Kenworth Truck Co. will introduce its new Kenworth T270 Class 6 hybrid-electric truck to the Big Apple for the first time at two key trade shows next week. The company also is launching the Kenworth Clean Power Technology Tour, which will travel to dealers throughout the United States.
New York, New York
The Kenworth T270 hybrid will appear Tuesday, May 22, at the New York City Annual Truck Show held on Randall’s Island. The show is attended by representatives from many New York City agencies, including the fire, police, parks, sanitation, transit and transportation departments, port authority, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and Long Island Railroad.
On Wednesday, May 23, the Kenworth T270 hybrid will appear at The Equipment Show, sponsored by the New York Metro chapter of the American Public Work Association. The show is attended by representatives from municipalities in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Putnam counties and takes place at the Town of Oyster Bay facility at Exit 43 on the Long Island Expressway.
At both shows, the Kenworth T270 hybrid will be displayed in booths hosted by Gabrielli Kenworth, Kenworth’s dealer serving the metropolitan New York area. Gabrielli Kenworth is located in Bronx and Jamaica, N.Y., and also operates Long Island Kenworth in Hicksville and Medford, N.Y.
“Kenworth’s goal for the T270 hybrid is to improve fuel economy by 30 percent in start-and-stop applications, such as utility trucks and pick-up and delivery,” says Mike Dozier, chief engineer for Kirkland, Wash.-based Kenworth. “The more stop-and-go in the application, the better the truck’s performance.”
The Kenworth T270 Class 6 hybrid is powered by the new Paccar PX-6 medium-duty engine and features an integral transmission-mounted motor/generator, a frame-mounted 340-volt battery pack and a dedicated power management system.
“The T270 hybrid operates like a standard diesel vehicle, with all power coming from the engine during steady driving conditions above 30 mph, and uses a combination of diesel and electricity below 30 mph, with the system automatically switching between the two modes of operation,” Dozier says. Electricity generated through regenerative braking is stored and then used for acceleration, assisting the diesel engine, and there also is a reduction in brake wear since the generator produces braking energy.
Clean Power hits the road
The Kenworth Clean Power cooling and heating system currently is available as a factory-installed option on the Kenworth T660 with 72-inch AeroCab sleeper. The system uses dedicated, advanced deep-cycle batteries that power a thermal storage cooler with 21,000 BTUs of cooling capacity.
Once the truck is shut off, a thermostat regulates the desired temperature, and a variable speed fan circulates chilled air through a duct located near the bunk. According to the company, extensive testing has shown that when the outside temperature is as high as 95 degrees, Kenworth Clean Power is able to keep the sleeper cool and provide accessory power for up to 10 hours.
“The Kenworth Clean Power Technology Tour showcases the exciting Kenworth Clean Power system, which will enhance fuel economy by as much as 8 percent for customers with current high idling times and reduce environmental impact,” says Gary Moore, Kenworth assistant general manager for marketing and sales.
The initial phase of the national tour will take place at Kenworth dealers in the western United States before the tour makes its way to other regions. The tour debuted Monday, May 14, at Kenworth Northwest in SeaTac, Wash. More information on the Kenworth Clean Power tour is available by clicking here.
The Kenworth T660 and the Kenworth T2000 recently were recognized as SmartWay program-eligible truck models by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
