Wal-Mart To Help Develop Hybrid Truck

The Morning News (Northwest Arkansas) ^ | January 11, 2007 | Anita French

[CHUCKfromCAL]

Interesting Class 8 heavy truck development effort by Walmart. They seem to be actually doing something to reduce fuel use and pollution.

[Frank_2001]

Of course, it will be manufactured in China/s

[StACase]

Railroads have used Diesel-Electric locomotives for years. But then a locomotive needs to be heavy.

[RegulatorCountry]

Judging from the name, ArvinMeritor, they're Indian. I'd think they would search out other, low cost countries for production sourcing.

[Lokibob]

I'm amazed that Wal Mart has ONLY 7,000 trucks. I would have guessed double that.

[Albert Barr]

If wal-mart starts selling trucks and cars, they may be able to give toyota a run for its money. They'll all be made in China, but what the heck?

[bert]

Mom an pop ain't going to like them apples

[sono]

Yes ... the evil Wal-Mart is at it again.

/sarc

[Balding_Eagle]

WalMart? This marks the end of the RATs support for energy efficentcy.

[JoeSixPack1]

...alternative drivetrain development

PACCAR won't care, but Cat, Cummins & Detroit might get upset. :-)

[taxed2death]

I think the US Army is developing this type of vehicle. I remember seeing a pic of one of those 8 wheeled heavy hauling trucks with a power train similar to this one mentioned above.

[raftguide]

Boy. If Wal-Mart develops a energy efficient vehicle and starts selling it in their already over-sized parking lots, what do you think the Dems would say?

[AZLiberty]

The battery pack could be in the trailer, which could charge up from the power grid while being loaded and unloaded.

[thackney]

Railroads have used Diesel-Electric locomotives for years.

Mining has used diesel-electric hybrids for years as well.

Liebherr T282B: world's biggest diesel-electric truck

592 tons, 2.7 MWatts

[PAR35]

They seem to be actually doing something to reduce fuel use and pollution.

This will upset the liberals.

[PAR35]

Looks like they have American roots to me. Check out the chart here:

http://www.arvinmeritor.com/about/history.asp

[RegulatorCountry]

I based my comment on having dealt with an Indian textile concern, Arvind. Arvin Industries, acquired by Meritor, actually is headquartered in Bombay, Mumbai or whatever the PC spelling is these days:

http://www.arvinindustries.com

[StACase]

This will upset the liberals.

Liberals don't want a solution, they want an issue.

[BurbankKarl]

The new locomotives all have hybrid technology too

[E.Allen]

Diesel electrics (as in locomotives and large trucks) typically don't have batteries. They use the diesel to spin a generator, which directly powers electric motors in the drivetrain.