Chuck
01-16-2007, 04:17 PM
Wants to Double Fleet Fuel Economy by 2015 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16564870/)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Resize_of_Volvo-VT880_Truck.jpgJohanthan Birchall - www.ft.com (http://www.ft.com) - Jan 10, 2007
Wal-Mart, the largest US retailer, is to work with ArvinMeritor, the auto component supplier, on the development of a diesel-electric hybrid truck, as part of its new focus on improving its environmental performance.
The companies said in a statement they had agreed to develope a dual-mode, diesel-electric drivetrain for a Class 8 truck tractor truck - the workhorse of the US long-distance trucking industry.
The vehicle will be based on an International ProStar tractor, and powered by an engine developed by Cummins.
The FT reported last July that the retailer has been working with Environmental Defense, a not-for-profit environmental group, on applying the technology used by passenger cars such as the Toyota Prius to the ubiquitous tractor unit.
Carsten Reinhardt, president of ArvinMeritor's commercial vehicle business, said the project "holds tremendous promise for the worldwide heavy-duty trucking market in a number of important environmental and economic ways."
The proposed dual-mode units will use electric motors powered by batteries to augment the power of their diesel engines, mainly during acceleration and hill climbing. The batteries are powered by electricity generated by energy created during braking.
Lee Scott, Wal-Mart's chief executive, set out ambitious environmental targets for the retailer last year, which included improving the efficiency of Wal-Mart's fleet of more than 7,000 trucks by 25 per cent by 2008, and then doubling it by 2015.
Currently, the Wal-Mart's company's fleet averages 6.5 mpg – better than the industry average.
This year, the retailer is introducing more fuel-efficient conventional trucks that include aerodynamic side-skirts on its 53ft trailers, better tirestyres and auxiliary power units to reduce engine idling.
The improvements are expected to improve fuel efficiency by no more than 13 per cent – with the retailer turning to hybrid power to provide further gains.
Prototype and limited production hybrid engines have now been developed for a range of commercial vehicles, including delivery and garbage trucks. But heavy duty 18-wheelers have been seen as less suited to the technology which relies on braking and frequent stops to generate electrical or hydraulic power.
Last year, Eaton, a rival of ArvinMeritor, said it had developed a prototype heavy duty truck that has improved fuel efficiency by 5-7 per cent.
Heavy duty trucks accounted for around 18 per cent of US greenhouse gas emissions in 2003, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Resize_of_Volvo-VT880_Truck.jpgJohanthan Birchall - www.ft.com (http://www.ft.com) - Jan 10, 2007
Wal-Mart, the largest US retailer, is to work with ArvinMeritor, the auto component supplier, on the development of a diesel-electric hybrid truck, as part of its new focus on improving its environmental performance.
The companies said in a statement they had agreed to develope a dual-mode, diesel-electric drivetrain for a Class 8 truck tractor truck - the workhorse of the US long-distance trucking industry.
The vehicle will be based on an International ProStar tractor, and powered by an engine developed by Cummins.
The FT reported last July that the retailer has been working with Environmental Defense, a not-for-profit environmental group, on applying the technology used by passenger cars such as the Toyota Prius to the ubiquitous tractor unit.
Carsten Reinhardt, president of ArvinMeritor's commercial vehicle business, said the project "holds tremendous promise for the worldwide heavy-duty trucking market in a number of important environmental and economic ways."
The proposed dual-mode units will use electric motors powered by batteries to augment the power of their diesel engines, mainly during acceleration and hill climbing. The batteries are powered by electricity generated by energy created during braking.
Lee Scott, Wal-Mart's chief executive, set out ambitious environmental targets for the retailer last year, which included improving the efficiency of Wal-Mart's fleet of more than 7,000 trucks by 25 per cent by 2008, and then doubling it by 2015.
Currently, the Wal-Mart's company's fleet averages 6.5 mpg – better than the industry average.
This year, the retailer is introducing more fuel-efficient conventional trucks that include aerodynamic side-skirts on its 53ft trailers, better tirestyres and auxiliary power units to reduce engine idling.
The improvements are expected to improve fuel efficiency by no more than 13 per cent – with the retailer turning to hybrid power to provide further gains.
Prototype and limited production hybrid engines have now been developed for a range of commercial vehicles, including delivery and garbage trucks. But heavy duty 18-wheelers have been seen as less suited to the technology which relies on braking and frequent stops to generate electrical or hydraulic power.
Last year, Eaton, a rival of ArvinMeritor, said it had developed a prototype heavy duty truck that has improved fuel efficiency by 5-7 per cent.
Heavy duty trucks accounted for around 18 per cent of US greenhouse gas emissions in 2003, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.