Peterbilt Motors Co. introduced its medium-duty hybrid demonstration tour this week in Napa Valley, Calif. The tour event allowed local government officials, media and customers the ability to test drive and learn first-hand about the newly available Peterbilt Model 330 and 335 Hybrid Electric vehicles.
Existing and prospective customers in the United States and Canada will have the ability to test drive and evaluate the new 2009 Peterbilt medium-duty hybrid Model 330 and Model 335 for applications such as utility, pickup and delivery and dump truck users.
“The Hybrid Demonstration Tour will allow customers to experience the excellent performance and ease of operation of our new hybrid medium-duty vehicles,” said Bill Jackson, Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president. “These vehicles provide dramatic fuel savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the advanced hybrid technology.”
The Class 6 Model 330 Hybrid Electric features the integration of the Eaton Hybrid Drive System and the 260-HP PACCAR PX-6 engine that delivers up to 860 ft.-lbs. of torque. Launching the vehicle electrically in an urban driving cycle can achieve fuel economy benefits in excess of 30 percent, according to Peterbilt.
The Class 7 Model 335 Hybrid Electric utilizes components that provide up to a 50 percent improvement in fuel efficiency when configured for a utility application, the company said, realized through both an on-road fuel economy gain and an 80 percent reduction in engine idling through electric operation of the Power Take-Off (PTO) using the on-board lithium-ion batteries.
Peterbilt also used the occasion to commemorate the delivery of its first production medium-duty hybrid electric vehicles to VinLux Fine Wine Transport. The first two Peterbilt Hybrid Model 335 production vehicles will be used for delivery routes in urban locales like San Francisco. VinLux Fine Wine Transport delivers premium and luxury wines to over 9,000 accounts throughout California, transporting 700 orders per day.
“We applaud VinLux’s adoption of Peterbilt Hybrid vehicles, as well as their innovative business model and commitment to environmental responsibility," said Jackson. “Our medium-duty hybrid vehicles have proven to not only provide a 30 – 50 percent increase in fuel efficiency, depending upon the application, but also dramatically reduce tailpipe emissions of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx).”
Fred Biagi, owner, VinLux Fine Wine Transport, remarked, “By adding hybrid vehicles to our fleet, we expect our investment will be returned in as little as two years, based on the rapidly escalating price of fuel.”
"Peterbilt’s Hybrid technologies will be an important component of our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint while still meeting the delivery needs of our California customers," said Tom Tunt, president of VinLux Fine Wine Transport.
The Class 7 Peterbilt Hybrid Electric Model 335 uses Eaton’s Hybrid Electric Power System with an electric motor that assists the PACCAR PX-6 engine with supplemental torque for improved fuel economy. The system stores energy during stopping through a process called regenerative braking, and then reuses it for acceleration. Fuel use, emissions and noise are greatly reduced, the company noted.
For more information customers can contact their local dealer or visit http://www.peterbilt.com.
