I think what Edison is doing with series hybrid diesel electric semi trucks is brilliant. The diesel engines are apparently run at an efficient, constant RPM that causes them to run so clean they don't even need DPF or EGR, so they may be MORE RELIABLE and CHEAPER to repair long-term than regular diesel semis that have major, expensive issues with those emissions systems that leave them stranded often.
While apparently Edison's testing shows only a modest improvement in MPG at highway speeds, they noted an approx 70% improvement in fuel economy in stop and go traffic/city driving. And it doesn't require an absolutely massive battery pack so it has similar weight and payload to a regular truck.
I think for other larger/commercial vehicles that is all great, and serious investment and continuing research and development in that area is needed. Pure EV semis are neat, and will be ideal for some customers, like larger companies that have fixed, short routes and can afford to install massive charging infrastructure at their depots, but for typical over the road trucks I think something like what Edison is doing is going to win long term.
But, on the consumer side of things, for the average passenger car or family SUV, pure EV is fine. As we continue to improve charging infrastructure, and EVs get better and better, it's inevitable for them to become a larger percentage of vehicles on the road.
For those people that can't practically use a pure EV, whether it's because they drive huge miles every day, or can't charge at home (apartment buildings, etc), hybrid tech is mature, and you can get great MPG vehicles already, and there isn't often even a huge up-front cost increase anymore and/or hybrids are standard in some vehicles. Look at the 2025 Camry... you can't even get a non-hybrid model. Yes it's a $30K car but for that price you get a 50MPG vehicle. If you need a work truck, you can always check out the Ford Maverick Hybrid which is a similar price. And hybrids are no longer penalty boxes or compromises... car reviews all over the place and consumers alike are finding that the hybrid versions of vehicles are often BETTER to drive than their gas-only versions if available.
Really, ICE-only gas/diesel vehicles are going to be come rarer and rarer as hybrid and EV tech continues to improve. But, I don't think pure EV and absolutely no traditional fuel is happening any time soon. But you can't write off EVs as a whole, electrification is the future, just in various ways. BTW I think hydrogen is a joke. Super inefficient!
