Real-World Solutions: Green Truck Summit 2013

Registration is now open for the work truck industry’s educational forum on clean vehicle technologies – the Green Truck Summit that kicks off The Work Truck Show 2013.

Offering fleet managers practical ideas and solutions for implementing new green practices, the Green Truck Summit 2013’s slate of presenters will cover clean technology and fuel trends, deployment strategies, viable alternative fuels and funding opportunities.

On the summit’s agenda are a range of technical experts and industry leaders, including representatives from truck and engine OEMs, government agencies and fleet operations. The Green Truck Summit features 24 breakout sessions, five general sessions and two keynote addresses.

The Green Truck Summit 2013 will begin with a speech by Lee J. Styslinger III, chairman and chief executive officer of Altec Inc. Altec is developing a next generation of hybrid-electric, all-electric and range-extended electric work trucks. In 2012, the equipment and service provider opened a new green-focused assembly plant.

Dr. Michael Pacheco, associate laboratory director for deployment and market transformation at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will address the Green Truck Summit as well, sharing insights into clean energy deployment, including programs that affect commercial vehicles and fleet operations. The focus of NREL is on achieving widespread adoption of more efficient and renewable technology, including alternative fuels and advanced vehicles.

The general session lineup at the Green Truck Summit will include the following sessions:
• Trends in Clean Technologies and Fuels
• OEM Perspectives on the Future of Clean Technologies
• Modeling the Benefits of Deploying Green Technologies
• Optimizing Engines: New Ideas to Be Clean and Efficient
• Compounding the Green: Incremental Measures for Going Green and Sustainable

Breakout sessions scheduled for the summit will cover propane, hydrogen fuel cells, natural gas, hybrid-electric systems, bi-fuel CNG and LPG systems, turbine-electric trucks, truck updates and other fuel-saving advancements. The complete Green Truck Summit schedule is available at www.ntea.com/greentrucksummit/schedule.

Presented by International Truck, the Green Truck Summit is produced jointly by NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry, and CALSTART, a nonprofit organization that works nationally to foster the rapid growth of the clean transportation technology industry. The event precedes The Work Truck Show, which also includes a Green Truck Ride-and-Drive, sponsored by Hino Trucks, where attendees can experience the latest in clean vehicle technology. On the show floor, the CALSTART Clean Technologies and Fuels Pavilion features green equipment that is commercially available today.

The Green Truck Summit runs March 5-6 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Summit registration includes admission to The Work Truck Show. To register, visit www.ntea.com or call 800-441-6832.

HYBRIDS

Eaton Developing Predictive Battery Management Technology
A power control system to reduce the size of hybrid system batteries is under development by Eaton Corp. The goal of the $2.5 million project, funded jointly by Eaton and a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, is to reduce the size of the battery by 50 percent and improve the performance of the system and its charge rate while maintaining fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.

The development project will be led by Eaton’s Innovation Center team in Southfield, Mich., which will work with a team from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Eaton’s engineers and scientists will leverage the company’s expertise in intelligent power management systems and hybrid technology with NREL’s expertise in battery modeling and prognostics.

“This project is a continuation of Eaton’s keen focus on hybrid technology development and our confidence in the value of hybrids for the future,” said Tom Stover, chief technology officer for Eaton’s Vehicle Group. “Eaton is continuing to invest in developing the infrastructure that supports the future of the transportation industry, and this project is an example of how we are working to find safe, efficient and sustainable ways to improve hybrid vehicle performance.” Visit www.roadranger.com.

GE and Ford Collaboration
GE has announced it will purchase 2,000 new Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrids for its fleet. The purchase of Ford C-MAX Energi vehicles is another step in GE’s commitment to convert half of its global fleet to alternative fuel vehicles. The addition of the 2,000 plug-in hybrids brings the number of alternative fuel vehicles in GE’s fleet to more than 5,000. To date, GE employees have driven approximately 18 million miles in alternative fuel vehicles, saving about $2 million in fuel costs and reducing emissions by approximately 12 million pounds.

The Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid provides a 21-mile electric-only range and a 620-mile single-tank driving range for a city EPA rating of 108 mpg.

As part of the collaboration, Ford will jointly market GE’s WattStation charging station and CNG In A Box natural gas fueling station to its commercial vehicle customers. The OEM will also supply new alternative fuel vehicles for use at GE’s Vehicle Innovation Center.

