be fun, in my opinion! I wouldn't want some panzy Chevy Volt electric vehicle, though. It would have to have some ***** to it.

G2G

mmm electric motors still have torque curves, DC motors just have maximum torque at zero rpms.

- Steiner

gwpfan

I was working at an aluminum manufacturing plant that was building HMMWV body armor out of some kind of an aluminum alloy. This was about 5-6 years ago but the claims of the protection that offered was incredible. This was being built in response to the IED's and such. I don't recall the details, but some of the tests that couple guys said they witnessed were incredible, but it completely changed my mind on aluminum.

I'd be up for a plastic body w/fade resistance - my kid's plastic car (been thru 3 kids and 10 yrs) has taken some serious abuse and still looks pretty good, but it might be a bit heavy...

XtraLargeTall

Body panels on farm equipment are now heavy plastic. Resists dents better than metal, doesn't rust, easy to clean, lightweight, cheaper (just a guess) and lets them use the weight savings to strengthen up other more crucial parts

Hunttman01

It's true. The only thing that worries me is what a deer would do to that....