I don't get this post. Diesel trucks are probably the most effienct vehicles on the road pound for pound. Next I'm going to hear that cargo ships are enificient because they use hundreds of gallons per mile.

You've got the right meaning. It is a combination of the vehicle gross weight, profile and coefficient of drag. Vehicles with a larger profile, more transaxle drag and poor coefficient of drag would need more power to sustain a given speed.

Bob Wilson

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And another link...

Daimler AG will deliver over 1,000 new diesel-electric hybrid buses by 2010
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12...ric-hybrid-bu/

To summarize, then:

The diesel truck is already very efficient for long-haul routes and has little to gain from hybrid-electric technology in that environment.

The gains from hybrid systems will be realized on trucks used in a stop and go (ie. urban) environment, and they are apparently being developed accordingly.

Seems similar to hybrid cars that gain most of their efficiency benefits under urban/suburban operating conditons.