trucks

Definition of Irony: Hybrid Truck for Pit Mining

khallgeisler — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

I was innocently surfing the Internets, like I do every day, looking for the latest in alternative-fuel advancements. Electric scooters, breakthroughs in cellulosic ethanol, greener race cars. The usual. But I was stopped in my tracks on the information superhighway when I found the post on GE's Global Research Blog detailing its experimental hybrid pit-mining haul truck. I was struck momentarily dumb by the very idea.

I rallied myself, though, and read the post. The truck, one of those oversized dump trucks that crawl around open pit mines, has a 600-hp battery pack that captures energy from the brakes to "save fuel and increase productivity." Saving gas to rip more ore or what have you from the earth -- well, that just makes sense.

The truck that was tested in Arizona was jointly developed by GE and the US Department of Energy. A diesel engine spins an alternator that generates electricty to power motors in each wheel hub. The motors are then able to recapture the energy from braking these behemoths and release it when the dump truck needs to, say, climb a hill.

Maybe next someone can figure out a way to power off-shore oil rigs by harnessing the energy of ocean waves.

Photo by wasabicube.

Volvo's Testing Clean, Green Hybrid Garbage Trucks

khallgeisler — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

On the heels of Peterbilt's announcement that it's expanding its diesel-hybrid lineup, Volvo is testing two of its own diesel hybrids in Sweden. Like the Peterbilts, or a Prius, the gasoline engine on a Volvo FE hybrid shuts down during stops, and regenerative braking takes advantage of the trucks' stop-and-go slow crawl along city streets to power the lithium-ion batteries on board.

The new trucks rely on a 7-liter diesel-powered engine -- there's still a lot of garbage to be hauled all the way to the dump, after all -- but at speeds up to 20 kmph (about 12.5 mph), the quiet electric motor provides all the necessary power. The FE hybrids are the first Volvo trucks to get real-world experience; in 2006, the company introduced the FM hybrid concept with a 9-liter engine and electric motor, but it never rolled down any streets.

To futher burnish Volvo's green reputation, they recently issued a press release boasting that they complied with Europe's automobile recycling standards for 2015 -- in 2002. All Volvo vehicles are 85% recyclable, the number recently set by the European Commission, and 95% of Volvo parts can be recovered, refurbished, and reused.

A special note for corporate-ownership sticklers: Ford Motor Company owns Volvo Cars. It does not own Volvo Group, which builds trucks and buses and the like. Both divisions are known for safety and tank-like construction; neither is known for making pulses race with their hot designs.

Keep on Truckin'

khallgeisler — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

If you think you're tired of crazy expensive trips to the gas station, think of how truck drivers feel. The balance on their fuel cards is a physical weight in their wallets by now. These guys have long been proponents for biodiesel, which is where BioTrucker comes in.

BioTrucker.com has recently announced the first-ever biodiesel fuel card. Its features are designed for the eco-minded trucker on the go, including bypassing the credit markup to get the cash price for fuel. The card is accepted at almost 5,000 truck stops across the country already. The swanky cabs with laptops and wifi access can find truck-accessible biodiesel stations at the web site; otherwise, they can call 866-BIODIESEL for locations.

In related big-truck, gas-sucking news, Peterbilt has added two medium-duty hybrid work trucks to its production, bringing the company's hybrid total to four models. Regenerative braking works in tandem with the diesel engines to reap a 30% - 60% fuel improvement, depending on the truck.

The new Model 330 brings the power of hybrid tech to garbage and recycling pickup, meaning the garbage truck might not wake you up as it goes about its morning rounds. The Model 335 runs its bucket on battery power, rather than leaving the diesel engine running while workers change bulbs in traffic lights.

Peterbilt also announced the Model 320, another garbage truck, but this one uses hydraulic fluid to store the braking energy for later, rather than batteries. These models join the company's sleeper-cab, long-haul, highway-ready, hybrid hauler, the Model 386.

Photo by letouj.