The two companies will also work with the Georgia Institute of Technology on data collection and analysis to study employee driving and charging habits, with the goal of improving all-electric driving and charging performance. Study findings will be shared with commercial customers to provide insights and help facilitate alternative fuel vehicle deployment across the country. Visit www.ford.com.

Hybrid Bus Team Recognized for ‘Visionary Leadership’
Eaton Corp. was part of the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition team, along with the Kentucky Department of Education, that received the first-ever Visionary Leadership Award from the Southeast Diesel Collaborative. SEDC is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Clean Diesel Campaign to reduce pollution emitted from diesel engines.

The KCFC team provides hybrid-electric school buses to the state of Kentucky under a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Eaton assembles the hybrid system, including the clutch, electric motor, battery and six-speed automated transmission. As part of Kentucky’s hybrid bus program, Eaton offers training for drivers, mechanics and first responders. It also provides a technical overview for local communities.

With 162 buses fitted with Eaton hybrid systems, Kentucky has the largest hybrid school bus fleet in the U.S. On average, the hybrid buses are 34 percent more fuel efficient than traditional diesel-powered models. In some cases fuel consumption has been cut in half, depending on driving cycles and styles. The buses, which are used in a wide range of school districts across Kentucky, are typically driven 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year and have a 14-year life. Visit www.roadranger.com.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Chicago Awards Electric Garbage Truck Contract
Chicago is set to become the first U.S. city to deploy all-electric, zero-emissions garbage trucks. The five-year contract issued by the city to Motiv Power Systems will put in service 20 Class 8 EV refuse trucks with a GVWR of 52,000 pounds and a range of 60 miles.

The city of Chicago, which operates 600 garbage trucks, chose to request bids for electric refuse trucks after evaluating hybrid and compressed natural gas options. The city found that its garbage routes did not enable those technologies to be financially viable compared to the all-electric option.

Additionally, it has been validating the Motiv electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS) since March 2012 in an all-electric bus. The pilot program, funded by a grant to Motiv from the California Energy Commission, placed the 20-passenger bus, which can cover more than 120 miles on a single charge, in service.

Motiv’s ePCS uses off-the-shelf batteries and motors, which can be mixed and matched to fit the exact size of medium- to heavy-duty electric vehicles from 15,000 to 52,000 pounds. The Chicago refuse trucks, slated to be the heaviest electric vehicles in the U.S., will have the same ePCS system as the pilot bus, but include a larger motor and 10 battery packs. Motiv will work with Detroit Chassis to install the ePCS on a standard refuse chassis and Loadmaster will provide the truck bodies. Visit www.motivps.com.

GM Sets Sights on Electrification
By 2017, General Motors plans to have up to 500,000 vehicles on the road with some form of electrification. Included is a focus on plug-in systems like those used in the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle introduced in 2010. The same technology is planned for the Cadillac ELR and the Chevrolet Spark EV, which will go on sale next year in certain U.S. markets. Additionally, the OEM is on track to sell more than 50,000 vehicles this year with electrification, including Chevrolet and Buick models with its eAssist light electrification technology.

Since 2010, Chevrolet Volt operators, including a number of fleets, have collectively driven more than 100 million all-electric miles. The average Volt travels more than 65 percent of the time in pure electric mode, only using the gasoline-powered generator for longer trips. In total, according to the manufacturer, Volts in service have saved 5 million gallons of fuel, equivalent to $21 million in overall gasoline costs based on $4 per gallon. For the first 38 miles, a Volt can operate using only a full charge of electricity stored in its 16.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator extends the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank.

When it arrives in California next summer, the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV will have undergone more than 200,000 hours of battery testing. The Spark EV is driven by a coaxial drive unit powered by an oil-cooled, permanent magnet motor that produces at least 100 kW (130 HP) and torque of about 400 pounds per feet. More than 75 percent of the propulsion system components are from the Volt and GM’s hybrid truck programs. The vehicle’s more than 20-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is capable of handling multiple DC Fast Charges of up to 80 percent of battery capacity in approximately 20 minutes. Charging can also be completed in fewer than seven hours using a dedicated 240-volt charge. Visit www.gm.com and www.chevrolet.com.

