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[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
Forecast: Cumulative Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Fleet Sales to Reach Nearly 4 Million Units By 2015
November 18, 2009
Cumulative sales of hybrid vehicles in the fleet sector will total nearly 4 million worldwide between 2009 and 2015, according to a recent report from Pike Research. The cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that hybrid fleet sales will increase from 300,000 in 2009 to more than 830,000 in 2015, with the largest growth categories in medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses.
Pike Research managing director Clint Wheelock says that North America will be the leading region in terms of hybrid fleet penetration, with hybrids reaching 8% of all fleet sales in the next five years. Early adopters will include government, university, and utility company fleets. Asia Pacific will be the leader in terms of unit volumes by that time, reaching 420,000 fleet hybrids sold per year, though the hybrid penetration will be somewhat lower than North America’s.
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IBM Global Trucking Study Finds Fuel Efficiency, High-Tech Features More Important than Brand Name
November 01, 2009
| Most important external forces impacting the trucking industry today versus 2020. Source: Truck 2020. Click to enlarge. |
IBM released the findings of a new global study which shows that trucks will become more fuel efficient, environmentally sound and safer due to the adoption of new technologies throughout the vehicle. The use of these innovations will help truck manufacturers differentiate their vehicles, as the study shows that brand names of trucks are becoming less important.
The Global Truck 2020 Study, titled “Transcending Turbulence,” was developed by IBM Global Business Services’ Auto practice and the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV). The study—unveiled at last week’s CALSTART Hybrid Truck Users Forum National Conference—comprises interviews with 91 executives in 13 countries, representing the entire truck value chain.
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Parker Hannifin Commercializing Series Hydraulic Hybrid System for Delivery Vehicles; Initial 20 Unit Order from Freightliner Custom Chassis
October 18, 2009
| The FCCC hydraulic hybrid chassis. Source: FCCC.Click to enlarge. |
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC), a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America, has made an initial 20 unit commercial commitment for a series hydraulic drive system from Parker Hannifin. (Earlier post, earlier post.) The commitment came as part of a grant under the United States Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program and was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) spearheaded the submittal of these winning applications which will support the purchase of 638 hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. Parker is the only supplier of the hydraulic hybrid systems for the vehicles. The series hydraulic hybrid systems will be incorporated into delivery vehicle models, based on the FCCC MT-55 chassis, intended for use by United Parcel Service (UPS).
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President Obama Orders Federal Agencies to Trim Greenhouse Gases; 30% Reduction in Fleet Petroleum Use by 2020
October 07, 2009
On 5 October, US President Barack Obama signed an executive order setting sustainability goals for federal agencies and improvements in their environmental, energy, and economic performance. The Executive Order requires federal agencies to set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2020 within 90 days. It also requires federal agencies to increase their energy efficiency, reduce the petroleum consumption of their fleets, conserve water, reduce waste, support sustainable communities, and leverage their federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.
The new Executive Order makes reducing greenhouse gas emissions a priority for the federal government, which occupies nearly 500,000 buildings, operates more than 600,000 vehicles, employs more than 1.8 million civilians, and purchases more than $500 billion per year in goods and services.
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New Study Shows Fleet Purchases of More Efficient, Lower-Carbon Vehicles Can Spur Major Decreases in Emissions and Fuel Consumption
The “greening” of corporate vehicle fleets presents an opportunity to move a substantial number of highly efficient, clean fuel vehicles onto the road in a relatively short timeframe with results that are both environmentally and economically positive, according to a new report by the Sustainable Transportation and Communities group at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), an Ann Arbor-based nonprofit research organization.
In the report, The Economic and Environmental Impacts of a Corporate Fleet Vehicle Purchase Program, the group examines the economic and environmental contributions of converting corporate fleets from gasoline to compressed natural gas (CNG) and hybrid vehicles.
