[SirRaven]

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Brown is going green.

UPS will order delivery trucks powered by an eco-friendly hydraulic hybrid system.

1 of 2 Embracing technology developed by federal engineers, UPS will order a handful of new delivery trucks powered by a hydraulic hybrid system that saves fuel and cuts carbon emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency holds many of the patents on the innovative technology, which was developed in an EPA fuel-emissions lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with the help of engineers from Eaton Corp., which designs hydraulics systems.

"This vehicle to my right may look like a brown package truck that you'd see every day in your neighborhood," said UPS Chief Operating Officer David Abney, standing beside a prototype of the hybrid truck at a news conference Monday. "But underneath the hood is a whole different kind of technology."

The trucks combine a diesel engine with a unique hydraulic propulsion system that replaces the conventional drivetrain and transmission. Using hydraulic pumps and storage tanks, the vehicle captures and stores energy the way a battery does on an electric hybrid car.

The motor converts pressure from the hydraulic fluid into rotating power for the wheels and uses stored energy to accelerate the vehicle, thereby recovering more than 70 percent of the energy normally wasted during braking.

This design, ideal for city driving's stops and starts, allows the diesel engine to be shut off when the vehicle is stopped or decelerating. In road testing a hydraulic hybrid truck in suburban Detroit, Michigan, the EPA found the vehicle used 40 to 50 percent less fuel than conventional diesel trucks while reducing carbon emissions by one

Continued at Link

 

[igor]

$7000 holy smokes.. I think Ford should have kept working on something with this technology ... but alas .. it will not happen.

Remember - it was Eaton, Ford, UPS and EPA that developed this technology.

The official line was that the reduction of highway FE - because of the weight of the system - was not worth the impressive city mileage - most retail customers drive in the city way less than on the highway. We shall see maybe we will see Hydr-Hybrid Tundra soon and wonder how in the world did it happen again.

Igor

 

[CJ Thunder]

$7000 holy smokes.. I think Ford should have kept working on something with this technology ... but alas .. it will not happen.

Remember - it was Eaton, Ford, UPS and EPA that developed this technology.

The official line was that the reduction of highway FE - because of the weight of the system - was not worth the impressive city mileage - most retail customers drive in the city way less than on the highway. We shall see maybe we will see Hydr-Hybrid Tundra soon and wonder how in the world did it happen again.

Igor

Yes a targeted solution for a targeted market. No need to specialize. WHAT WAS FORD THINKING?

 

[KingElvis]

This high speed/low speed pump combination avoided many of the "Rube Goldberg Machine" complications of the hybrid - some of which included mind boggling cooling systems (Like on GM's Prodigy, which got 80mpg with a diesel engine).

But they take up so much space, it could only really fly in a truck where you have a ladder frame and lots of 'wasted' space to work with.

 

[AMERICA 123]

Re: HARVESTER/EATON/EPA/UPS HHV KICKS BATTERY HYBRID A**.

$7000 holy smokes.. I think Ford should have kept working on something with this technology ... but alas .. it will not happen.

Remember - it was Eaton, Ford, UPS and EPA that developed this technology.

The official line was that the reduction of highway FE - because of the weight of the system - was not worth the impressive city mileage - most retail customers drive in the city way less than on the highway. We shall see maybe we will see Hydr-Hybrid Tundra soon and wonder how in the world did it happen again.

Igor

First the easy one - that 45 -50% real world fuel savings is a type of UPS SPECIFIC combined figure.

The 'city only' UPS STOP AND GO section savings are approx 60 -70%

Separately, the EPA had formally measured (2006 - 2007) on the EPA 'City' cycle as high as a 74% fuel savings.

Once again you are an embarrassment to those of us who like Ford and Harvester and once again you throw Harvester under the bus in order to build up Ford.

This time same as the last, ie you mix up who did what - with the only difference being that you assign completely Harvester's large and constructive role to Ford - on a project where Ford is nowhere present.:lmao:

Oh, and nice job on an oblique reference to Toyota - who really doesn't have anything like this - and is afraid of it, - and who is all tied up with the battery thing which btw, on its best day under ideal conditions in a big truck (only) can capture 2.5 -25% on regen where as a HHV can go 70 - 74% plus.

But you are in good company, because CNN spins it as well - for a different purpose.

******************************

How do we know your post is well..........BS ?

Easy.

Here is the UPS press release in full.

http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/current/0,1088,5052,00.html

Since you are............... well...... so 'incapable' ....... let me help you.

Every time Harvester ( International Truck ) is mentioned its highlighted and the same for Ford.

Notice, this means that Ford is not highlighted.

