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The turbine as pointed out is not connected to the drive wheels and only runs at peak efficiency as a powerhead for the generator. You are right a diesel could do the same job more efficiently today. This is 10 years out, so right about when the Elios are rolling off the line. At any point they could easily drop the turbine and go with a CNG piston powerhead on the generator. No doubt they want not just efficiency but the cleanest truck on the road and thanks to VW nobody is going to look at a diesel as clean ever again. Also the point here is this is an electric truck, if you say it goes 1200 miles on 150 gallons of diesel you are just another diesel truck on the road even if you aren't powering the wheels. That kind of diesel electric hybrid technology is already on the road. These guys are trying something new.
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