New hydraulic hybrid trucks roll off

WASHINGTON – Recognize that familiar United Parcel Service truck with the trademark brown paint job? Look twice. The government unveiled its model Wednesday, replete with a new hybrid hydraulic system.

The new system replaces a truck’s transmission with hydraulics and that, combined with a low-emission diesel engine, yields a 60 to 70 percent saving on fuel use. It was built for the EPA by Cleveland-based Eaton Corp.

“We work on a lot of different hydraulic equipment for aerospace and this fits in very well,” said Ben Hoxie, Eaton’s engineering manager for the project.

For the EPA, the project was about making the most immediate impact on air standards and fuel economy after President Bush called for the country to reduce its dependence on foreign oil. Delivery trucks pile up the hours and miles with city driving, so they were among the most likely to benefit from a drivetrain that transfers the energy lost in braking into a series of fluid and air pumps that in turn power acceleration.

AP