Maybe consumers aren't the one's helping the most here...
For that small percentage that actually require those vehicles, this seems to be a good trend. (I see public service vehicles, requiring 4WD and extra ground clearance, that do quite a bit of stop-and-go driving in the interim -- such a rural Sheriff/Police vehicles (e.g. Tahoe), or other rural/rough-terrain applications, to benefit the most). Will these enter fleet service, or is durability and longevity a concern?
The trend lately has been in the in the Medium-Duty Truck (Ambulance, Delivery, Military) and
Transit Bus segment. With a different architecture, these generally help a Diesel or Alternatively Powered vehicle get started with an
electric motor or
hydraulic pressure, and start the engine at the proper time during the FE-critical standing start scenario. Semi-trucks are next on the list.
RH77