UPS’ Hydraulic Hybrid Delivery Trucks

[xcel]

40 more added to its alternative fuel fleet in Baltimore and Atlanta.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Oct. 9, 2012

The UPS HHV in the field. Literally in the field

UPS early last week announced the deployment of 40 new hydraulic hybrid vehicles (HHVs), 20 in Baltimore and 20 in Atlanta. Developed by Freightliner and Parker Hannifin, the package cars can achieve up to 35 percent improved fuel economy over traditional turbo diesel-powered delivery trucks that use automatic transmissions in stop-and-go applications.

Both deployments were supported by grants from the U.S. DOEs Clean Cities program, which is focused on advancing the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce petroleum consumption in transportation.

The HHVs in Baltimore will be deployed immediately while the vehicles in Atlanta will be introduced before the end of 2012. UPS currently has one HHV in operation in Laguna Hills, CA, and has been working closely with manufacturers to develop and test HHV technology since 2006.

The HHVs operate on two power sources - a fuel-efficient turbo diesel and advanced series hydraulic hybrid. Energy created by the vehicle's continued braking action is stored in the HHV's hydraulic high-pressure accumulator, similar to what is done with electric motors and batteries in a hybrid electric vehicle. The HHV has a function to turn off the engine and drive the vehicle using the stored energy to propel the vehicle.

According to the UPS release, the HHV has the capability of running ICE-Off for up to 90 minutes on a typical route.

Because the HHVs efficiency relies on constant braking, the vehicles are best suited for urban routes, which involve frequent stopping and starting.

While UPS has been deploying HEV and BEV delivery trucks for quite some time now, I have only had one confirmation of fuel savings in the 20 to 25% range. While excellent, trucks costs and fuel consumption data spread across the entire alternative fuel fleet has been held very close to the vest. Given DOE involvement, some of this data is probably available somewhere but I have not run across it yet?

[herm]

It cant have 90 minutes of running time with the engine off.. the hydraulic tank would have to be huge. We have diesel-hydraulic hybrid trash trucks here in Miami and they are very nice, quiet.

[e90diesel]

great news! At one time ford was looking at a similar system for the f150.

[RichXKU]

Originally Posted by herm

It cant have 90 minutes of running time with the engine off.. the hydraulic tank would have to be huge. We have diesel-hydraulic hybrid trash trucks here in Miami and they are very nice, quiet.

90 minutes... on a typical route. That means during the 8(?) hours it spends on a route, 90 minutes total is spent with the engine off.

[50 mpg by 2012]

I don't know about this specific system.

Some are running up to 5K psi dry N2 in the high side accumulator.

I saw a photo of an advanced 200 HP hydraulic motor about 2~3 years ago, it would fit in a man's hand. I seem to recall it was variable displacement motor/pump.

At that time some of the academics I talked to were hoping for above 15 mpg average with a typical 7 ton box truck similar to what FedEx uses. I have no idea what current targets are ... possibly 2012 DEER conference will have some updated numbers later this month.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

My dad and I built a mini-bike in 1968 , including fabricating the frame from scratch. He had designed a hydraulic drive for it , but in the end we decided on a dual-chain , countershaft design. Probably because I was too impatient to start motoring ! His design did not include an accumulator , but a rotary pump with wobble-plate. He did build his own molding presses with accumulators , so he knew a few things about hydraulics.
He filled several dozen notebooks with sketches and descriptions of inventions and ideas in the 60's and 70's. I'd like to go back and read some of them now , but they are in my older sister's custody in Utah. And it's a long bicycle trip (or lots of petrol) to get there.

[50 mpg by 2012]

That's first class ED!

How about a box of notebooks by UPS? Bet that would be a remarkable read!!