Protean’s In-Wheel Solution
In multiple demonstration vehicles, including a Ford F-150 pickup truck, the Protean Drive fully integrated, in-wheel motor, direct-drive solution from Protean Electric is showing fuel economy improvements up to 30 percent depending on battery size. Designed to fit within the space of a conventional 18-inch road wheel, the system’s 68-pound motors each produce 81 kW (110 HP) and 590 pounds per feet of torque and, through regenerative braking capabilities, allow up to 85 percent of available kinetic energy to be recovered. Visit www.proteanelectric.com.

Mobile Electric Power Produces Results
In Austin, Texas, Energy Xtreme’s cleantech mobile electric power idle reduction solution has been installed in 33 of the city’s public works trucks and more than 600 Austin Police Department vehicles. Additional units have been retrofitted on Austin Energy and water utility department trucks. The producer of mobile power idle reduction systems has also installed its solution in an Austin EMS ambulance.

The Energy Xtreme mobile power idle reduction system is a smart power management device that provides power, without engine engagement, to vehicles with demanding electrical needs. The system allows a vehicle’s auxiliary electrical systems to operate without having to idle the vehicle’s engine and automatically recharges while the vehicle is being driven. Visit www.energyxtreme.net.

PROPANE & NATURAL GAS

Propane-Powered Buses
CleanFUEL USA and Collins Bus Corp. have delivered 134 propane autogas school buses to First Student Inc., the largest provider of student transportation services in North America. The buses will be used by First Student to provide service to Seattle Public Schools and Portland (Oregon) Public Schools. The purchase of the buses was made possible through grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Collins propane-powered NEXBUS is built on a dual rear-wheel GM chassis and utilizes a GM 6.0-liter engine. It has an estimated range in excess of 300 miles and is available in capacities up to 32 passengers. The propane autogas fuel system was developed in partnership with CleanFUEL USA and has obtained certification from both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. Propane autogas, the third most widely used transportation fuel after gasoline and diesel, averages 40 to 50 percent fewer emissions per gallon. Visit www.cleanfuelusa.com and www.collinsbuscorp.com.

SuperShuttle Deploys 75th Alternative Fuel Vehicle
An operator of propane autogas vehicles since 2009, SuperShuttle has placed its 75th propane-powered shuttle in service in Phoenix. The alternative-fueled van is equipped with a ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas engine fuel system.

During its life cycle, each SuperShuttle propane autogas shuttle will release 175,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide than it would if it were operating on gasoline, the company noted. SuperShuttle franchisees operating these alternatively fueled vehicles are saving an average of $200 per week, or $10,400 per year, based on historically lower propane autogas costs and reduced maintenance. Visit www.roushcleantech.com.

Linde Demonstrates Mobile LNG Fueling
Linde North America has conducted a successful trial of its new LNG mobile fueling unit and plans to expand its use of mobile fuelers to help fleets make the transition to LNG fuel. Linde operates cryogenic plants and makes several million deliveries of cryogenic gases annually. It offers the technologies, equipment, supplies and services for LNG fueling solutions, including producing and servicing mobile and permanent refueling stations. Visit www.lindelng.com.

Alliance AutoGas Adds to Its Clean Fueling and Conversion Network
Alliance AutoGas welcomes new Canadian partner Wilsons Fuel Company Ltd. to its expanding clean vehicle fueling and conversion network. Wilsons brings the Alliance program to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador for fleets running on propane autogas. The Alliance program guides fleets through every aspect of switching to propane, including vehicle conversions, fueling, on-site fuel station installation, data integration, training and technical support. The Alliance AutoGas partner network now spans 40 states, Washington D.C. and seven Canadian provinces. Visit www.allianceautogas.com.

GAS & CLEAN DIESEL

Clean Diesel Technology Delivering for the Future
Advancements in clean diesel technology over the past decade, in conjunction with new research and development in all types of diesel engines, will play a major role in helping meet the updated Clean Air Act particulate matter (soot) standards announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“For the last decade, diesel technology has undergone a fundamental transformation to near zero emissions, based on ultralow sulfur diesel fuel, advanced clean-burning engines and new emissions control technology,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. “These advancements have occurred across the board, from the smallest industrial engine to increasingly popular clean diesel cars, commercial trucks, and off-road machines and equipment. The results of these efforts are clear since today, according to EPA, diesel engines account for only a small portion of the national PM emissions inventory – less than 6 percent.

