Ford proposed this back in 2001(If I remember the year correctly) But I am glad to see someone utilizing it finally. I think it should be a much less costly alternative to fuel/electric hybrids. Although the trade off is that its not as affective as a diesel-electric or even the less effective gasoline-electric vehicles. The biggest advantages over electric is the size and durability; which are necessary for industrial applications. ( See Gizmag article about the Ford concept here: http://www.gizmag.com/go/1194/ )

Here are two more related articles. Chrysler will need to be quick about this or Ford will beat them to the punch. And with this news now released about Chrysler\'s research Ford will move into high gear. I love technology competition like this! Because WE reap the benefits.
http://www.gizmag.com/go/3129/
http://green.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/detroit-2008-preview-2009-ford-f-150-could-add-hydraulic-launch/

This is impressive. Working around compressed-air tools in the Coast Guard gave me an appreciation for pneumatic and hydraulic technology as systems for energy storage and transmission. I\'ve seen pneumatic car designs before, but they have limited range and utility. A gasoline-hydraulic hybrid has a lot of potential, and circumvents some of the issues with gasoline-electric systems (such as battery production waste products).

www.lightninghybrids.com already has a retrofit for trucks. Why not just use it.
Going with the EPA sound just like a press release.
I hope it truly moves forward. My caravan gets 15/27 real world, this would make it more like 25/27 to haul 7 people around, sounds like a winner.
Hydraulic hybrids are cheaper, use less metals, should last longer.

Fron Wikipedia:
Hydraulic hybrid is a type of regenerative braking system that uses pressurized fluid, instead of electric power, as an additional or alternative power source to the engine.
I don\'t think the article above actually says what the technology is.

Knew a man in [South MO] who built a car that had hydraulic motors at the wheels, had a small gas engine [concept of a skidsteer bobcat], drove it to CA and back on approximately 3 gallons of gas ..tried to market/sell to the BigBoys and had the \'men in black\' come down on him. Oh, they didn\'t take or destroy his car, but under threat of death of self and loved ones, he was told to remain silent. He finally \'junked\' it in a nearby small town salvage yard. 4000 miles on 3 gallons. No, they\'re not trying to give us the best for our money and planet ..just trying to give it to us in increments. Gotta have something better to sell us next year too.

He\'s since died but perhaps his son or family might have the documentation. Would love to put this together w/someone that would follow thru. Of course, this would upset the \'establishment\' of monied.

\"The heart of the system is a six piston radial digital displacement hydraulic pump/motor. This hydraulic motor replaces the port plates and swash plates in conventional hydraulic machines with computer controlled high-speed solenoid valves. Driven by a microprocessor, these solenoids actively control poppet valves that rectify the flow into and out of each cylinder. The hydraulic pump attaches to the flywheel an conventional combustion motor replacing the gearbox. It is hydraulically connected to Digital Displacement Motors coupled to the wheels, so the only connection between the internal combustion motor and the wheels is the hydraulic system.\"

The above is a description of a hydraulic system which doubled the mpg for a car driven in the sity. I don\'t fully understand it myself. I think that this system should work well with large trucks and buses which operate in cities.

Random thoughts, hydrolic energy is similar to electric energy. It is a means of convience. Both can be efficient or not. Take your average AC motor and put an amp meter on it, run it with NO load and see how efficient it is. Take a DC motor and run it the same and you will see a dramatic decrease in energy used to produce nothing. Take and air compressor and run the same test. You will see that it is very wasteful to use energy to do nothing. The point is to use the energy efficiently. The next point is to use the energy to find more energy without making a mess of things. A thousand points of light all pointed away from what you need to see are a thousand wasted points of light.

Nothing really new here with Chrysler\'s deal. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Transportation/1978-03-01/This-Car-Travels-75-Miles-on-a-Single-Gallon-of-Gasoline.aspx

@napaeric \"Take your average AC motor and put an amp meter on it, run it with NO load and see how efficient it is. Take a DC motor and run it the same and you will see a dramatic decrease in energy used to produce nothing.\"
Inaccurate!
An ammeter will measure current, not power. With AC Watts are NOT volts x amps. You need to take into account Power Factor. An unloaded AC motor has a very low power factor.
Google and learn!