Technology Briefs — March 28 - April 3
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The Latest Headlines:
- TransCore Says System Compatible with McLeod’s
- Utility Trailer Makes LED Lights Standard
- Caterpillar to Produce Electric-Drive Mining Trucks
- Eaton Creates Vehicle Business Unit with AtRoad
- Company Wins CARB Certification for LNG Engine
- EPA Offering Fuel-Conservation Grants
- Daimler to Test Plug-in Hybrids
- Utility Trailer Makes LED Lights Standard
TransCore Says System Compatible with McLeod’s
TransCore Holdings said Friday that its GlobalWave in-cab satellite-based mobile communications and asset-tracking system is now compatible with McLeod Software systems.TransCore said the allows GlobalWave trailer-tracking customers to view their equipment positions from within McLeod’s LoadMaster management software.
TransCore is a unit of Roper Industries, a $1.4 billion industrial technology company. Transport Topics
Utility Trailer Makes LED Lights Standard
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. said Monday it has made light-emitting diode technology standard equipment on its vans and trailer units.LED technology last up to 10,000 hours while demanding less power, Utility said. Its LED systems are being made by Grote Industries.
“While LED . . . lights have been available as an option for some time, they have now become cost-effective alternatives as a standard to the old technology for both owner-operators and fleets,” said Stephen Bennett, Utility’s vice president of purchasing. Transport Topics
Caterpillar to Produce Electric-Drive Mining Trucks
Caterpillar Inc. Thursday said it has formed a partnership with Mitsubishi Electric Corp. to produce a line of electric-drive mining trucks, which it said are more profitable than most other models.Caterpillar said it was one of the first manufacturers to commercialize electric drive trucks in the late 1960s.
The company said that with recent advances in electric drive technology, it concluded that now was an appropriate time to make electric drive available to its customers as a complement to its mechanical drive systems
“This is the largest investment we've made in mining trucks in Caterpillar history and certainly demonstrates our commitment to maintaining a leadership position in the mining sector,” said Gerry Shaheen, Caterpillar group president. Transport Topics
Eaton Creates Vehicle Business Unit with AtRoad
Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corp. said it has created a new division to be called the Vehicle Solutions Business Unit, in which it will partner with trucking technology firm AtRoad.The unit will align Eaton’s truck group to realign its Vorad collision-warning system and its mobile diagnostics product lines and transform its business model from a component-based supplier to a systems-based provider.
Future offerings will include integrated diagnostics, safety and other operational management solutions to fleets, Eaton said.
Eaton said the partnership will enable it to combine its on-board diagnostic and safety systems with AtRoad’s Mobile Resource Management to offer new fleet-management technology. Transport Topics
Company Wins CARB Certification for LNG Engine
A British Columbia company said Thursday it has received certification from the California Air Resources Board for a new technology being used in liquefied natural gas-powered engine.Westport Innovations said it developed a high pressure direct injection technology adapted to the Cummins’ ISX heavy-duty truck engine.
“CARB certification represents the major milestone required for us to make the heavy-duty Cummins ISX LNG engine and fuel system available to commercial fleets in California for deployment in 2006,” said Michael Gallagher, Westport’s president.
estport said it began development of using its high-pressure technology in the engine with Cummins in 2000. Transport Topics
EPA Offering Fuel-Conservation Grants
The Environmental Protection Agency is making up to $350,000 available to evaluate energy saving and emission reduction technologies for long-haul trucks.Grant recipients will use the funds to evaluate the technologies installed together on one truck, including wide-based tires, advanced trailer aerodynamics, idle reduction devices, automatic tire inflation systems and diesel oxidation catalysts.
The grants are part of EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership program and applications will be accepted only from states, universities and other public or private nonprofit institutions.
The application deadline is May 15. Transport Topics
Daimler to Test Plug-in Hybrids
Daimler Chrysler said Thursday it plans to put up to 40 Dodge Sprinter plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in operation in the United States and other countries.Daimler said plug-in technology can be used in commercial applications where vehicles return to a base after each shift to be recharged.
Two different combustion engines are being matched to the system — a five-cylinder diesel and a V6 gasoline unit. The diesel version will have the highest fuel economy and is the first fleet test of a diesel plug-in hybrid system.
The Sprinter can drive up to 20 miles on electric-only power, Daimler said. Transport Topics