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Balqon Introduces On-Highway Heavy-Duty Electric Mule Truck
October 01, 2009
| The Balqon Mule 150. Click to enlarge. |
Balqon Corporation, an emerging developer and manufacturer of zero emissions heavy-duty electric vehicles for Class 7 and Class 8 applications (earlier post), introduced a lithium-ion battery powered heavy-duty electric truck designed for use in on-highway short-haul applications at the Governors’ Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, California.
Balqon’s Mule M150 is designed for short-haul on-highway routes in inner cities, port facilities and airports for the distribution of goods and cargo. The Mule M150 is equipped with Balqon’s fully integrated heavy-duty electric drive system and lithium-ion batteries to provide increased range and performance.
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US DOT Awards $100M in Recovery Act Funds to 43 Transit Projects to Reduce Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
September 22, 2009
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding $100 million in Economic Recovery Act funding to 43 transit agencies for projects to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from both vehicles and facilities.
The 43 winning proposals were submitted by transit agencies from across the country as part of a nationwide competition for the $100 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds. Selection criteria included a project’s ability to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and also to provide a return on the investment. Other criteria included readiness to implement, applicant capacity, degree of innovation and national applicability. The Federal Transit Administration reviewed more than $2 billion in applications for these funds.
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Hydraulic Hybrid Systems and EMI Partner to Target Fleet Retrofit Market; First Retrofit Underway
September 12, 2009
| HHS upfit system. Click to enlarge. |
Hydraulic Hybrid Systems, LLC (HHS), a recently-formed subsidiary of Lightning Hybrids Inc. (earlier post), is partnering with Equipment Maintenance Innovators (EMI-Global) to distribute HHS hydraulic hybrid retrofit systems for light- and medium-duty commercial fleet vehicles.
HHS’s upfit solution is a high-efficiency, light-weight parallel hydraulic hybrid propulsion system inserted within the driveline of a vehicle. This system is designed and engineered to be installed in fourteen hours, including all controls and wiring harness, by a certified installer. HHS says that its system is expected to deliver at least a 40% improvement in fuel economy made possible through regenerating braking energy that is then used during acceleration.
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Consortium Launches Britain’s First Dual Fuel Biomethane Bus; Emissions Cut in Half
September 09, 2009
| Biomethane bus. Click to enlarge. |
A consortium brought together by low carbon experts at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK launched the first bus in the UK to run on biomethane gas. The dual-fuel diesel-biomethane powered bus is expected to reduce pollutant emissions and greenhouse gas emissions by around a half. It is hoped the technology will be rolled out to bus fleets across the country and further afield.
The dual-fuel vehicle is a standard Optare Solo single-deck diesel midibus from the Anglian Bus fleet. Originally powered entirely by diesel, the Mercedes-Benz engine has been adapted by the Hardstaff Group (earlier post) to run for 60-80% of the time on low-carbon biomethane. Biomethane is chemically identical to the methane in natural gas but it is made by bacterial action on biowastes. Biomethane is extracted from landfill sites or from biogas produced in purpose-built anaerobic digestion facilities.
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USPS OIG Concludes Electrification of Post Office Delivery Fleet Operationally Feasible, But Costly; Federal Funds and V2G Revenue Required
September 01, 2009
| More than 96% of the USPS delivery fleet drives less than 40 miles per day. Data: USPS OIG report. Click to enlarge. |
Broad use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the US Postal Service (USPS) delivery fleet would be operationally feasible, according to a study assessing the operational and economic feasibility of moving the fleet to EVs conducted by the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Electrification of the USPS fleet could also provide a valuable opportunity for the nation to test EV technology.
However, the report finds, due to the Postal Service’s current financial distress, government funds and vehicle to grid (V2G) revenue would likely be needed to make this transition economically feasible.
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US DOE Awards $300 Million in Clean Cities Grants to Support Alternative Fuels, Vehicles, and Infrastructure Development
August 26, 2009
| Geographical distribution of Clean Cities Recovery Act awards. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects put more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy-efficient light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on the road, and establish 542 refueling locations across the country.
