Some argue that heavy-duty hybrids are down for the count. Beyond low fuel prices, “here today, gone tomorrow” government incentives, vehicle reliability and performance, technology and application-specific integration, and regulatory challenges have all taken a toll on this market.
Fleets that have invested in heavy-duty hybrid technology find that performance results are extremely driver-dependent. The variability of applications a common commercial vehicle chassis platform can be found in—from light pole trucks, to wreckers, beverage delivery and more—also impacts operational performance results. As one Volvo Group expert recently told the California Air Resources Board, “Optimum systems are application-dependent, limiting volume opportunities.”
With little volume, there can be little profit. With steep upfront vehicle costs, achieving anticipated fuel cost savings is critical. In addition, onboard diagnostic requirements have driven up costs for OEMs, if not taken them out of the market entirely.
Exemplifying these issues, the biggest downfall to date has been Eaton pulling out of the hybrid electric vehicle truck market last year and leaving no option for the likes of Paccar, Freightliner and Navistar but to discontinue their hybrid electric lines. At the same time, transit agencies across the U.S. have halted their hybrid programs and can be found switching back to diesel or to natural gas.
Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. Several companies have persevered and found success, giving hope to the future of hybrid truck technology:
- Parker Hannifin continues with its RunWise series hydraulic hybrid drive for Autocar refuse trucks. With fuel savings of about 43% and a tenfold reduction in brake maintenance costs (one brake replacement for the life of the truck), some 200 units are in U.S. service with additional trucks being tested in Australia and Brazil.
- Lightning Hybrids has an agreement with a Massachusetts transit operator to supply 35 hydraulic hybrid systems following a successful year-long pilot program, which will result in improved emissions, less fuel use, longer brake life, better low-end torque, and lower maintenance and operational costs.
- Boston-based XL Hybrids has hit a sweet spot with its relatively economical (less than $10,000 in volume) conversions of light-duty commercial vehicles like cargo vans, shuttle buses and delivery trucks to hybrid technology. With the potential to increase an entire fleet’s fuel efficiency by 20%, the company has seriously piqued the interest of major fleets like FedEx and Coca-Cola, with both fleets reporting very positive results with these systems thus far.
- Wrightspeed counts FedEx as a customer for its “Route” plug-in hybrid drive, which uses its own 80-kilowatt turbine generator. The “Fulcrum” turbine will be used in 25 FedEx delivery trucks, as well as 17 heavy-duty refuse trucks.
As hybrid technology evolves, its foothold in the commercial vehicle sector is firming. To stay up to date on the full range of options from a fleet perspective, we encourage you to join us at the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, taking place May 2-5, 2016, at the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California.
Erik Neandross is CEO of Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA), the clean transportation and energy consulting firm that organizes the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. Learn more at www.gladstein.org and www.actexpo.com.
