The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has collated and analyzed fuel economy, maintenance and other relevant vehicle performance data by using its hybrid diesel step delivery vans, according to UPS. The new hybrid diesel vans are supported by the Eaton electric hybrid propulsion system.
UPS also says that the data collected indicates that the new vehicles recorded an improved on-road fuel economy by 28.9% – which is in fact a 15% improvement in the total cost spent per mile. This is also on top of maintaining similar levels of reliability and operational performance when compared to the usual vehicles.
Released on Christmas Eve 2009, the report also includes details of the 12-month long demo project such as information on how the FT&E team gathered and evaluated fuel economy, maintenance and vehicle performance data on vans which were used for UPS’ delivery service. Conventional and hybrid delivery vans were tested during the project in NREL’s ReFuel laboratory in Denver, Colorado while fuel economy and emissions performance on a number of test cycles were also documented.
The hybrid propulsion systems used for the vehicles were provided by Eaton and manufactured by Freightliner. The hybrid system used in the vehicle utilizes an Eaton automated transmission along with an integrated motor/generator and advanced lithium ion batteries. The Freightliner hybrid and conventional model utilize a Mercedes Benz MBE 904 four cylinder diesel engine. A further 200 Eaton hybrid electric-powered vans have recently been ordered by UPS as well.
Lee Slezak, program manager of AVTA at DOE, said: “Having provided funding for the development of the Eaton hybrid system, DOE was eager to participate in testing the system in a commercial fleet. Our goal is to help develop more efficient vehicle technologies and then document their on-road performance.”