The vehicles and infrastructure being funded include the use of natural and renewable gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hybrid technologies. And with the cost share contributions from the recipients, every federal dollar spent will be matched by nearly two dollars from the project partners.
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Better Place to Conduct Pilot Project in Tokyo for Electric Taxis with Switchable Batteries; Research Partnership with University of Melbourne
Better Place has received an award from the Japanese government to conduct a pilot project in Tokyo for the world’s first electric taxis with switchable batteries. Better Place will partner with Tokyo’s largest taxi operator, Nihon Kotsu, in the project commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry’s Natural Resources and Energy Agency.
The project, which follows on the company’s successful battery switch demonstration earlier this year in Yokohama (earlier post), is slated to begin in January 2010.
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Enova Systems Shows Ze, Outlines Planned Improvements in School Bus Plug-in Hybrid Drive
August 13, 2009
| The Ze electric drive system. Click to enlarge. |
Enova brought its Ze (zero emissions) commercialized all-electric step-van to the Plug-in 2009 conference in Long Beach. Engineered specifically for urban delivery routes and service/maintenance operations, the Enova Ze plug-in step van drive system offers a range of up to 150 miles per charge and can reach a top speed of 65 mph. Operating costs are projected to be $.08- $.10 per mile—significantly less than the average of $.24-$.48 per mile in a comparable diesel vehicle.
Enova is supplying drive systems to Smith Electric Vehicles, and recently announced a major contract with First Auto Works (FAW) in China for hybrid buses. (Earlier post.) The Ze gives Enova entry into the chassis manufacturer market, said James Badalamenti, Director Worldwide Sales and Marketing. Ultimately, he said, Enova would like to evolve its position to become a Tier 1 supplier to commercial OEM chassis manufacturers.
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Enova Delivers Hybrid Drive Systems to First Auto Works for Hybrid Buses
August 10, 2009
| Enova’s Pre-Transmission Parallel Hybrid System locates the electric motor between the engine and transmission. Click to enlarge. |
Enova Systems, Inc. has delivered the first 70 pre-transmission hybrid drive systems to First Auto Works for application in a hybrid bus. FAW has ordered an additional 150 hybrid drive systems for delivery in 2009. Enova Systems and FAW have executed an agreement to supply a further 800 pre-transmission hybrid drive systems in 2010.
First Auto Works is one of China’s largest vehicle producers, manufacturing in excess of 1,000,000 vehicles annually. The Enova drive system will be integrated and branded under the name of Jiefang. The Jiefang 12-meter hybrid bus can carry 103 passengers and travel at a maximum speed of 85 km/h (53 mph). The bus meets Euro III emission standards. It will consume 30 liters of fuel every 100 kilometers (7.8 mpg US) and discharge 20% less emissions.
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services Signs Cooperative Agreement with Algal Oil Producer SunEco Energy
July 30, 2009
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., one of the largest transportation logistics companies in North America, and algal oil producer SunEco Energy signed a cooperative agreement, which could lead to J.B. Hunt becoming a significant purchaser of biodiesel made from natural algae oil using SunEco Energy’s proprietary technology. J.B. Hunt runs about 10,000 tractors in its fleet, and burns some 100 million gallons of fuel per year.
The two companies conducted a series of successful tests using biodiesel made by SunEco Energy from 100% natural algae oil produced at the company’s pilot plant in Chino, California. These tests, using a 20% and 50% blend of algae biodiesel with petroleum diesel, measured an 82% reduction in particulate emissions with no loss of power compared to ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD).
