Electrified Rear Axles: Four rear wheels powered by independent magnetic In-Wheel Motors (IWM) or electric axles.
"Through-the-Road" Hybridization: No mechanical driveshaft connects the front and back; they are synced via software for "virtual" 6WD.
Hydrogen Integration:
H2-ICE: A modified internal combustion engine burns hydrogen for heavy-load reliability.
Fuel Cells: Hydrogen stacks generate electricity for the rear magnetic motors, emitting only pure water.
The Mission: Hauling the "Light Caboose"
The Trailer: A lightweight 5th-wheel caboose camper engineered with aluminum and composites to hold 10–12 passengers.
Hi-Rail Capability: The truck is equipped with flanged rail wheels, allowing it to tow the caboose on both roads and train tracks.
Power Sharing: The caboose can house extra hydrogen tanks and batteries, feeding power back to the truck's rear magnetic axles during steep climbs.
The Strategy: Decentralizing Mass Transit
Infrastructure Minimization: You bypass billion-dollar rail builds by using existing roads and tracks.
Autonomy: Using Level 4/5 self-driving tech, these "pods" manage torque vectoring across all 6 wheels for extreme precision and safety.
Cost vs. Locomotive: It is exponentially cheaper to buy and maintain a fleet of these vehicles than a single $3M–$5M locomotive.
If you want to move forward, I can find the exact hydrogen tank sizes (in liters) needed for your chassis or the specific sensors required for autonomous off-road pathfinding.
Estimating the "cost per vehicle" depends on whether you are looking for the purchase price, the monthly expense of ownership, or operational mileage rates.
1. Purchase & Monthly Ownership Costs (2025–2026)
As of late 2025 and early 2026, the average costs for new and used vehicles are:
Average New Car Monthly Payment: Approximately $748 (as of Q3 2025).
Average Used Car Monthly Payment: Approximately $532.
Total Annual Ownership Cost: AAA’s 2025 study estimates the true cost of owning a new vehicle (including fuel, insurance, and depreciation) is roughly $11,577 per year, or about $965 per month.
2. Operational & Reimbursement Rates
If you are calculating costs for business use or ride-sharing, standard rates are often used:
IRS Standard Mileage Rate (2024):67 cents per mile. This rate is designed to cover gas, insurance, repairs, and depreciation.
Australian Taxation Office (2024–2026):88 cents per kilometre for work-related travel.
UK Business Mileage: Often set at 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles.
3. Shipping & Import Costs
If the "cost per vehicle" refers to transport or logistics:
Domestic Shipping: A general rule of thumb is approximately $1 per mile for a standard car over a 1,000-mile distance.
Import Duties (USA): Modern vehicles typically incur a 2.5% duty plus a 25% fee of the vehicle's value for certain trucks (the "Chicken Tax").
4. Group Road Trips & Sharing
For sharing costs among friends or a group:
Split Formulas: A common fair approach is for the car owner to pay a portion of the "car only" cost, while passengers split the combined cost of rental, fuel, and fees.
Gas Money: General estimates for fuel and minor wear on a sedan range from 20–30¢ per mile.
