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Utility
Working Group Testing 24 Hybrid Trouble Trucks - Preparing to Commit to 100 More |
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Fourteen fleets in
the HTUF Utility Hybrid Working Group are completing deployment
and beginning field assessment of 24 pre-production hybrid "trouble
trucks" in a North American pilot program to assess the performance
and business case of these trucks. Independent testing of the pre-production
trucks, built by International Truck and Engine Corporation using
Eaton Corporation hybrid-electric drivelines, showed significant
fuel savings from hybrid operation, as well as emissions reductions.
In duty-cycles representing how utility trucks are used, the hybrid
trucks reduced fuel use by 40-60 percent compared to the conventional
diesel trucks they replaced. The 14 HTUF fleets will now field assess
the trucks for fuel economy, reliability and maintainability. It's
important to note that this is a pilot assessment, though: a key
goal is also to learn what modifications may be needed for the production
versions of these trucks. (click
here for more on the HTUF Utility Hybrid Pilot Project). The
pilot project took place because fleets worked together through
the HTUF process to jointly develop hybrid performance requirements
(click
here to see the Key Performance Parameters), and then committed
to purchase pre-production trucks that met those requirements via
a joint Request for Proposal (RFP) (click
here to see RFP). Fleets purchased the base trucks; HTUF was
able to bring funding assistance to help deploy these trucks through
its partnership with the U.S. Army National Automotive Center (NAC). |
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