Over the past few months, there has been a steady stream of news from developers of alternative power solutions for light- and medium-duty trucks. Joining forces in early July, Allison Transmission, the manufacturer of automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and hybrid propulsion systems for city buses, announced it invested a non-controlling equity stake in Odyne Systems, a manufacturer of hybrid control systems that features a plug-in hybrid power system that interfaces with Allison transmissions.
Odyne’s hybrid technology combines electric power conversion, power control and energy storage with electric propulsion motors, Johnson Controls battery systems and other components. The plug-in hybrid drive system can be installed on a wide variety of new and existing vehicles.
“Our solution helps companies and communities meet sustainability objectives and lower costs,” said Joe Dalum, president of Odyne Systems. “Our plug-in hybrid technology enables trucks over 14,000 lbs. GVW to achieve fuel consumption improvements of up to 50% or greater compared to traditional diesel engines, lower emissions, quieter job site operation and reduced operating and maintenance costs.”
Value also is in the equation for XL Hybrids, the developer of a hybrid electric powertrain designed for Class 1-3 commercial vehicles. Recently, the company released test results that it said validate a 21.2% reduction in fuel consumption with the aftermarket bolt-on solution. The testing, which determined performance of the XL Hybrids system on a light-duty cargo van in urban operations, was conducted at an independent, EPA-certified chassis dynamometer lab. The evaluation compared fuel economy between a standard cargo van and one equipped with XL Hybrids’ charge-sustaining hybrid system over light-duty urban driving routes. The vehicle used was a Chevrolet 2500 Express cargo van fitted with the OEM’s 4.8-liter engine and six-speed transmission.
VIA Motors is demonstrating its extended range electric pick-up truck in a partnership between the manufacturer, the state of Utah and Rocky Mountain Power, Utah’s largest electric utility. VIA’s Vtrux electric vehicles are equipped with a 402 HP electric motor and will be available with a power export option of up to 15 kW. The vehicles can average over 100 MPG with a daily charge and in zero emissions mode for a majority of fleet driving, the company said. The manufacturer works with General Motors to incorporate its V-Drive powertrain into new GM trucks, vans and SUVs. VIA is planning to sell electrified work trucks to fleets early in 2013.
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, in association with lithium-ion battery system supplier Dow Kokam, has delivered the first pilot version of its plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) Ford F150 pickup truck to Florida Power & Light Company. The PHEV F150 is powered by Quantum’s F-Drive parallel plug-in-hybrid electric drive system. Achieving over 100 MPG depending on the drive cycle and charging frequency, according to the manufacturer, the F-Drive allows the truck to run the first 35 miles on a zero emission electric drive system and then switch to a hybrid drive mode.
After implementing conversions in Ford F150 trucks, ALTe Powertrain Technologies has installed its range-extended plug-in electric hybrid powertrain in the Ford Econoline E350 platform. The manufacturer is delivering an E350 prototype to a fleet customer for evaluation, and is planning to build more prototypes for customer evaluations, leading to a spring 2013 product launch. ALTe’s road tests revealed that the E350 cutaway chassis prototype can drive approximately 25 miles in an all-electric mode and then deliver nearly 15 MPG in a charge-sustained mode. For a fleet vehicle that drives 45 miles per day, ALTe noted, the combined mode fuel economy would be over 30 MPG.
New relationships between suppliers, in addition to product development of alternative power solutions for light- and medium-duty trucks, are leading to new opportunities for fleets to take advantage of advanced technologies.
