Hybrid Tractors

I was watching Motorweek just yesterday, (on PBS) and they had a company out there in CA, that was using Liquefied Natural Gas? I did not get the miles stats, only that the emissions were of course much less than that of the diesel. They also didn't mention power. As for a true Hybrid, I know in many areas, like my state, we have Hybrid city buses now that also burn diesel.

 

I don't drive one, but Coke in my area has them and the Supervalu DC here has full CNG trucks and they've both blown by me going up hills so I'd say no performance issues.

 

The only thing I'm worried about is them getting popular before the fuel network catches up. This industry has a habit of jumping on new things before they work right. It's going to take a massive effort to get CNG as widely available as diesel is now. I have only seen one on a sleeper truck and he was probably dedicated. Personally I don't care, I just don't want fueling to take an hour everyday.

 

here you go, a link to Motorweek and trucks


http://www.motorweek.org/search/eyJyZXN1bHRfcGFnZSI6InNlYXJjaCIsImtleXdvcmRzIjoiQ05HIHRydWNrcyJ9

 

Problem with unconventional fueled vehicles is the lack of fuel availability away from "home base". A bus company or local operation can run whatever fuel they want to try, because they can install whatever refueling infrastructure necessary to accommodate that fuel source at their terminal(s). Of course this WON'T work in an OTR/irregular route operation because you can't run where you can't find fuel. DPF-equipped trucks had to be careful as ULSD was rolled out, because many fuel stops avoided the costly process to have their tanks cleaned of the LSD to receive the ULSD certification...instead, just diluting the LSD with deliveries of ULSD until the ppm was finally low enough to put the ULSD on the pumps. It happened again with SCR trucks having problems finding DEF on the road, because bulk-at-the-pump wasn't a widely available option early on.

Of course it's a catch-22, because the fuel stops won't invest in the infrastructure until they can see a large enough demand to make that investment profitable...and companies won't utilize the fuel source until it is available. ULSD and DEF had federal mandates behind them, so while it wasn't necessary right at that moment for the trucks already on the road, it WOULD be needed by every NEW truck manufactured...so you upgrade your pumps or fade into obscurity as older trucks wear out and are removed from service.

 

I am sure you saw what you saw, only I don't think I had seen it.

I watch a lot of Modern Marvels, How It's Made, How do they do that, and other tv shows that showcase new inventions or new technology. It would not surprise me however, if this was a Volvo thing you saw, and the trucks were in another country. In fact, Volvo was experimenting I think with city delivery trucks, much like the size of a typical UPS truck, that all 4 wheels steer, and the truck can slide to the curb, from the street.

I will try searching for something that you may have seen, as by me searching, I learn something as well.

 

and here you go


http://www.volvotrucks.com/trucks/uk-market/en-gb/trucks/volvo-fe-hybrid/Pages/volvo-fe-hybrid.aspx