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Think and Ener1 Supplying Electric Drivetrains and Battery Packs to Japan Post for EV Conversions; Potential New Line of Business
July 28, 2009
| The converted EV. Click to enlarge. |
Electric vehicle manufacturer Think Global and Ener1, one of its battery partners, are supplying a fully integrated electric drivetrain powered by a lithium-ion battery system to Japan Post for the conversion of delivery vehicles as part of a comprehensive road-testing program. Japan Post is also deploying 40 original electric vehicles this fiscal year—20 units apiece of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Subaru Plug-In Stella. (Earlier post.)
Think and Ener1 are working with Zero Sports of Japan, which has been selected by Japan Post as one of the conversion partners for delivering electric vehicles as part of the testing program in support of its goal to electrify the fleet of 22,000 delivery vehicles. With the support of strategic partner ITOCHU Corporation, which organized this project, EnerDel provided engineering support on the delivery of the first two postal service vehicles to Japan Post via Zero Sports.
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FedEx Converts 92 Delivery Trucks to Hybrids, Expanding Hybrid-Electric Fleet by 50%
July 21, 2009
FedEx Corp. has added 92 hybrid-electric trucks to its delivery fleet by converting standard FedEx delivery trucks to hybrid-electric systems. The addition of the 92 trucks increases the FedEx fleet of hybrid-electric vehicles by more than 50%, from 172 to 264.
The hybrid conversions were produced in Charlotte, N.C. over the past six months. The converted hybrids were developed with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) and Eaton Corporation, which provided the hybrid-electric systems (earlier post). The standard FedEx trucks used in the retrofit program were 2000 or 2001 models with 300,000 to 500,000 miles driven.
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CALSTART Small Hybrid Bus Working Group Selects StarTrans-Azure Dynamics for National Hybrid Bus Deployment
July 09, 2009
| The Azure Dynamics Balance chassis. Click to enlarge. |
CALSTART’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) Small Hybrid Bus Working Group members have selected the supplier team of StarTrans-Azure Dynamics for a 16-plus vehicle national hybrid-electric bus procurement.
The vehicles are 23-foot, gasoline-powered hybrid electric cutaway buses using the StarTrans Senator bus body, Ford E450 chassis, and the Azure Dynamics Balance parallel electric hybrid system with the Ford 5.4L engine and the 5-speed automatic TorqShift transmission. The Azure Balance system includes engine-off at idle and at below 20 mph (32 km/h), while electronically supporting key ancillary functions like air conditioning, power steering and braking.
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BAF Technologies Begins Converting 600 AT&T Vehicles To CNG in 2009
June 30, 2009
Dallas-based BAF Technologies has begun converting 600 AT&T Ford E-Series vans to dedicated CNG technology in 2009. This is part of AT&T’s plan to invest up to $565 million to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models, beginning with hybrids. (Earlier post.)
The converted vehicles will utilize the BAF CalComp System, a proprietary CNG fuel system certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (ARB). CNG vehicles are expected to emit approximately 25% less greenhouse gas emissions than those traditionally powered by gasoline.
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AT&T to Deploy More Than 15,000 Alternative-Fuel Vehicles in Fleet Over Next 10 Years
March 11, 2009
AT&T plans to invest up to $565 million as part of a long-term strategy to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models, beginning with hybrids.
AT&’s investment represents the largest US corporate commitment to CNG vehicles to date. The new deployments will bring AT&T’s alternative-fuel fleet to more than 15,000 vehicles by 2019.
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Wal-Mart Estimates 50% of Fleet Efficiency Gain by 2015 Could Come from Vehicle Technology, 50% from Operational Improvement
February 06, 2009
Wal-Mart Stores has set a goal of increasing total fleet efficiency by 100% from 2005 to 2015, and has already exceeded its 2008 interim goal of a 25% increase, according to Chris Sultemeier, Wal-Mart’s Senior Vice President of Transportation.
Total fleet efficiency is a combination of driving and operational practices as well as the vehicles, Sultemeier said. Of the current 25%, about 20% is likely due to vehicle technology, he said. Looking ahead to the 2015 goal, about 50% could come from the vehicle, 50% from the operational side, he said in a teleconference.
