A Kenworth diesel-electric hybrid tractor will participate in a ride-and-drive session from 9 a.m. to noon ET on Tuesday, April 21, at the BevOps/Beverage Fleet Summit 2009 in Tampa, Fla.
The T370 hybrid tractor will be part of the 4th annual Beverage Fleet Ride and Drive and Equipment Demo, which is still the only hands-on demo in the beverage industry, according to show organizers. Kenworth hybrid tractors, available up to 55,000-lb. GCW, are for local-haul applications, including beverage, general freight and grocery distribution. Kenworth also offers T270 Class 6 and T370 Class 7 diesel-electric hybrid trucks for pickup-and-delivery, utility and service applications.
Kenworth says the hybrids use an integral transmission-mounted motor/generator; frame-mounted 340-volt lithium-ion battery pack; and dedicated power management system. Electricity generated through regenerative braking is stored and used for acceleration, assisting the diesel engine, according to the Kirkland, Wash.-based truck maker; the hybrid system is monitored through an in-dash display, and as the power requirements for different driving conditions change, the screen constantly updates the driver on system status.
Kenworth says purchasers of its hybrid trucks, equipped with a Paccar PX-6 engine and the Eaton diesel-electric hybrid power system, may qualify for a maximum federal tax credit of $6,000 (Class 6) and $12,000 (Class 7).
