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This article discusses the development of hybrids--gas/electric vehicle combos--for the retail market. Even if fuel savings are all that important, there's the question of whether hybrids are better or more efficient than a diesel engine, common in European cars. Now comes a very different experiment in hybrid power plants, from Eaton Corp., the supplier of superchargers, engine valves, cylinder heads, differentials and lots of other parts. Eaton is teaming up a Hitachi lithium-ion battery system, a Mercedes diesel engine and a truck built by Freightliner, a DaimlerChrysler subsidiary. The FedEx diesel engine doesn't shut down, but, like the car, uses regenerative braking, meaning the special lithium-ion batteries capture and store energy when the trucks brake. Tim Morscheck, vice president of technology for Eaton's truck business, says the engine is working. If you could buy a lithium-ion battery at a garage, which you can't, it might cost $2,000 per kilowatt-hour of storage capacity. Eaton is using 2.5 kilowatt-hours in its system.

The article offers information on hybrid trucks that will be tested by the New York City Department of Sanitation for future use in its fleet for solid waste collection. One of the vehicles is a Mack TerraPro electric and diesel truck. Two hybrid trucks from Crane carrier have a hydraulic system with regenerative brakes and a drive system from ISE Corp. The Kenworth T370 truck will be tested on its handling of heavy waste materials.

The article focuses on the projected introduction of hybrid ready-mix trucks and dump trucks for the construction industry in the U.S. in 2012. Hybrid is the term being used for any vehicle that uses two or more alternative types of power. It cites the benefits of using diesel-electric hybrids. It mentions the features of the hybrid construction truck launched by Mack Trucks in January 2007.

The article reports on the integration of Kenworth and Dunn Lumber to deliver Kenworth's first medium duty hybrid-electric truck in the U.S. The medium-duty hybrid is intended to enhance fuel economy up to 30 percent in start-and-stop applications. The Class 7 hybrid could carry a payload of up to 16,000 pounds which features 240-horsepower PACCAR PX-6 engine, integral transmission-mounted motor or generator, frame-mounted 340-volt battery and dedicated power management system.

Reports on a survey by the purchasing alliance, U.S. Communities and the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Counties on the demand for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) among local governments in the U.S. Number of local governments in the country that participated in the survey; Report of Steve Swendiman, founder of U.S. Communities on the number of sedans, trucks and vans in HEV formats to be purchased by respondents for 2004 to 2006; Engine features of HEV; HEV models from Toyota and Honda.

The article focuses on global delivery company Deutsche Post DHL and its decision to purchase electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured by StreetScooter GmbH for its pilot project to craft carbon dioxide (CO2)-free deliveries in Bonn, Germany as part of its GoGreen program, which targets a CO2 emissions reduction of 30% by 2020 against a baseline level in 2007. It mentions the plan of DHL to convert its entire mail and parcel operations in Bonn to electric mobility by 2016.

The article reports on a diesel-electric hybrid refuse truck that was deployed in London, England as part of a two-year trial by Westminster City Council and its contractor Veolia. The components of the vehicle include a diesel-electric hybrid, built by Volvo Trucks, and a fully electric body, built by Geesink Norba. It is expected that the refuse truck will deliver huge fuel and cost savings as demonstrated by a similar truck that operates in Sweden.

The article reports on the delivery of one of the first Peterbilt production hybrid diesel electric trucks, a 2009 Model 335, by Rush Enterprises, Inc. to Community Food Bank Fleet in Tucson, Arizona. Rush Enterprises operates a large North American network of truck dealership in Houston, Texas. According to Peterbilt, the Class 7 Hybrid Electric Model 335 uses Eaton's Hybrid Electric Power System with an electric motor that helps the PACCAR PX-6 engine with supplemental torque for improved fuel economy.

The article reports on the launch of a Web-based value calculator for hybrid power systems by the Hybrid Power business unit of diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corp. The calculator will reportedly give potential buyers the opportunity to quickly compute their estimated return on investment in environmentally friendly and fuel-saving hybrid vehicles. Truck types that can be used include delivery and utility vehicles.