Urban Drive Cycle Testing shows a 26% mpg improvement on Ford Transits with XL Hybrids drive system
10 August 2016
XL Hybrids announced vehicle testing results showing a 26% improvement in miles per gallon on the EPA UDDS (Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule) drive cycle for Ford Transit vans upfitted with XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive Systems. (earlier post) The fuel economy improvement on the EPA UDDS drive cycle also includes a more than 50% reduction in NOx emissions.
Conducted at an independent, EPA-certified chassis dynamometer testing lab, the test results mirror earlier EPA UDDS chassis dyno performance for Chevrolet and GMC 2500 Express and Savana vans equipped with XL Hybrids’ technology.
The XL3 system reduces fuel use through propulsion assist by the electric motor and recharges the battery through regenerative braking. The XL3 Hybrid System is compatible with all Transit wheelbases and roof heights and with both the 3.7 liter and EcoBoost gasoline engines providing 20% fuel and CO2 savings.
The system, which adds less than 400 pounds to the vehicle, is installed aft of the transmission in about six hours. The Ford OEM factory warranty stays intact, while the XL3 hybrid powertrain components are covered by a three-year, 75,000 mile warranty.
This test result further validates that the XL3 hybrid electric drive system platform product delivers significant fuel savings to our fleet customers across multiple OEM models now including Ford Transit vans. Our XL3 Hybrid System is especially effective for fleets to reduce fuel consumption in metropolitan driving environments and vehicles in stop-and-go traffic.
—Ed Lovelace, chief technology officer for XL Hybrids
The testing process used compares fuel economy performance from a Ford Transit van operating on the OEM gasoline powertrain with that of a Ford Transit operating with the XL3 hybrid-electric system. The test was completed using a Ford Transit cargo van with a Ford 3.7 liter engine over the EPA UDDS drive cycle, which represents urban driving routes.
The technology works seamlessly in the background with zero impact on fleet operations, and no driver training, no special plugs, charging or fueling infrastructure requirements.
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