During the HTUF 2012 conference, HTUF unveiled a Project Definition Document defining the process and requirements that the working group has developed to pursue the test and evaluation of this class of newly developed hybrid trucks. In this document, this group of major truck fleet operators has jointly selected the platform size best suited for a hybrid Class 8b truck tractor for regional delivery and drayage operations, developed common vehicle performance specifications and prioritized their key performance parameters.
Download the
HTUF Class 8 Regional Delivery Working Group Project Definition Document.
Furthermore, in 2011 and 2012, HTUF instrumented 6 class 8 truck tractors that were carefully selected among 4 private and for-hire fleets operating across North America. Using data loggers connected to the vehicles CAN bus, more than 61,000 miles and over 1,700 hours of engine operation were recorded and analyzed. In addition to time and vehicle speed, several other parameters such as mileage, engine torque, time spent at idle and fuel consumption were collected at a sampling frequency of 1 Hz. Using this data, two drive cycles were developed to characterize regional delivery operation.
This information is being disseminated to the truck manufacturing industry and their suppliers to determine the viability of providing hybrid Class 8b truck tractors to fleets under rental agreements to test candidate vehicles and validate performance in various fleet operations.
It is the working group’s intent to assess the performance of hybrid Class 8b truck tractors in typical fleet service. These vehicles will be developmental or pre-production trucks with full functionality, but with final production features and quality yet to be incorporated. A rental agent will be used to assist in gathering data and moving vehicles from fleet to fleet, as necessary. If the vehicles meet the performance requirements agreed to, and if hybrid system costs show that a business case can be made on total cost of ownership, it is the intent of the working group fleets to consider purchasing hybrid trucks as part of their standard replacement cycle.