Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.......
If you want on or off the DIESEL "KnOcK" LIST just FReepmail me........
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days......
Posted on 01/23/2007 12:49:28 PM PST by WestTexasWend
ArvinMeritor and Wal-Mart Transportation announced an agreement Jan. 10 to jointly develop a dual-mode, diesel-electric drivetrain for a Class 8 tractor.
The vehicle, which the companies believe to be the first dual-mode diesel-electric tractor prototype in development in North America, will be based on an International Class 8 ProStar tractor and powered by an engine developed by Cummins.
"We've been working on development of hybrid drivetrains for some time," said Carsten J. Reinhardt, president of ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems, based in Troy, Mich. "This Class 8 project is a major step in our continuing work in alternative drivetrain development -- both for power transmission and emissions -- and holds tremendous promise for the worldwide heavy-duty trucking market in a number of important environmental and economic ways."
ArvinMeritor will provide the tandem axle, regenerative braking system, air disc brakes and advanced ABS with integrated stability control and driver assistance systems (from Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems), software, electronic controls, transfer case, motors and the battery power from a third party.
"ArvinMeritor is a leader in all areas of drivetrain and brake system development for heavy-duty commercial vehicles and is an ideal partner for Wal-Mart for the development of this dual-mode diesel-electric system," said Tim Yatsko, senior vice president of transportation for Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark. "We knew it would take a highly integrated approach, and we believe ArvinMeritor understands all of the pieces of the puzzle needed to complete this picture."
Wal-Mart had announced earlier that in the next 10 years, it intends to double the fuel efficiency of its fleet of heavy-duty trucks.
Dual-mode diesel-electric drivetrains, which have both mechanical and electrical propulsion systems, use the electric motor primarily in high-demand, low-speed, high-load conditions, such as accelerating from a stop. Once moving, the mechanical propulsion system begins to blend its power with the electric motor until it reaches highway speeds, when the drive becomes completely mechanical.
The electrical system also can provide additional power when climbing hills, even at highway speeds. The engine also charges an onboard energy storage system, which provides power to the electric motor when demand is high. Energy that is generated during braking also is captured and stored.
In March 2005, ArvinMeritor announced a deal with Unicell on a commercial pickup-and-delivery truck with an alternative drivetrain, featuring ArvinMeritor's electric axle and system integration of motors, gears and controls. It offers zero emissions and fossil fuel consumption, as well as a 10 percent increase in driver productivity, the companies say. The customer is considering a larger order of the vehicle.
" "We've been working on development of hybrid drivetrains for some time," said Carsten J. Reinhardt, president of ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems, based in Troy, Mich."
As he busily tried to arrange his companies' relocation to China.
Yeah but it's Wal-Mart so it has to be bad......
Way to go Wal-Mart........
Diesel electric makes a hell of a lot of sense. How do you do disc brakes on a class 8 tractor? I think hydraulic accumulator braking would be better, and the stored energy can be used for restarting.
Guess I don't need to ping you!
An electric motor at each wheel or one big one ?
Aisle 17, across from the pet food.
Lawn and Garden.
Tonka Toys.
If it were my call, one at each drive wheel. Each could have traction control, allowing much more rapid launches, putting more power to the ground without loss of traction.
There is a military scout vehicle very similar to this.
They're all over the open pit mining industry.
But will it still have the same sound of the screaming turbo of a 400HP Cummins in an old long-nose Petercar going 78 mph down IH-20?
True.
With Walmarts fleet size, they alone could revolutionize trucking.
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.......
If you want on or off the DIESEL "KnOcK" LIST just FReepmail me........
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days......
Regenerative braking systems will eliminate the need for jake brakes.
Regenerative braking systems will eliminate the need for jake brakes.
Only until the battery gets full.
Yes, even when at rest.
I have been wondering when this would come. I would prefer to see a setup similar to that of a diesel-electric locomotive, where the actual drivetrain is full-electric, with the diesel only there to provide generation. I like the motor-at-every-wheel idea, with hydraulic or electro-regenerative braking. Diesels much prefer to run at constant rpm, and preferably high rpm (Cat bulldozers have deceleration pedals, to slow the motor down when needed), and are more efficient doing so. It only makes sense to use them that way in the OTR rigs, as it would save on maintenance.
It's only a matter of time now...
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