Sure, hybrid cars are small and even cute, like the Toyota Prius and new Honda Insight. And they can be luxurious and offer sport performance, like the Lexus GS450h. And even beefy, like the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. But now the technology is tough enough to power heavy-duty hybrid truck, like this hybrid bucket truck just delivered to the city of White Plains, New York.
It's the result of a partnership between theNew York Power Authority and the green initiative of White Plains, a suburb of New York City. For sure, this is an innovative heavy duty vehicle, equipped with an aerial bucket body. Appropriately, it will be used to care for the 20,000 trees on the city's streets and parks.
This is the very first hybrid-electric bucket truck in New York State, a Freightliner M2-106, and it is also the very first production hybrid truck from the Freightliner Corporation, whose name is synonymous with 18-wheelers and other really big trucks. Fire engines, too. The M2-106 utilizes an Eaton hybrid system with an electric motor that assists a Cummins diesel engine. So you could call this a diesel hybrid -- something Mercedes-Benz and a couple of other manufacturers are working on for passenger cars.
Anyway, the combo produces 25 percent better fuel economy than a diesel-only bucket truck. Partly because the extra help from the electric motor allowed the diesel engine to be downsized from 275 horsepower to 230. So that also means fewer emissions to choke the trees.
The truck also runs on B20 biofuel. One out of every five gallons of diesel fuel is replaced by vegetable oil, which means fewer emissions -- and less dependence on foreign oil. And we know where that has gotten us.
The truck also is quieter than a diesel-only bucket truck, since the aerial bucket is powered primarily by the electric motor and energy stored in the battery pack from regenerative braking. The quiet operation is another bonus for those looking for peaceful places in parks. It takes just five minutes of running the engine to re-power the bucket truck.
Overall, NYPA estimates this environmentally friendly truck will achieve up to 60% in total fuel savings, depending on the number of hours the aerial bucket stretches up to its 62-foot maximum and back down to earth. But even if the savings are just 59% -- it is still major. So let's hope this diesel hybrid Freightliner truck demonstrates to cities around the USA that hybrid trucks can share the garage with hybrid cars.
BTW -- the New York Power Authority has placed more than 1,000 hybrid and all-electric vehicles in fleets around the state.
photo courtesy NYPA
For more articles by Green Car Examiner Evelyn Kanter check my website, www.GreatDrives.net
Comments
Very cool topic. Hybrid bucket trucks are revolutionary because they are a different platform than the hybrid cars and trucks today. The use of a regeneratvie braking system is not practical for the use of bucket trucks that remain idle for most of the work day. I love the idea of these trucks charging up and lasting 6-8 hours. I just wonder how cost effective they are in 10 years... I'm sure after 10 years you start seeing returns on the investment. Most major companies won't keep trucks that long for tax purposes.
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