XL Hybrids, a company focused on providing electrification for commercial and municipal fleets, offers hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric upfit solutions for Ford F-150 and F-250 pickups. Compared with a standard gasoline-powered Ford pickup, the upgrades reportedly increase the mileage efficiency by 25 mpg on converted hybrid electric models, and by 50 mpg with a plug-in hybrid electric conversion. Both the XL hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric technologies leverage regenerative braking to capture and store energy during the braking process, and provide electric torque for acceleration. But the upgrade comes at a cost–on the order of $11K for the electric-gas conversion and $25K for the plug-in hybrid, according to Trucks.com
The savings is not just in mileage. It also reduces emissions, and California leads the nation in requiring greenhouse gas emissions standards. According to this article in JLC‘s sister publication, Public Works, fleet owners in California, and particularly Los Angeles county where the emissions standards are strictest, are finding the XL solution a practical way to comply.