Iveco featuring concept Glider truck at Challenge Bibendum 2011
19 May 2011
At Challenge Bibendum 2011, organized by Michelin and held in Berlin from 18–22 May, Fiat Group company Iveco is featuring its concept Iveco Glider truck. With fuel consumption estimated up to 40% lower than a conventional diesel truck, the Glider incorporates a number of technologies for boosting efficiency, including generation of renewable energy by photovoltaic panels, kinetic energy recovery, exhaust gas heat recovery, a high efficiency architecture based on solutions such as a beltless engine and the latest generation of thermal and auxiliary systems.
| Iveco Glider. Click to enlarge. |
The photovoltaic panels cover an area of approximately 2 m2 on the cab roof, which is continually blown clean by the airflow, thus ensuring maximum efficiency and the production of up to 2 kWh of energy per day.
Iveco’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) recovers sufficient energy to drive most of the vehicle’s auxiliary electrical systems. On the Glider, the heat of the exhaust gases is converted into electrical energy by a thermodynamic system that works like a compact, efficient steam engine based on the Rankine cycle. A high efficiency heat exchanger is positioned in the exhaust line immediately after the emission control system and pressurizes an organic fluid circuit that can function even at low temperatures. This heat recovery system reduces the vehicle’s fuel requirements by up to 10% on motorway missions.
The excess electricity not used by the auxiliary systems is stored in a specific high energy accumulator (Auxiliary Energy Unit) and can be used as an energy source when the vehicle is stationary.
The Glider’s design also focuses on reducing resistance to motion, especially aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance. A new on-board thermal energy management system (Smart Cooling) combines with planar heat exchangers to allow cooling drag to be managed actively (Active Shutters), thus minimizing the Glider’s coefficient of drag.
For urban duty solutions, Iveco is featuring an ECODaily Electric 35S with a 60 kW drivetrain (in conjunction with DHL Deutsche Post); an ECODaily Diesel-electric hybrid with an FPT Industrial 85 kW Diesel engine and a 32 kW electric motor; and a 7.5 ton Eurocargo Diesel-electric hybrid with an FPT Industrial, Euro V, Tector Diesel engine delivering 160 cv (118 kW) of power, combined with an electric motor-generator with a maximum power output of 44 kW.
All Iveco diesels and hybrids at the event are fueled with NExBTL renewable diesel (hydrotreated vegetable oil) from Neste Oil.
heat of the exhaust gases is converted into electrical energy
Most excellent, a company actually puts it on the line and does it instead of just talk about it. Bravo!
Posted by: SJC | 19 May 2011 at 04:52 PM
Here are a few more of the 1001 ways the make more efficient vehicles/trucks. Our 17%/18% efficient ICE cars could become 2x and 3x more efficient in the not too distant future if more of the possible 1001 ways are used to increase efficiency.
Posted by: HarveyD | 20 May 2011 at 09:15 AM