“These last 10 years truly are the decade of clean diesel and the results are visible today,” Schaeffer continued. “New highway diesel truck engines have near zero emissions of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen – a remarkable 98 percent less than 1988 models. It is also noteworthy that truck and engine manufacturers are not only producing near zero-level emissions, but these vehicles are also consuming an average of 5 percent less fuel. Just how significant is this accomplishment? Consider that it now takes 60 of today’s clean diesel heavy-duty trucks to equal the particulate emissions of one 1988 truck – a 60-to-1 ratio.”

Similar reductions in emissions of particulates and oxides of nitrogen are well underway and will be completed by 2014 for the wide range of off-road engines found in everything from small construction to large off-road equipment.

“Beyond the new technology advancements in reducing particulate emissions, there are opportunities for modernizing and upgrading existing diesel engines and equipment,” Schaeffer noted. “We are continuing to work with national environmental and health organizations to increase funding for the highly successful voluntary and incentive-based Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, which is helping to modernize and upgrade older diesel engines in school and transit buses, commercial trucks and construction equipment.”

Visit www.dieselforum.org.

Mack and Volvo Receive Greenhouse Gas Certificates
The full lineup of model year 2014 trucks and tractors from Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks is now certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in accordance with 2014 fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas regulations. Visit www.macktrucks.com and www.volvotrucks.us.com.

Navistar Announces Clean Engine Technology Plan
Navistar International Corp. said it will introduce its next generation clean engine solution – In-Cylinder Technology Plus (ICT+) – to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions regulations for 2010 and position the company to meet greenhouse gas rules in advance of 2014 and 2017 requirements. The ICT+ technology combines Navistar’s advanced in-cylinder engine solution with urea-based aftertreatment. Visit www.navistar.com.

GMC and Chevrolet Bi-Fuel Pickup Production Begins
Now underway is production of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD bi-fuel pickup trucks. Powered by Vortec 6.0-liter V-8 engines, the trucks run on gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG) and seamlessly switch between the two fuels. CNG and gasoline tanks have a combined range of 650 miles. The Type-3 single-tank CNG system in the Silverado HD and Sierra 2500 HD is designed to retain more bed space. The pickups are available in standard and long-box and two- or four-wheel drive in the extended cab models.

GM and Chevrolet bi-fuel pickups are ordered from the factory, sent to tier-one supplier IMPCO for installation of the CNG bi-fuel delivery and storage system, and then delivered to the dealer or to an upfitter. The vehicles meet all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emission certification requirements.

“At Chesapeake Energy Corp., we are converting our fleet of more than 5,000 vehicles to run on natural gas, and having options from GMC and Chevy is critical to help us reach our conversion goal,” said Nate Pumphrey, director of fleet operations. “Following our full conversion, we will save $11 million to $12 million annually on fuel costs. As a fleet manager, the stable price of natural gas is another major benefit that helps me budget more accurately, and the fuel’s reduced emissions align with Chesapeake’s commitment to environmental excellence.”

Visit www.gm.com and www.chevrolet.com.

OILS & LUBES

Phillips 66 Offers Natural Gas Engine Oils
To support customers using natural gas-powered vehicles, Phillips 66 Lubricants has introduced natural gas engine oils. The Phillips 66, Conoco and 76 Lubricants and Guardol NG and Kendall Super-D NG products are designed for use in trucks powered by compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas as well as in other natural gas-powered mobile equipment.

The new oils from Phillips 66 are formulated to meet the enhanced wear protection requirements of diesel-conversion natural gas engines. Lubricants for natural gas engines must protect against a larger range of conditions than diesel engine lubricants. To meet these special requirements for converted diesel engines, the oils offer temperature and oxidation control, balanced ash content to prevent valve stem deposits and reduce valve seat recession, and better shear stability and exhaust aftertreatment protection. The oils are approved for Cummins CES 20074 and Detroit Diesel 93K216 specifications. Visit www.phillips66lubricants.com.

RSC Bio Solutions
A manufacturer of bio-based cleaning, degreasing and lubricating products, RSC Bio Solutions is making available a line of biodegradable and nonhazardous products for fleet applications. Included is the company’s line of EnviroLogic bio-based hydraulic fluids and gear oils and SafeCare cleaners and degreasers. Visit www.rscbio.com.