Skip to content

SciTech

Bigger hybrids are on a roll

by Julian Jackson 18 Jan 2011
Bigger hybrids are on a roll

Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius have been the automotive success-story of the last decade, and this has fuelled growth in hybrid power for bigger vehicles like buses and trucks. Hybrid vehicles use electric power to supplement the polluting and inefficient internal combustion engine (ICE) which powers most vehicles using petrol or diesel.

Pike Research has published a report which estimates that the numbers of hybrid trucks and buses on our roads will boom in the next few years. Although hybrids are usually more expensive than the equivalent conventional ICE vehicle, their fuel savings more than make up for this, and of course their climate-damaging emissions are lower. Pike Research expects the worldwide market for hybrid and plug-in Medium and Heavy vehicles will grow to 103,940 vehicles annually by 2015 so there would be almost 300,000 on the world's roads by that year.

Hybrid vehicles use various methods to achieve fuel savings. The simplest is to have an electric engine whose batteries are charged by the main engine while running and during regenerative braking, which then is used at low speed to power the vehicle without emissions. These are called Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and the Prius is a prime example.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) systems are a step further on, and get some of their power, from recharging their on-board batteries from the electric grid. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) systems get all of their power from off-vehicle sources, like electric recharging points, and they store the power on the vehicle. These vehicles require large batteries and recharging time, but they have zero emissions themselves.

One other class of hybrids is Power Take Off (PTO) trucks: diggers, cranes, lifts, and other maintenance vehicles which need to power their machinery while stationary. Instead of using the main engine, they use the on-board electric power, at a great saving of fuel and emissions because otherwise the internal combustion engine would have to idle for a long time to supply the power for operations.

In particular, many hybrid buses will be on the road, nearly 10,000 in the US already, as fleet operators try to reduce fuel costs, particularly for slow urban driving. In the rest of the world bus companies are trying out hybrids. According to the Washington-based Environmental and Energy Study Institute hybrid buses reduce emissions by 75 percent when compared to conventional diesel buses and an have average increase in fuel efficiency of 37 percent. They also can have reduced maintenance costs as wear on mechanical parts is lower and the electric power train has fewer mechanical parts than a conventional transmission, thus reducing the need for maintenance.

Photo: One of TfL's diesel hybrid buses

In the UK Transport for London (TfL) is leading the way in reducing the environmental impact of its bus fleet, with around 100 diesel hybrid buses operating in London, of varying types, to assess which is the best performing model, and even has a small number of hydrogen fuel cell buses running on one route.

Pike Research forecasts that sales of medium/heavy duty hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric trucks are will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 63%, with sales of almost 300,000 vehicles, during the period from 2010 to 2015.

Probably the world's leading manufacturer of hybrid truck power systems is Eaton Corporation of Michigan, who report that customers of its hybrid systems have collectively accumulated more than 100 million miles of service, reducing fuel consumption by 4 million gallons of diesel fuel and harmful emissions by 40,000 metric tons. Last year UPS ordered 130 of Eaton's hybrid system that will be deployed next year in New York, New Jersey and California. “Hybrid electric technology has proven itself to be effective in the field,” said Mike Britt, UPS's director of vehicle engineering. “We are eager to receive these new Hybrids and get them on the road. Continued investment in fuel-efficient technology is a part of UPS's overall environmental strategy.”

Photo: A UPS hybrid parcel van

Overall, larger hybrids are going to become a significant part of commercial and public transport road use. Their reduced pollution and emissions, together with their fuel economy are a strong incentive for users, both large and small, to invest in these vehicles, especially as the price differential between them and conventional vehicles will come down as sales increase.

Links:

http://www.pikeresearch.com

http://www.eaton.com

http://www.tfl.gov.uk

http://www.eesi.org/


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping