Bikes & Cars...

On the heels of Peterbilt's announcement that it's expanding its diesel-hybrid lineup, Volvo is testing two of its own diesel hybrids in Sweden. Like the Peterbilts, or a Prius, the gasoline engine on a Volvo FE hybrid shuts down during stops, and regenerative braking takes advantage of the trucks' stop-and-go slow crawl along city streets to power the lithium-ion batteries on board.

The new trucks rely on a 7-liter diesel-powered engine -- there's still a lot of garbage to be hauled all the way to the dump, after all -- but at speeds up to 20 kmph (about 12.5 mph), the quiet electric motor provides all the necessary power. The FE hybrids are the first Volvo trucks to get real-world experience; in 2006, the company introduced the FM hybrid concept with a 9-liter engine and electric motor, but it never rolled down any streets.

To futher burnish Volvo's green reputation, they recently issued a press release boasting that they complied with Europe's automobile recycling standards for 2015 -- in 2002. All Volvo vehicles are 85% recyclable, the number recently set by the European Commission, and 95% of Volvo parts can be recovered, refurbished, and reused.

A special note for corporate-ownership sticklers: Ford Motor Company owns Volvo Cars. It does not own Volvo Group, which builds trucks and buses and the like. Both divisions are known for safety and tank-like construction; neither is known for making pulses race with their hot designs.