Hey Curtis
Right now I know most manufacturers have basically been going in two directions. Natural Gas or electric hybrids with the diesel.
Compared to the "natural gas/Diesel" hybrids (which work very well at improving the fuel consumption, using natural gas downhill, adding diesel uphill and when pushing hard as needed) I'd have to say the electric hybrid is going to be the more likely vehicle you see purchased in the short term.
Only a handful Resorts nation wide have easy access to natural gas (LP isn't as cost effective and increases water/fuel issues) and since there's a astronomical cost of putting pipelines through our major mountainous regions, I doubt we'll see a huge rush by resort owners to go in that direction (I could be wrong, tho).
That leaves us with the electric hybrids as our more likely candidate. They are VERY good at reducing fuel use, and give a huge boost for low end torque, which is what we look for in the snow-groomer world.
I'd love to hear if any other "Viable" options are out there.Although we get plenty of both, Solar power=not so good at night, and wind would need some more R&D.
I still think the Eco-groomer concept is clever, and may work ok in perfect conditions;but it's designers seem to have a lot of confidence that a computer will be able to react as well in a "Tobaggon" or Slide condition, as an operator/groomer/artist does. Also, we all know it's the "weight of the machine and its track design" that do most of the compaction & chewing of the snow, NOT only the implements. That said,I Always love to hear of anyone doing something "out of the box". (can you say "Tube shaper"?)
Cheers Bro