Peterbilt showcasing hybrid vehicles at Seattle’s HTUF

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Peterbilt Motors Co. announced it will showcase four hybrid vehicles for the medium- and heavy-duty markets at the Hybrid Truck Users Forum, set for today, Sept. 20, and Friday, Sept. 21, at the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle. Peterbilt’s parent company, Paccar Inc., will host the forum, which brings together the trucking industry’s leaders in hybrid technology.

“As customers face higher fuel costs and growing environmental concerns such as emission reductions, Peterbilt is proud to be at the forefront of advanced hybrid vehicle development by offering green solutions for both the medium- and heavy-duty markets,” says Bill Jackson, general manager of Denton, Texas-based Peterbilt and Paccar vice president. “Our medium-duty hybrid vehicles currently in operation throughout North America are performing extremely well, with customers reporting a significant savings in fuel economy of up to 40 percent.”

Peterbilt hybrid solutions on display at HTUF include:

  • Medium-duty hybrid-electric technology: The Model 335 hybrid-electric combines a Paccar PX-6 engine (260 HP, 560 ft-lbs torque) with Eaton Corp.’s hybrid-electric drive system. With the hybrid system engaged, horsepower increases to 300 and torque to 860 ft-lbs. This configuration is suited for stop-and-go use, such as urban pickup and delivery. The vehicle can demonstrate up to a 40 percent greater fuel economy by using electric power to accelerate the vehicle from a stop, the companies say.
  • The Model 335 hybrid utility truck features a Terex TC-55 Hi-Ranger body and also is powered by the PX-6 engine, which regenerates lithium-ion batteries to electrically operate the PTO and is suited for municipal and utility applications. The system can produce up to a 40 percent improvement in fuel efficiency when on-road fuel economy gain is combined with utilizing the batteries to operate the truck body, according to the companies.

  • Heavy-duty hybrid-electric technology: The Model 386 heavy-duty hybrid, a joint-development vehicle with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Eaton, seeks to validate the benefit of using a hybrid system for long-haul applications for both on-road and idle-reduction fuel-efficiency gains. On the road, the expected benefit is 5 to 7 percent through improved launching, accelerating and hill-climbing capabilities. When the idle-reduction mode is active, engine operation is limited to battery charging, an automatically controlled process that takes about five minutes per hour to fully charge the system. During rest periods, a 90 percent reduction in idling will be demonstrated while providing high-power A/C, 120VAC and 12VDC to accommodate the sleeper hotel loads.
  • Heavy-duty hydraulic-hybrid technology: The Model 320 Hydraulic Hybrid Refuse Truck features a Cummins ISM engine rated at 330 HP combined with Eaton’s Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) System, suited for vocational and stop-and-go applications such as refuse collection. According to the companies, the system recycles a truck’s kinetic energy to conserve fuel and assist in acceleration, and has demonstrated a 25 to 30 percent improvement in fuel economy, a 50 percent reduction in brake wear and up to 40 percent reduction in emissions. It also is more environmentally friendly by decreasing exhaust emissions and noise, the companies say.
  • Paccar and Eaton Corp. recently announced they have entered into an exclusive agreement to jointly develop proprietary hybrid technology for heavy-duty commercial vehicles in North America. The new products will be introduced in Peterbilt Class 8 trucks for the North American market, targeted for initial production by the end of 2009.