 |
| US EPA invests in commercialising hydraulic hybrid technology |
|
The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently showed off its proprietary hydraulic hybrid powertrain technology to media, in apparent earnest of a move from regulating technology to promoting commercial applications for new technology as well.
The EPA system, devised originally in a part-US military-funded R&D programme, uses hydraulic pressure to recapture energy lost through braking rather than battery regeneration, then releases the pressure during acceleration. The EPA estimates hydraulic hybrids could improve fuel economy by up to 55 per cent over conventional powertrains, versus 30 per cent to 40 per cent for a conventional petrol-electric hybrid. Prototypes have to date posed noise problems for use in cars, but promise significantly lower build costs as well as potentially less weight (except in heavy-duty pressurized fluid tanks) and more fuel economy.
"The EPA has been seen only as an entity that approves rules and issues standards," said Chris Grundler, director of the EPA's Ann Arbor, Michigan test lab. "We'd like to think we can be part of the solution as well."
A tour of the lab offered to journalists along with the EPA's director demonstrated the system installed in a prototype delivery truck that will be used by UPS next year, and an earlier prototype of a Ford Expedition SUV. EPA officials said the hydraulic hybrid version of the latter would get 32 mpg (US gallons) in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway, compared to the conventional Expedition's average 13 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.
The cost of the hydraulic system -- about $1,000 - would be paid back in nine months of driving, according to the EPA, which is working on pilot projects with Eaton Corp. and the US Army besides Ford and UPS. The latter expects to start trialling a hydraulic hybrid truck in the spring. Because of the added weight of the tanks used to store pressurized fluid in the system, engineers expect the best application for hydraulic hybrids will be in heavy-duty trucks used in urban delivery cycles.
With 88,000 delivery vehicles and $1.4 billion in annual fuel costs, UPS is keen to improve the fuel economy of its fleet; its delivery vans now average about 8.5 mpg.
|
|
|
Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk
(12/20/2005)
|
| |
 |
|
| Other
Stories of Thursday, December 22, 2005 |
|
| The first official pics of the 2006 Dodge Challenger concept |
| NAVTEQ Announces One Million Vehicles Sold in North America with Embedded Navigation Systems in 2005 |
| Daf Trucks reports record UK leadership in all heavy truck sectors |
| Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) Announces Seventh Annual Residual Value Awards for the Top Segment Leaders and Brand Residual Value Awards |
| IMS announces successful completion of pilot program for Usage-Based Insurance with DBV-Winterthur of Germany |
| ADESA Auctions Named a Preferred Vendor by GMMDA |
| Honda Type-R confirmed |
| Supersized Jeep makes its mark |
| Jaguar builds first production XK |
| Duesenberg Torpedo Resurrects a Classic Nameplate |
| NHTSA Nixes New Crash Tests |
| Little Chinese Car Headed to Detroit |
| Honda gives Type-R Civic the go-ahead |
| Ford Completes Sale of The Hertz Corporation to Private Equity Group |
| Vehicle Financing is Just a Click Away When Visiting the Chrysler Financial Web Site |
| Barrett-Jackson to Gather Largest Collection of Hemis Ever Offered at No Reserve |
| Barrett-Jackson to Gather Largest Collection of Hemis Ever Offered at No Reserve |
| Honda reports record 2005 sales across Asia-Oceania region |
| AAA Returns to Indy 500 |
| Proton's first city car - the new Savvy |
| Mitsubishi reveals new pick-up |
| DCX pushes back decision on whether to launch Smart brand in U.S. |
| Super Porsche: Gemballa GTR650 Avalanche Hits Market Next Year at 208 mph |
| TeleType Develops Affordable, New In-Car GPS Navigation System with MP3 Player |
| Detroit Diesel Corporation & UAW Local 163 Partner with Redford Township to Help Community in Louisiana |
| Customizer Mallett Stuffs 600-hp Into Pontiac Solstice |
| LA Consumers Will Gain Immediate Access to Car-Key Replacements with Auto Club-Sponsored Bill |
| Mercedes To Recall 61,000 C-Class Models |
| University of Western Australia Wins FSAE-Australasia |
