Freightliner introduces first hybrid truck for HazMat transport
Daimler Truck North America's Freightliner division has collaborated with Eaton to produce the first hybrid truck for hazardous material transport. The first Freightliner Business Class M2e is going to propane distribution company Pennington Gas Service. Freightliner has been offering the Eaton hybrid system for other applications for some time and gas company owner Keith Pennington wanted a more environmentally friendly alternative for his fleet.
The hybrid system developed by Eaton is a parallel type that adds electric drive and regenerative braking to the trucks. The system can operate using the diesel engine, or provide electric assist in addition to the regenerative braking. The hybrid system also provides enough power to pump propane from the tank without idling the diesel engine. The first truck is equipped with Telogis fleet tracking system to allow Daimler and Pennington to monitor the performance of the hybrid system in real time. The system is expected to provide a 30 percent reduction in fuel consumption.
[Source: Daimler]
Daimler Trucks North America: First Use of a Hybrid Truck for Hazardous Material Transport
Together with Eaton Corp., Daimler Trucks North America has developed the first hybrid truck for use in hazardous material transport. The truck in question is a Freightliner Business Class M2e equipped with a hybrid electric drivetrain system. It was developed for Pennington Gas Service, which specializes in delivering propane gas primarily to customers in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. It marks the first time a Freightliner hybrid truck will be used for a hazardous material delivery application.
A longtime proponent of environmentally friendly transport solutions, company partner Keith Pennington became interested in the hybrid version of the Freightliner Business Class only recently, after test driving one last March at The Work Truck Show in Chicago. The vehicle's visibility, maneuverability, and comfort were some of the key features that caught Pennington's attention.
Pennington's new showcase truck is equipped with the Eaton parallel electric hybrid system, which enables the driver to operate the vehicle using the diesel engine alone, or in combination with the electric motor. The hybrid drive system also provides additional power to launch the truck, which substantially reduces fuel consumption. This is a key purchasing criterion in a sector with a high level of stop-and-go operations.
Pennington anticipates that the new vehicle will reduce fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 30 percent. "The ability to turn off the diesel engine and use the hybrid system while pumping propane to our customers is ideal," said Pennington. Not only does it make economical and environmental sense, a quiet, zero-emissions pumping operation is also a benefit for the customers and their neighborhoods.
To receive immediate feedback on how the hybrid system performs on the road, Daimler Trucks North America and Pennington Gas have partnered with Telogis, a leading provider of enterprise fleet tracking software.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rain 6:41PM (5/20/2009)
They should make that Truck run off propane or CNG as well as diesel, then it would be a dual fuel hybrid with even lower emissions.
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jharlan 7:26PM (5/20/2009)
Right, Rain. We need to be working on CNG for commercial vehicles. It is the cleanest option that is ready to go now, and it's cheaper if you can get the governments to ease up on the road tax. Road tax by the gallon killed propane fueled trucks in the 60s. My Dad's company was running Hall Scott propane engines in his tankers, but had to switch to diesel because of the road tax. Propane was much cheaper than diesel, but got much worse mileage per gallon, so it was cheaper to run diesel engines. It's just another case of incompetent government driving absolutely the wrong behavior with incompetent legislation.
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Chris 5:44AM (5/21/2009)
You don't hear too much about the hydraulic hybrid much anymore. Wasn't that supposed to revolutionize the auto industry? At least the commercial auto industry.
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Ed Tillinghast 5:46PM (5/22/2009)
Bravo, Freightliner! A huge step in the right direction!!
Ed
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