Technology Briefs — March 13 - March 19

This briefing can be e-mailed to you every week. Just click here to register.The Latest Headlines:

• Eaton Wins Patents for Hybrid-Electric Power
• CSX Joins EPA Greenhouse-Gas Reduction Program
• UPS Boosts Technology Offering

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Eaton Wins Patents for Hybrid-Electric Power

Eaton Corp has received several patents for its hybrid-electric power system, which will become commercially available through several truck manufacturers this year.The patents focus on controls and systems, including a power take-off feature for off-highway job sites.Eaton’s hybrid-electric power system incorporates an electric motor-generator located between the output of an automated clutch and energy normally lost during braking. The energy is stored in batteries for blending with engine power.The vehicle is able to operate in electric-only or engine-only modes if the other system fails. It can operate solely with battery power for a limited range and can idle with the engine off, Eaton said. Transport Topics

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CSX Joins EPA Greenhouse-Gas Reduction Program

Eastern rail line CSX Transportation said Friday it became the first railroad to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program.CSX said hat under the program, it will take an annual inventory and publicly report its greenhouse gas emissions and establish a voluntary goal for reducing them.CSX said that since 1980, its initiatives have improved fuel efficiency by about 73%. In the past five years, CSX has invested more than $1 billion to upgrade its fleet with more efficient, low-emission locomotives.The Climate Leaders program was created by the EPA in 2002 to encourage companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by working with the agency to set achievable reduction goals and document their success. Transport Topics

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UPS Boosts Technology Offering

UPS Inc. said Monday it was making it easier for its customers to conduct business around the world through technology enhancements to its WorldShip, Quantum View and Billing Solutions systems.The enhancements will save customers time and money by streamlining the preparation, management and tracking of multiple types of shipments, whether domestic or international, small package or heavy freight, UPS said.The company said that more than 550,000 customers worldwide have installed WorldShip, making it one of the most widely deployed transportation software applications in the world.UPS is ranked No. 1 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers. Transport TopicsPrevious Technology Briefs