| Kia Sorento completes around the world expedition |
| Bay View Joins the Finance Express Auto Finance Program |
| New Release of Visiprise Manufacturing Advances the Single Environment Manufacturing Strategy - Key to Global Manufacturers |
| Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, The Carlyle Group and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity Complete $15 Billion Hertz Acquisition |
| Franchitti Joins Klein Tools/Jim Beam Team For '06 IndyCar Season |
| Ford Completes Sale of The Hertz Corporation to Private Equity Group |
| Herta Returns with XM Satellite Radio for Third IndyCar Season |
| Philip D. Fracassa Joins The Timken Company as Vice President - Tax |
| AGR to Field Pro Series Entries for Klein, Camara |
| Kelisas offered with new SE spec |
| DaimlerChrysler Stalls Smart Launch in U.S. |
| Mercedes Onslaught Of AMG Models In 2006? |
| Lola Revives Classic T70 Racing Car |
| Honda Motors 2005 CEO Year End Speech Summary |
| Parrot's Bluetooth(R) Hands-free Car Kits Now on Shelves at CompUSA Stores Nationwide |
| Motor Scooters Help New Yorkers Get Around Transit Strike |
| Winterize Vehicles Now for Fun in the Snow |
| Nitto Denko and 3M Jointly Develop High-Durability, Ultrathin Integrated Polarizer |
| First production Jaguar XK rolls off Castle Bromwich line |
| Dana announces workforce cuts at Canadian and Australian plants |
| Toyota's 2006 global production target hits GM's shares |
| JAMA issues forecast for 2006 Japanese vehicle market |
| 200,000th MINI built on 17 December |
| Growth of Non-Residential Construction Spells Good News for Sensors in HVAC Applications |
| DIRT MotorSports Announces Prestigious Kings Royal among Six World of Outlaws' Sanctioned Events in 2006 at Eldora Speedway |
| Stealth Motorsports Announced the Purchase New Generation Silver Crown Cars for the 2006 Season. |
| Michael Andretti Returning to Run Indy 500 |
| New turbodiesel Grand Vitara |
| Imported Car Sales Expected to Rise 15% |
| Super Aguri F1 team set to debut next year |
| Automotive Industry Representatives Meet in Shanghai to Discuss Plans to Develop 'Shanghai-Brand Automobiles' |
| The Grinch Strikes Again: Too Few Hemi Christmas Ornaments |
| Ford Issues Climate Change Report |
| Ford Promises to Go Green |
| Motorists at risk from blood clots |
| Women in civil partnerships save cash |
| Winter comes to Streetka buyers |
| DCX Holds Off Decision on Bringing Minicar Brand To U.S. |
| iPod Interfaces for Autos to Reach 73 Million Worldwide by 2011 |
| Dunlop Rated Tops on New-Tire Survey in Japan |
| Yellow. Its Back. |
| Private equity firms' refinancing for LDV confirmed; debts excluded |
| Honda reports record 2005 European sales |
| Isuzu takes it to the Max |
| Proton unveils new city slicker |
| Chrysler rings in the changes |
| Detroit Automakers Lose More Market Share to Japanese in December |
| Reader Test Team views Merc S-Class |
| Shelby Files Federal Court Infringement Action Against Wilhelm Motor Works |
| Automotive Industry Representatives Meet in Shanghai to Discuss Plans to Develop 'Shanghai-Brand Automobiles' |
| A Toyota Fit For The Speedway |
| Bobby Likis to Moderate CES 'Connect2Car' Supersession and Broadcast Live from the Floor |
| Automotive Industry Representatives Meet in Shanghai to Discuss Plans to Develop 'Shanghai-Brand Automobiles' |
| Vehicle Financing is Just a Click Away When Visiting the Chrysler Financial Web Site |
| Delphi Names Vice President, Audit |
| The first production Jaguar XK |
| Proton launches new supermini |
| Collins & Aikman Announces Key Finance Executive Appointments |
| Metro Networks Presents 'The Top Ten Worst Traffic Incidents of 2005' |
| Hyundai Invests More Money in Michigan Technical Center |
| The new 2006 Chrysler 300C "Heritage Edition" pays homage to the 1957 Chrysler 300C and offers luxurious performance, exclusive features and unique heritage badging. |
| Mercedes Car Group To See Record Operating Profit By 2008? |
| Enhanced Protective Glass Automotive Association 2006 North American International Auto Show Glass Breaking Demonstrations |
| Toyota Announces New Assignments for North American Manufacturing Executives |
| Volkswagen Phaeton Lounge Revealed in Dubai |
| U.S. Announces $94 Million Clean Air Act Settlement with Chrysler Over Emission Control Defects on 1.5 Million Jeep and Dodge Vehicles |
|
