EPA Unveils Diesel Hybrid Developed With Trucking Firms

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he Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday unveiled what it said was the first-ever series hydraulic hybrid diesel delivery vehicle, developed with several trucking firms and the U.S. Army.

EPA said the truck will “provide dramatic improvements in fuel economy and in emission reductions.” Development of the hydraulic hybrid was made through a partnership of EPA, the Army, UPS Inc., International Truck and Engine Corp. and truck parts supplier Eaton Corp.

EPA said the agency and UPS will evaluate the vehicle’s fuel economy performance and emissions in field tests this year.

In laboratory tests, the hybrid diesel technology achieved a 60% to 70% improvement in fuel economy and more than a 40% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, compared with a conventional UPS vehicle.

The technology combines a high-efficiency diesel engine with a hydraulic propulsion system, replacing the conventional drivetrain and transmission.

Fuel economy is increased in three ways: vehicle braking energy is recovered that normally is wasted, the engine is operated more efficiently and the engine can be shut off when stopped or decelerating, EPA said.

“The diesel hydraulic hybrid concept has the potential to offer our truck customers something very unique — performance and near zero emissions with dramatic improvements in fuel economy,” said Dee Kapur, International’s truck group president.