Now here's a fine looking machine...and once again Biglorryblog notes how much further advanced the Americans are with regard to introducing heavy truck hybrids. Thanks to David Giroux director, marketing communications at Peterbilt I can tell you that, as part of its on-going effort to reduce its global CO2 footprint and fuel consumption, American Honda Motor Co (www.honda.com) has become the first company in its industry to introduce a Class 8 hybrid diesel electric truck into its truck fleet at its parts center in Alpharetta, Georgia. The Peterbilt Smartway-certified Model 386 hybrid tractor is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by almost 45 tons per year, as compared to its diesel counterpart.
Honda uses Class 8 artics to transport service parts between its parts centers and dealerships. The company's diesel truck fleet, operated by its truck fleet partner, UPS Freight Truckload, typically travels 300,000 miles per day. The hybrid truck, which has an Eaton diesel-electric hybrid system, will operate on two delivery runs--a hilly route in
"We're excited to add this environmentally advanced truck to our fleet," Jim Roach, senior vice president of Parts and Service for American Honda tells Biglorryblog. "With our truck fleet driving hundreds of thousands of miles per day, we feel this is a great opportunity for Honda to further reduce its carbon footprint."
The hybrid truck operates much like a hybrid passenger vehicle, utilizing a parallel diesel-electric hybrid system and in a similar to Honda's own hybrid vehicles, Peterbilt's truck captures energy during braking and stores it in its system's batteries. The Eaton hybrid system also improves fuel efficiency and lowers emissions by powering the heating, air conditioning and vehicle electrical systems utilising a 'no-idle' auxiliary power unit while the engine is off. Whatr's more, Honda will soon be adding a Peterbilt Class 7 medium duty hybrid truck at its parts centers in
This daily mileage would need a new engine every week!!