UPS First in Industry to Purchase Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicles

UPS, EPA, Eaton, Navistar Agree: "HHV Ready for Prime Time"

ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2008 - As part of a public-private partnership to increase the commercial availability and use of alternative fuel vehicles, UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced its first purchases of a little-known technology - the hydraulic hybrid vehicle - that promises dramatic fuel savings and environmental benefits.

The technology, originally developed in a federal laboratory of the Environmental Protection Agency, stores energy by compressing hydraulic fluid under pressure in a large chamber.

UPS was the only company in its industry asked to road-test the technology two years ago and now becomes the first delivery company to place an order for hydraulic hybrid vehicles (HHV).

"There is no question that hydraulic hybrids, although little known to the public, are ready for prime time use on the streets of America," said David Abney, UPS's chief operating officer. "We are not declaring hydraulic hybrids a panacea for our energy woes, but this technology certainly is as promising as anything we've seen to date."


Disclosing the results of its road testing on Detroit routes for the first time, UPS and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the prototype vehicle had achieved a 45-to-50 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to conventional diesel delivery trucks. UPS believes similar fuel economy improvements and a 30 percent reduction in CO2 are achievable in daily, real-world use. The EPA believes the technology can perform equally well in other applications such as shuttle and transit buses and refuse pick-up trucks.

Abney was joined by representatives of the EPA, the Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) and Navistar (NYSE:NAV) at a news conference in Atlanta's Centennial Park in announcing UPS's decision to place an order for seven of the hydraulic hybrids.

UPS will deploy the first two of the new HHV's in Minneapolis during the first quarter of 2009. Eaton, which helped develop and refine the vehicle's hydraulic hybrid power system, will monitor the vehicle's fuel economy performance and emissions in the Minneapolis area. The additional five HHV's will be deployed later in 2009 and early 2010.

With a diesel "series" hydraulic hybrid of the type being purchased by UPS, a high-efficiency diesel engine is combined with a unique hydraulic propulsion system, replacing the conventional drivetrain and transmission. The vehicle uses hydraulic pumps and hydraulic storage tanks to capture and store energy, similar to what is done with electric motors and batteries in a hybrid electric vehicle. In this case, the diesel engine is used to periodically recharge pressure in the hydraulic propulsion system. Fuel economy is increased in three ways: vehicle braking energy is recovered that normally is wasted; the engine is operated more efficiently, and the engine can be shut off when stopped or decelerating.

The EPA estimates that when manufactured in high volume, the added costs of the hybrid components can be recouped in less than three years through lower fuel and brake maintenance costs.

Eaton began working with the EPA in October 2001 under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement involving hydraulic hybrid systems and components. As part of Eaton's role in designing and developing hybrid technologies, the company's engineers were co-located at the EPA's Ann Arbor facility. Eaton also earned a number of hybrid power system patents and continues to work on a number of other hybrid vehicles initiatives with UPS and others.

"We continue to be pleased with the progress and potential of the hydraulic hybrid system," Eaton Chairman and CEO Alexander M. Cutler said at the press conference. "The market for this technology is truly global, and it can provide significant improvements in fuel economy and emission reductions for trucks, buses and off-road vehicles of many shapes and sizes."

"EPA and our partners are not just delivering packages with these UPS trucks, we're delivering environmental benefits to the American people," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "With this investment in fuel-efficient technology, UPS is doing what is good for our environment, good for our economy, and good for our nation's energy security."

"The diesel hydraulic hybrid vehicle has the potential to offer our truck customers something very unique - performance and reduced emissions with dramatic improvements in fuel economy," said Steve Guillaume, Navistar General Manager, Medium Trucks.

UPS's current "green fleet" totals more than 1,600 low-carbon vehicles, including all-electric, hybrid electric, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane-powered trucks.

In addition to the hydraulic hybrid, UPS has road-tested hydrogen fuel cell delivery trucks. UPS began deploying alternative fuel vehicles in the 1930's with a fleet of electric trucks in New York City.

The HHV vehicle order follows the May 2008 purchase of 500 hybrid electric and CNG vehicles and the April 2008 deployment of 167 new CNG vehicles in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Ontario, San Ramon, Fresno and Sacramento. With UPS's new purchases, the company's "green fleet," already the largest private fleet in the transportation industry, will total more than 2,100 vehicles.

About Eaton Corporation
Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) is a diversified power management company with 2007 sales of $13 billion. Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use, and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit eaton.com.

About Navistar
Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce™ brand diesel engines, IC brand school and commercial buses and Workhorse® brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck and diesel engine parts and service. For more information, visit navistar.com.

About UPS
UPS, the world's largest package delivery company, pursues a wide range of socially responsible and sustainable business practices designed to reduce its impact on the environment and improve communities around the world. UPS is included in the Dow Jones and FTSE4Good Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit pressroom.ups.com.

