Work Truck Magazine, November 2018

NOVERMBER 2018 WORK TRUCK 35 Given that diesel trucks today pollute the most at low speed McCarthy said the impact on emissions offered by variable displacement technology could in theory be effective enough to allow next generation diesel engines to meet the next round of emissions standards all by themselves or with the addition of a light or mild hybrid drivetrain with a small electric motor to provide additional torque to offset the deactivated cylinders There are significant fuel economy benefits for displacement on demand in diesel engines as well McCarthy said Once a truck reaches highway speeds the same advantages that make displacement on demand so successful in gasoline engines would come into play for diesel trucks Once a truck is at cruise speeds we believe cylinder deactivation could give fleets a 40 boost in fuel economy in that specific operating mode McCarthy said And I think that number g Seattle Refuse Hauler to Operate Electric Garbage Trucks Recology in Seattle has ordered two Class 8 battery electric refuse trucks from startup company BYD saying theyre the first electric refuse trucks to operate in the city of Seattle The trucks fitted with New Way Viper Rear Loader refuse bodies will be used for residential solid waste pick up The electric refuse trucks are scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2019 UPS Thor Working on Electric Delivery Truck UPS and electric truck maker Thor Trucks are collaborating on a fully electric Class 6 to be developed and tested in Los Angeles The truck is expected to be ready to deploy later this year according to UPS It will have a driving range of approximately 100 miles and is powered by a Thor designed and built battery made to be lightweight and durable Toyota Unveils Improved Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Toyota unveiled the latest version of its Project Portal hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 truck This Beta iteration of Project Portal expands on the original Alpha version by increasing range from 200 to 300 miles adding on a sleeper cab and engineering a unique fuel cabinet combination that increases cab space without increasing wheelbase The Project Portal Alpha vehicle has been operating at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles in Southern California since April 2017 The improved Beta version will begin operating at the same ports in the fall The truck was developed as a learning exercise for Toyota and the ports to help develop the zero emissions Class 8 vehicle for short range drayage duty cycles IN THE NEWS NACFE SOLAR PANELS FEASIBLE FOR TRUCKS AND TRAILERScould be boosted even more with smart variable displacement systems that are fully integrated into intelligent and smart cruise control systems Today for example a smart cruise system simply shifts the transmission into Neutral to save fuel while coasting down a grade With smart cylinder technology youd not only shift the transmission into Neutral youd also shut down all the engine cylinders to eliminate any parasitic horsepower loss then bring the cylinders back on line as the grade flattens out and the engines need for additional horsepower increases And you could add all the cylinders at once or bring them online in sequence depending on the situation Its heady stuff But displacement on demand appears to solve a lot of problems for OEMs and fleets alike It seems likely that well start seeing this technology appearing on heavy diesel engines sometime in the near future WT Solar power makes sense for many commercial trucks and in many applications an investment in the right equipment can be paid back in roughly three years according to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency in its latest Confidence Report Solar for Tractors and Trailers issued June 28 2018 Solar panels cost has come down and efficiency has increased and they are especially useful for sleeper cab tractors Solar power can run electric HVAC systems in sleepers thus reducing engine idling during overnight breaks But they dont save a lot of fuel said NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth The savings comes from battery health Panels can extend the life of the battery and the cost of replacement as well as reduce service calls on the road Solar power helps a trucks alternator keep batteries charged and ready for use to operate heating air conditioning and house loads from dusk to dawn And drivers report that the panels begin generating electricity first thing in the morning You do take some wear off the alternator as youre going down the road charging said Kevin Otto a retired Cummins electronics engineer A 300 watt panel during an eight or nine hour period is worth an extra battery in power storage You can figure that batteries will have a couple of hours more operating life So there are fewer call outs for batteries and you do get longer battery life Panels are now thin and flexible enough to mount on curved surfaces so can be affixed to roof air deflectors and even on hoods Theres much more room on van and reefer trailers to place panels where they are used primarily to charge batteries in reefer units and for lift gates and pallet jacks Reefer unit makers offer panels that help keep batteries charged so engines can start every time theyre needed to run refrigeration equipment Lift gates use a very large amount of power for a very short amount of time Otto said There are different sizes and capacities and you need to size your batteries to the lift gate Tom Berg