Businesses eye hybrid trucks

From an article by Nathan Phelps in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

ASHWAUBENON — At first glace, the white T270 Kenworth delivery truck looks like many others seen on the road.

But what sets this vehicle apart from others — to the eye — is a box about the size of an oversized piece of luggage attached to the chassis on the driver's side.

That box, and the 340-volt lithium-ion battery packed in it, are part of a diesel-electric hybrid system that Kenworth and other truck manufacturers are rolling out in the face of $4.18 diesel prices and tightening environmental expectations.

"The people we have talked to have been pretty proactive about it, but there's still not enough knowledge out there so we have to teach them about it," said Dave Long, a truck sales specialist with Wisconsin Kenworth in Ashwaubenon.

In essence, the delivery truck's system switches power between several modes: electric only, combined diesel and electric; and diesel power depending on driving conditions. For example, electric power is used on acceleration to get the truck moving and when more horsepower is needed the diesel engine engages.

Electricity generated through regenerative braking is stored and used for acceleration, assisting the diesel engine, according to information from the company.

The hybrid system, manufactured by Eaton, is expected to boost fuel efficiency by about 30 percent when used in the stop-and-go slow traffic.

Kenworth also is rolling out a utility model of the truck, the T370, which uses the same modes when driving, but also allows users to shut off the truck's diesel engine when using machinery on the back — a boom, for example — in favor of the truck's electric motor.

In traditional utility models, the engine remains in idle to power gear on the back, said Joe Morris, a regional sales manager for medium-duty trucks for Kenworth.

The company anticipates efficiencies of around 50 percent in urban use with this model of truck.