To watch a live webcast of the announcement, visit: http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/ups-alternativefuel-vehicle-pr-003668.php

# # #

For more information, contact:


* Elizabeth Rasberry
UPS
404-828-4866

* Gary Klasen
Eaton
216-523-4736

* Karen Denning
Navistar
630-753-3535

 

[AMERICA 123]

For those who want to know more .......... about yet another better technology path than a battery hybrid ( aren't they all )......that's also being suppressed and is the basis of this UPS purchased EPA/Eaton/Havester - (and US Army) - HHV system go here:

http://www.aqmd.gov/tao/ConferencesWorkshops/HydraulicHybridForum/KargulSlidesFirst.pdf

The over all 45 -50% fuel savings is just the beginning - significantly more is expected shortly with an almost certain probability.

 

[mike's 01ws6]

I remember reading about a system like this a couple of years ago, its nice to see something else that works. I wonder if this system would be as effective on busses. The hydraulic system would be a lot more enviromentally friendly to manufacture and dispose of than the batteries that are going to be used in cars.

 

[AMERICA 123]

Yes, environmentally it completely dominates from start to finish - as it does just about everything else as well concerning a battery alternative.

System weight for a car is now down from approx 450lbs in 2000 to 190lbs in 2007 - 2008.

There are some others worth watching besides Eaton - whose hung in there to their credit.

Here is another one - with different numbers.

http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/oakland/index.ssf/2008/10/hydraulic_hybrid_developer_get.html

Hydraulic hybrid developer gets jump on competition with $3.4M grant
by Sven Gustafson | Oakland Business Review
Thursday October 16, 2008, 5:30 AM

With its roots in a converted 1965 Volkswagen Beetle and its headquarters near Dundee, Hybra-Drive Systems LLC may be a little removed from the traditional automotive epicenters of Oakland County and Detroit.

But the small firm is quietly making significant headway in developing cleaner, alternative propulsion systems for commercial vehicles through use of a technology that has a lot of people talking.

The company, based in Lenawee County's Deerfield was one of 17 companies announced last week as winners of the Michigan 21st Century Jobs Fund. The $3.35 million award was the largest single award given during the nearly $29.7 million round of commercialization funding for 2008.

Hybra-Drive is developing hydraulic hybrid powertrains for commercial and military vehicles. While still unfamiliar to consumers, the technology has drawn attention from the likes of Eaton Corp., Peterbilt, Bosch Rexroth, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a way to realize better fuel economy improvements for certain vehicles than standard electric hybrids. -


- The company earlier this year won the Hybrid Truck Users Forum, a partnership between a California clean-transportation consortium and the federal government, beating out about four dozen other companies. The competition is intended to speed the technology to market.

Under the agreement, which is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Hybra-Drive will build and deliver three hydraulic hybrid delivery trucks for UPS, FedEx and Purolator Courier. The three shipping companies will conduct 6- to 9-month tests of the vehicles. -


- Hydraulic hybrids, like the more conventional electric hybrids, pair with a gasoline, diesel or alternative-fuel engine (or a fuel cell, if you want to be futuristic), and they also use the energy generated during braking. But instead of expensive nickel-metal hydride or lithium-ion batteries, they use accumulators, and a hydraulic pump replaces generators. -


- The company claims its simply designed technology can deliver up to 60 percent improved fuel economy and emissions reductions of up to 90 percent. Goldstein also notes the system adds no weight and takes up no more space than a conventional transmission, isn't as susceptible to cold weather as electric hybrids, and avoids the issue of the disposal of spent, toxic batteries.

The company recently won $1.6 million federal defense spending to develop lightweight hybrid transmissions for Future Combat Systems vehicles. It's looking to close its fund-raising to match the Jobs Fund award by year's end.

"By the end of next year, we should have low-volume manufacturing available" through Michigan-based partners, Goldstein said.

Ford went battery only in 2004 - early 2005.

Big mistake, but hey, at least they're not alone.

Regen capture rates of 84 - 85% are possible.

From a constant 32 mph, its possible to pull a vehicle down to 0 and then bring it back up to 26mph w/o ever using the ICE.

All this for about 20 - 40% the cost of a battery hybrid - which offers way less practical performance .

Also no battery replacement.

Ever.

 

[rlchv70]

FYI - Navistar hasn't been "Harvester" since 1986.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navistar_International

 

[377Z]

$7000 holy smokes.. I think Ford should have kept working on something with this technology ... but alas .. it will not happen.

Remember - it was Eaton, Ford, UPS and EPA that developed this technology.

The official line was that the reduction of highway FE - because of the weight of the system - was not worth the impressive city mileage - most retail customers drive in the city way less than on the highway. We shall see maybe we will see Hydr-Hybrid Tundra soon and wonder how in the world did it happen again.

Igor

Something like that would have definitely appealled to me, as there really is no highway driving in Chicago, except in the middle of the night.